New Brunswick Hawks

American Hockey League (1978-1982)

Tombstone

Born: 1978 – AHL expansion franchise
Died: 1982 – Replaced by the Moncton Alpines after affiliation shift

First Game: October 11, 1978 (W 5-3 @ Nova Scotia Voyageurs)
Last Game: May 10, 1982 (W 4-2 vs. Binghamton Whalers)

Calder Cup Champions: 1982

Arena

Moncton Coliseum (6,904)¹
Opened: 1973

Marketing

Team Colors: Blue & White²

Radio:

1980-81: CFQM

Radio Broadcaster:

1980-81: Marty Kingston

Ownership & Affiliation

Owner: George Urquhart, et al.

NHL Affiliation:

1978-1982: Chicago Black Hawks
1978-1982: Toronto Maple Leafs

Background

The New Brunswick Hawks were an American Hockey League farm club that was shared between the Chicago Black Hawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs for four seasons between 1978 and 1982. The club’s name was modeled on Chicago (and also harkened back to the Moncton Hawks hockey teams of the 1940’s – 1960’s) but wore the colors (white & blue) of Toronto.

The Hawks were a terrific team for all four of their seasons, reaching the AHL’s Calder Cup Finals in both 1980 and 1982. In 1980, the Hawks lost to the Hershey Bears, but in 1982 they won the Calder Cup by defeating the Binghamton Whalers 4 games to 1 in a best-of-seven series.

The Hawks also produced two AHL Most Valuable Players during their short run with Rocky Saganiuk (1979) and NHL veteran Mike Kaszycki (1982).

Hawks Out, Alpines In

Following the 1982 Calder Cup victory, the Black Hawks and Maple Leafs went their separate ways. Chicago moved its AHL operation to the existing Springfield Indians franchise. Toronto established a new farm club – the Saints – in St. Catharines, Ontario. That marked the end of the Hawks, but not for AHL hockey at the Moncton Coliseum. The Edmonton Oilers promptly swooped in and established a new farm club for the 1982-83 season named the Moncton Alpines.