North American Hockey League (1973-1977)
American Hockey League (1977-1980)
Tombstone
Born: 1973 – NAHL founding franchise
Re-Branded: May 1980 (Binghamton Whalers)
First Game: October 12, 1973 (L 3-2 @ Mohawk Valley Comets)
Last Game: April 6, 1980 (L 5-1 @ Adirondack Red Wings)
Lockhart Cup Championships (NAHL): None
Calder Cup Championships (AHL): None
Arena
Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena (4,855)11979-80 American Hockey League Guide
Opened: 1973
Marketing
Team Colors: Brown, Gold & White21979-80 American Hockey League Guide
Ownership
Owners:
- 1973-1977: Jim Matthews
- 1977-1980: Andre Veilleux
Attendance
Background
The Broome Dusters, AKA the Binghamton Dusters, were a popular minor league hockey team during the mid-1970’s in Broome County, New York. Bobby Orr’s brother, Ron Orr, was the Dusters’ General Manager. Binghamton resident Johnny Hart, who penned the syndicated comic strips B.C. and The Wizard of Id, designed the Dusters’ logo of a caveman with a hockey stick.
The Dusters were founding members of the North American Hockey League in 1973. The rough-and-tumble NAHL became the inspiration for the 1977 Paul Newman comedy Slap Shot and its member teams served as farm clubs to the World Hockey Association, a 1970’s rival to the National Hockey League. The Dusters had affiliation deals with both the San Diego Mariners of the WHA and the Boston Bruins of the NHL.
The Dusters were the best gate attraction in the NAHL, regularly selling out the 4,900-seat Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Unfortunately, the rest of the NAHL wasn’t so strong and the circuit folded in September 1977, leaving the Dusters without a league to play in just weeks before their fifth season was due to begin. At the time, the Dusters boasted more than 4,000 season ticket holders, accounting for more than 80% of the capacity of Binghamton’s small arena.
Move to AHL & Re-Branding
In late September 1977, Dusters owner Jim Matthews teamed up with Andre Veilleux, former owner of the NAHL’s Beauce Jaros, to purchase the American Hockey League’s money-losing Providence Reds franchise and move it to Binghamton. The 51-year old Reds franchise was the oldest continuously operating minor league hockey team in America in 1977. But the Rhode Island club fell on hard times during the mid-1970’s. The sale was approved, the (new) Dusters were hurriedly admitted to the AHL just days before the 1977-78 season began, and hockey survived in Binghamton. As part of the transaction, the Dusters became a farm team of the NHL’s doormat Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Dusters era came to an end in May 1980 when the Hartford Whalers of the NHL purchased the club and re-branded it as the Binghamton Whalers (1980-1990).
Broome Dusters Shop
Broome Dusters Logo T by Vintage Ice Hockey
Binghamton Dusters Hoodie by Vintage Ice Hockey
Hockey in Broome County (Images of Sports)
by Marvin Cohen & Michael McCann
In Memoriam
Dusters owner Jim Matthews passed away on July 15, 2011 at age 77.
Links
American Hockey League Media Guides
American Hockey League Programs
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4 Responses
I was in the U.S.NAVY in 1971-1978 and a good friend of mine told me about a new hockey league forming in Binghamton. The tickets were all season tickets and my friend knew 2 ticket holders who were giving up their tickets. I purchased those 2 season tickets through my friend and had them for many, many years. Now that is a dedicated hockey fan.
Do you remember the Russian Olympic hockey team came to play an exhibition game against the Dusters n do you have any photos?
I lived in Binghamton in those years. I saw the Dusters ,the Whalers, the Rangers,the Senators ,Iceman and the Devils. Left after that .Was sad to see the Ahl leave The Triple Cities . They now have low minor league team . The Binghamton Black Bears .
During their 1976-77 season there was an infamous night at the Erie Blades when Paul Stewart, angry and embarrassed after getting pummled by Rick Jodzio (WHA Mark Tardiff Incident), broke referee Al Goodman’s nose in the dressing room area after the first period. Ironically Stewart went on to a sucessful run as an NHL referee. Later that night in the lobby after the game, one of the Dusters suckered Jodzio triggering a brawl with both teams swinging pipes and chairs in street clothes. The Erie County Fieldhouse Manager summoned the State Police, but the Dusters jumped on their bus and sped out of town.
Also remember a bench brawl in Erie earlier that season between the two clubs.
Great league!