Central Hockey League (1967-1974)
Tombstone
Born: 1967
Re-Branded: 1974 (Fort Worth Texans)
First Game: October 11, 1967 (W 3-0 vs. Houston Apollos)
Last Game: April 10, 1974 (L 5-1 @ Oklahoma City Blazers)
Adams Cup Championships: None
Arena
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner:
NHL Affiliation:
- 1967-1973: Detroit Red Wings
- 1972-1973: St. Louis Blues
- 1973-1974: New York Islanders
Background
The Fort Worth Wings were a minor league hockey farm club of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings from 1967 through 1973. The club played in the Central Hockey League, which covered a territory from Tennessee to New Mexico at the time. The Wings maintained a violent rivalry with the CHL’s Dallas Black Hawks, who also began play in 1967.
Ross Perkins (Wings ’67-’72) was Fort Worth’s all-time leading goal scorer during the Wings era with 78 goals over 4 seasons. Rick McCann (Wings ’67-’70) was the club’s all-time assist leader (124) and point scorer (181).
Fort Worth’s affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings came to an end following the 1972-73 season. After one final season under the Wings name, the franchise was re-branded as the Fort Worth Texans in 1974. That club folded in 1982 and CHL followed soon after, disbanding in 1984.
Fort Worth Wings Shop
In Memoriam
Head coach Fern Flaman (Wings ’67-’69), a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, passed away on June 22, 2012 at age 85. Boston Globe obituary.
Center Rick McCann (Wings ’67-’70), the Wings’ all-time leading scorer, died at age 69 on September 3, 2013.
