Eastern Hockey League (1960-1961)
Tombstone
Born: 1960
Moved: June 24, 1961 (Knoxville Knights)
First Game: October 21, 1960 (W 4-1 vs. New York Rovers)
Last Game: March 17, 1961 (L 4-2 vs. Johnstown Jets)
EHL Championships: None
Arena
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership
Owner: Pete Carver
Background
The Jersey Larks were a One-Year Wonder that played in the Eastern Hockey League during the winter of 1960-61. The Larks were the first pro sports tenant of the Haddonfield Ice House, erected in 1959. The building was better known in later years as Cherry Hill Arena.
The Larks finished their debut season in 3rd place in the EHL’s Northern Division with a 24-39-1 record. The team surged late, winning 12 of their final 15 games to squeak into the playoffs. There they beat the Clinton (NY) Comets in a mild-first round upset. Jersey lost to the eventual champion Johnstown (PA) Jets in a three-game sweep in the semi-finals.
Career minor leaguer Dan Patrick led the Larks in scoring with 24 goals and 43 assists.
Demise & Aftermath
The Eastern Hockey League terminated the Larks franchise in May 1961 for failing to meet its financial obligations to the league. A last ditch effort by a new group of local investors to re-capitalize the club fell short and the Larks were shifted to new owners in Knoxville, Tennessee in June 1961.
The EHL returned to the Ice House in 1964 with the formation of the Jersey Devils. The Devils played nine seasons in Cherry Hill before folding along with the rest of the EHL in the spring of 1973.
The Ice House/Cherry Hill Arena closed its doors in 1979. The rink was demolished in the spring of 1984 to make way for the Fashion Square shopping center.
Eastern Hockey League Shop
Links
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One Response
I would like to know where I can get some memorabelia on the old Eastern Hockey League, and the Hershey Bears.