Syracuse Firebirds

American Hockey League (1979-1980)

Tombstone

Born: April 11, 1979 – The Philadelphia Firebirds relocate to Syracuse, NY
Folded: 1980

First Game: October 11, 1979 (L 3-2 @ Nova Scotia Voyageurs)
Last Game: April 15, 1980 (L 5-3 vs. Hershey Bears)

Calder Cup Championships: None

Arena

Onondaga County War Memorial (6,301)¹
Opened: 1951

Branding

Team Colors: Green, Yellow & Orange²

Ownership & Affiliation

Owners: Edward Piszek & George Piszek

NHL Affiliation: Pittsburgh Penguins & Quebec Nordiques

Attendance

Syracuse Firebirds attendance ranked last in the 10-member American Hockey League during the club’s only season of competition.

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Print Download

Source: 1994-95 American Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book

Background

The Syracuse Firebirds were a One-Year Wonder in the American Hockey League (AHL) during the winter of 1979-80.

The team formed in 1974 as the Philadelphia Firebirds of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), the league that inspired the classic Paul Newman hockey flick Slap Shot. In the NAHL, the Firebirds were a rival of the Salt City’s former Syracuse Blazers club (1967-1977). The NAHL and the Blazers both went out of business in 1977, coincidentally just a few months after Slap Shot‘s theatrical release. The Firebirds soldiered on, stepping up to the higher-level AHL in the fall of 1977. After two more seasons in Philly, the ‘Birds moved Syracuse in the spring of 1979.

The Firebirds served as a shared farm club of the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and Quebec Nordiques during their lone season of existence.

On The Ice

Recently retired NHL and WHA veteran Michel Parizeau coach the ‘Birds to a 31-42-7 record during the 1979-80 season. The Hershey Bears eliminated Syracuse in a four-game sweep in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs in April 1979.

NHL veteran Gord Brooks (34 goals, 41 assists) was the ‘Birds leading scorer. Minor league lifer Gary Carr handled the bulk of the goaltending duties.

The End

The Firebirds’ wealthy father/son owners Edward and George Piszek were based out of Philadelphia and ran the Mrs. Paul’s frozen food empire. After the Firebirds finished last in the AHL in attendance in 1979-80, the Piszeks spent the summer of 1980 attempting to sell the club to the Quebec Nordiques, who planned to move the team to Saint John, New Brunswick.

Ultimately, the Nordiques failed to secure an arena lease in New Brunswick. The sale fell through in August 1980 and the Firebirds wound up folding, reducing the AHL from 10 teams to 9 for the 1980-81 season.