New Haven Senators

American Hockey League (1992-1993)

Tombstone

Born: 1992 – Re-branded from New Haven Nighthawks
Moved: April 15, 1993 (Prince Edward Island Senators)

First Game: October 9, 1992 (T 2-2 @ Capital District Islanders)
Last Game:
April 10, 1992 (W 5-4 @ Springfield Indians)

Calder Cup Championships: None

Arena

New Haven Coliseum (8,765)11992-93 American Hockey League Guide & Record Book
Opened: 1972
Demolished: 2007

Branding

Team Colors: Black, Red, Gold & White21992-93 American Hockey League Guide & Record Book

Ownership & Affiliation

Owner: Peter Shipman

NHL Affiliation: Ottawa Senators

Attendance

The Senators ranked last in the 16-team AHL in attendance during the 1992-93 season.

Tap (mobile) or mouse over chart for figures. Tilting your mobile device may offer better viewing.

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

 

Background

New Haven’s long-time American Hockey League franchise, the Nighthawks, took on a new identity during the summer of 1992 after signing an agreement to be the top farm club for the NHL’s new expansion club, the Ottawa Senators. But all was not well in New Haven, despite the honeymoon phase of a new relationship.

Nighthawks owner Peter Shipman and his partners purchased the club from the Los Angeles Kings for $386,000 in 1991. As part of the transaction, the Nighthawks lost their affiliation with the Kings and operated without NHL sponsorship during the 1991-92 season. Shipman’s group lost an estimated $900,000.3Bernstein, Viv. “AHL’s team’s fate determined today?” The Courant (Hartford, CT). July 18, 1992

Just four months after inking the new affiliation with Ottawa, Shipman threatened to sell or shut down the team unless the now-renamed New Haven Senators received commitments for 1,150 season tickets by mid-July 1992. An 11th hour push by the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce reportedly satisfied Shipman’s ultimatum just as he was on the verge of selling the team to a Portland group that would have moved the team to Maine for the 1992-93 season.

One & Done

The decision proved to be only a temporary stay of execution. The New Haven Senators endured a brutal 1992-93 season, posting both the worst record (22-47-11) and weakest attendance in the 16-team AHL.

Left wing Martin St. Amour led the 1992-93 Sens in scoring with 21 goals and 39 assists.

Midway through the season, in February 1993, Shipman struck a deal to sell the club to the Ottawa Senators outright, effective at the conclusion of the schedule. Ottawa announced they would move the team to Prince Edward Island in the Canadian Maritimes for the 1993-94 season.

The AHL returned to New Haven and the Coliseum four years later when the Beast of New Havem debuted in October 1997.

 

Links

American Hockey League Media Guides

American Hockey League Programs

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