Roller Hockey International (1993-1994)
Tombstone
Born: 1993 – RHI founding franchise
Folded: March 15, 19951Konotopetz, Gyle. “Ryckman pulls plug on Rad’z”. The Herald (Calgary, AB). March 16, 1995
First Game: July 10, 1993 ( @ Connecticut Coasters)
Last Game: August 26, 1994 (W 8-7, L 2-1 {mini-game] vs. Portland Rage)
Murphy Cup Championships: None
Arenas
1993: Olympic Saddledome (20,000)
Opened: 1983
1993-1994: Max Bell Centre (2,100)21993 Calgary Rad’z Program
Marketing
Team Colors: Black, Red, Yellow & Blue31993 Calgary Rad’z Program
Ownership
Owner: Larry Ryckman
Editor's Pick
Wheelers, Dealers, Pucks & Bucks
A Rocking History of Roller Hockey International
Who won the first professional sports championship for the city of Anaheim? Which Roller Hockey International team owner posed for Playboy? Which RHI team’s logo did Sports Illustrated describe as looking like “a malevolent vacuum-cleaner attachment?” Which coach won two championships for two different teams in RHI’s first two seasons? Why were fans nearly ejected from the Oakland Skates’ arena for celebrating a hat trick?
Author Richard Graham takes you behind the scenes to show how Dennis Murphy created Roller Hockey International, and why Murphy might be the most unlikely, least known and most influential visionary in North American professional sports history.
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Background
The Calgary Rad’z were one of twelve founding franchises in Roller Hockey International (RHI) during the summer of 1993. RHI was an effort to convert the recreational craze for in-line skating (AKA “roller blading”) during the early 1990’s into support for a fully professional team sport.
RHI rules were similar enough to ice hockey that the league filled its rosters primarily with active minor league ice hockey players who were in their summer offseason. But there were significant differences to both the rink and the rule book:
- Games consisted of four 12-minute quarters with a 15-minute halftime, similar to the NBA
- Teams skated 4 v 4, plus goaltenders rather than ice hockey’s 5 v 5.
- Two different playing surfaces were acceptable: Sport Court or cement treated with sealant rather (this varied from arena to arena). The rink size of 200′ x 85′ was the same as NHL standards.
- The JOFA Speedpuck was a 3.5 ounce puck that travelled on embedded nylon runners
- No blue lines and loosened offsides regulations
- Far less fighting due to stiffer penalties for infractions
Rad’z founder Larry Ryckman, was riding high in Calgary at the time. In 1991, Ryckman purchased and privatized the debt-ridden and community-owned Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. The next year, the Stamps signed Heisman Trophy winner and reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player Doug Flutie and captured their first Grey Cup championship in twenty-one years.
In Competition
The Rad’z were a solid RHI entry, advancing to the Murphy Cup playoffs in both years of competition.
During their inaugural season of 1993, the Rad’z were coached by long-time WHA and NHL veteran Morris Lukowich, who also suited up and played in three games for the team. After an 8-6 regular season, the Rad’z advanced to the playoff semi-finals where they were eliminated by the Oakland Skates.
Change was afoot in 1994. RHI expanded from 12 teams to 24 and lengthened its season from 14 games to 22. The Rad’z moved out of the enormous Olympic Saddledome, home of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, and into the more appropriately scaled 2,800 seat Max Bell Center, purchased by Ryckman in early 1994. Morris Lukowich departed as coach, replaced by Scott Atkinson.
The Rad’z were strong again, finishing 2nd place in the division with a 12-8-2. The Vancouver Voodoo eliminated the Rad’z in the Murphy Cup quarterfinals in what would prove to be the franchise’s swan song.
Calgary native Sean Krakiwsky, who notched 30 goals and 42 assists during the 1994 season, was the Rad’z all-time leading scorer.
End of the Road
Attendance dropped to approximately 1,500 fans per game though and Larry Ryckman folded the Rad’z in March 1995 ahead of RHI’s third season.4Konotopetz, Gyle. “Ryckman pulls plug on Rad’z”. The Herald (Calgary, AB). March 16, 1995 Roller Hockey International played its final season in 1999 and then went out of business.
Trivia
On July 13th, 1993, the Rad’z and goaltender Doug Dadswell recorded the only shutout in the six-season history of Roller Hockey International, blanking the Portland Rage 9-0.
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