Roller Hockey International (1996)
Tombstone
Born: January 1996 – The Phoenix Cobras relocate to New York
Moved: January 1997 (Buffalo Wings)
First Game: June 3, 1996 (W 11-6 @ Ottawa Loggers)
Last Game: August 23, 1996 (L 11-5 @ Orlando Jackals)
Murphy Cup Championships: None
Arena
Glens Falls Civic Center (6,300)11996 Los Angeles Blades Program
Opened: 1979
Branding
Team Colors: Black, White, Red & Grey21996 Los Angeles Blades Program
Ownership
Owner: Jerry Shorthouse
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 Empire State Cobras were a One-Year Wonder franchise in Roller Hockey International during the summer of 1996. Based out of tiny Glens Falls, New York, the team seemed incompatible with the rest of Roller Hockey International, a 17-team cross-continental league that often played in huge NHL and NBA arenas.
Sure enough finances turned out to be a problem, as the Cobras drew fewer than 1,000 per game at home and owner Jerry Shorthouse ran out of money before the end of the season.
Most of the Cobras’ roster came over from the defunct Buffalo Stampede franchise (1994-1995), which won RHI’s Murphy Cup in 1994. Although the club was good and won the Atlantic Division with a 16-7-5 record, the Cobras reportedly had to sell their home court advantage in the playoffs to the lower-seeded Orlando Jackals. They lost to the eventual champion Jackals in the first round.
Return To Buffalo & Demise
In January 1997, the Cobras returned to Buffalo under new ownership and changed their name to the Buffalo Wings (I’m not kidding).
Roller Hockey International suspended operations in late 1997. After sitting out 1998, the league re-organized for one final season in 1999 and then folded for good.
Empire State Cobras Shop
Links
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