Central Hockey League (1967-1974)
Tombstone
Born: 1967
Re-Branded: 1974 (Fort Worth Texans)
First Game: October 11, 1967 (W 3-0 vs. Houston Apollos)
Last Game: April 10, 1974 (L 5-1 @ Oklahoma City Blazers)
Adams Cup Championships: None
Arena
Marketing
Team Colors:
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner:
NHL Affiliation:
- 1967-1973: Detroit Red Wings
- 1972-1973: St. Louis Blues
- 1973-1974: New York Islanders
Background
The Fort Worth Wings were a minor league hockey farm club of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings from 1967 through 1973. The club played in the Central Hockey League, which covered a territory from Tennessee to New Mexico at the time. The Wings maintained a violent rivalry with the CHL’s Dallas Black Hawks, who also began play in 1967.
Ross Perkins (Wings ’67-’72) was Fort Worth’s all-time leading goal scorer during the Wings era with 78 goals over 4 seasons. Rick McCann (Wings ’67-’70) was the club’s all-time assist leader (124) and point scorer (181).
Fort Worth’s affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings came to an end following the 1972-73 season. After one final season under the Wings name, the franchise was re-branded as the Fort Worth Texans in 1974. That club folded in 1982 and CHL followed soon after, disbanding in 1984.
Fort Worth Wings Shop
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In Memoriam
Head coach Fern Flaman (Wings ’67-’69), a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, passed away on June 22, 2012 at age 85. Boston Globe obituary.
Center Rick McCann (Wings ’67-’70), the Wings’ all-time leading scorer, died at age 69 on September 3, 2013.