Phoenix’s original Roadrunners hockey team of the Western League (1967-1974) and the World Hockey Association (1974-1977) is covered in this entry, along with the first of the many Roadrunners minor league revivals, the Central Hockey League/Pacific Hockey League Roadrunners of 1977 to 1979.
The San Diego Hawks were a minor league ice hockey team that lasted just one winter in the Pacific Hockey League in 1978-79. The Hawks were notable for featuring hockey pioneer Willie O’Ree, the first black player to skate in the NHL twenty years earlier in 1958. The 42-year old scored 21 goals for the Hawks in his final professional season.
The Rustlers were part of Tucson, Arizona’s procession of short-lived pro hockey teams in the 1970’s, following the Central Hockey League’s Tucson Mavericks (1974-1975) and the Tucson Icemen (1976-1977) of the Southwest Hockey League. Like their predecessors the Rustlers lasted only one season before evaporating, and they were lucky to make it that far.
Pacific Hockey League (1978-1979) Born: November 1978 – PHL expansion franchise Folded: January 18, 1979 First Game: November 15, 1978 (W 5-3 @ San Francisco Shamrocks)
Pacific Hockey League (1977-1979) Born: 1977 – PHL founding franchise Folded: January 3, 1979 First Game: Last Game: PHL Champions: 1978 The Cow Palace Opened:1941 Team Colors: Owners: Jerry
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