The Johnstown Red Wings were a professional ice hockey team based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania They were founded as a member of the Eastern Hockey League in the 1979-80 season. The Red Wings were used as an affiliate to the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL . At the time, Adirondack was the primary affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings .
6-640: A year after Johnstown's 1977 flood, former Jets Executive Director/GM John Mitchell founded the Johnstown Wings of the Northeastern Hockey League . Mitchell used his connections with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings for the 1978-79 NEHL season. Mitchell worked with Lincoln Cavalieri, who was president of Olympia Stadium Corporation . At the time, Olympia Stadium Corporation owned the Detroit team, and Mitchell
12-506: The 1979-80 season, the team ceased operations. Johnstown would go without hockey until January 1988, when the Johnstown Chiefs were brought back as part of the AAHL 's inaugural 1987-88 season. Eastern Hockey League seasons only. None Eastern Hockey League (1978-1981) The Eastern Hockey League began operation in 1978 as the Northeastern Hockey League , filling the void in
18-460: The 1979-80 EHL season. Marty Read, the new coach of the Red Wings, had previously played his college hockey at University of Michigan. The Red Wings had a mascot, a red bird named "Reddy", who was brought on midway through the season. The Red Wings played for one season, disbanding after a 24-45-1 season. The team averaged 2,309 fans per game, and had four games where they drew over 3,000 fans. Following
24-605: The former territory of the Eastern Hockey League . Bill Beagan was named commissioner of the Northeastern Hockey League on June 14, 1979, to replace Jack Timmins who resigned. The league was rebranded as the Eastern Hockey League, which Beagan oversaw for two seasons until 1981. The league was not successful and after an owners' meeting on July 19, 1981, it was decided to fold the league. Two of
30-612: The season. The following season, a group of 10 prominent local business people took over the team, now the Johnstown Red Wings (with the NEHL taking on the league name of the former Eastern Hockey League ). The 1979-80 team had difficulties on the ice and also lost money, but negotiations with the War Memorial for a new lease were underway when the EHL folded. The Red Wings hired a new coach for
36-457: Was able to secure an affiliation with the Red Wings. Johnstown worked closely with Detroit General Manager Ted Lindsay and Assistant GM Jim Skinner to develop players. Mitchell eventually ran into financial difficulties. With the assistance of local businesses and a local television station ( WJAC-TV ) ran a "Keep Hockey Alive" promotion, enough donations were raised to help fund the Wings' expenses for
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