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Throwback: A Timeline of Hockey in Akron and Cleveland

Since I started with “The Cannon”, I’ve fielded a lot of requests about Akron and Cleveland hockey history posts. After realizing just how lush the hockey scenery has been in Akron and Cleveland since the 1920s, I decided to take up the challenge and write a throwback post every week.

Every Thursday I’ll touch on a different person, league, or moment in Akron/Cleveland hockey history.

This week I bring to you a timeline of hockey in Akron and Cleveland.

This list doesn’t include high school or college teams.

Cleveland Hockey Club

1922-1925

League: USAHA - United States Amateur Hockey Association
Level: Senior Amateur
Games Played: 20
Record: 12-8-0-0-0

Notable Players:

Clarence “Moose” Jamieson
Frank “Mickey” McGuire
Joe Debernardi
Nels Stewart
Ralph Tilton
Austin Wilkie

Cleveland Athletic Club

1923-1924

League: USAHA - United States Amateur Hockey Association
Level: Senior Amateur

Cleveland Indians

1929-1934

League: IHL - International Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 224
Record: 89-103-32-0-0

Coach: Harry “Hap” Holmes

Notable Players:

Archie Biden
Bernie Brophy
Frank “Patsy” Callighen
Frank “Dapper Dan” Daley
Clarence Dolson
Ken Doraty
Irv Frew
Alex Gray
Samuel “Milt” Halliday
Val “Vic” Hoffinger
Bill Holmes
Frank Hamilton Ingram
Frank “Mickey” McGuire
Norm Locking
Joe Matte
Alfie Moore
Reg Noble
Jesse Spring
Doug Young

Cleveland Falcons

League: IHL - International Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 92
Record: 45-42-5-0-0

Coach: Harry “Hap” Holmes

Notable Players:

Fred Robertson
Tommy Anderson
Alex “Bud” Cook
Albert “Toots” Holway
Vic Ripley
Maurice “Moe” Roberts
Desse RocheEarl Roche
Harold Starr

Cleveland Falcons

1936-1937

League: IAHL - International American Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 48
Record: 13-27-8-0-0

Coaches: Carson Cooper, Harry “Hap” Holmes, Vic Ripley

Notable Players:

Alex “Bud” Cook
Frank Daley
Ken Doraty
Albert “Toots” Holway
Vic Ripley
Moe Roberts
Earle Roche
Earl Bartholome
Max Bennett
Tom Cook
Les Cunningham
Lloyd “Deed” Klein
Eric Pettinger

Cleveland Barons

1937-1972

League: AHL – American Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 2,317
Record: 1178-901-238-0-0

Coaches: Bill Cook, Frederick “Bun” Cook, Jack Gordon, Fred Glover, John Muckler, Parker MacDonald, Floyd Curry

Notable Players:

Lou Trudel
Fred Glover
Johnny Bower
Bill Needham
Jack Gordon
Eddie Olson
Phil Samis
Jack “Rabbit” Lavoie
Walter “Babe” Pratt
Roger Bessette
Terrance Caffery
Fred Thurier
Ron Ingram

Akron Clippers

1941-1942

League: MOHL – Michigan-Ontario Hockey League
Level: Senior Amateur
Games Played: 30
Record: 10-18-2-0-0

Notable Players:

Ken Lundberg
John Weston
Charlie Plitt
Don Veigel

Cleveland Thompson Products

1946-1947

League: OhSHL – Ohio State Hockey League
Level: Senior Amateur

Akron Stars

1946-1948

League: OhSHL – Ohio State Hockey League
Level: Senior Amateur

Coach: Lloyd Storie

Notable Players:

Joe Matte
Bud Polomsky
Jim Campbell
Ken Freebairn
Ivan “Ching” Johnson
Joe Levine
Paul Sironen
Lloyd Storie

Akron Americans

1948-1949

League: IHL – International Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 32
Record: 4-25-3-0-0

Coach: Fred Holger

Notable Players:

Joe Matte
James Jamieson
Marty Madore
Billy Purcell
Dan Wilkes

Cleveland Knights

1949-1950

League: EHL – Eastern Hockey League
Level: Minor Professional
Games Played: 18
Record: 4-10-4-0-0

Coach: Louis Trudel

Notable Players:

Jim Cunningham
Orville Kelly
Bill Murphy
Lou Trudel

Cleveland Crusaders

1972-1976

League: WHA – World Hockey Association
Level: Major League
Games Played: 314
Record: 150-144-20-0-0

Coaches: Bill Needham, John Hanna, Jack Vivian, Johnny Wilson

Notable Players:

Gerry Cheevers
Gary Jarrett
Gerry Pinder
Paul Shmyr
Wayne Hillman

Cleveland Barons

League: NHL – National Hockey League
Level: Major League
Games Played: 160
Record: 47-87-26-0-0

Coach: Jack Evans

Notable Players:

Jim Neilson
Bob Stewart
Dennis Maruk
Greg Smith
Len Frig
Gilles Meloche
Gary Edwards
Rick Hampton
Mike Fidler

Cleveland Barons

League: Great Lakes Junior Hockey League
Level: U.