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269864 WNYHVol10_4.qxd:263817 WNYHVol9_1_5.qxd 10/8/08 7:10 PM Page 46 Hockey Before Helmets: The Bisons and Championship Hockey in Buffalo By Clarence C. Picard owadays, nearly 19,000 fans Hockey League’s Buffalo Bisons who fan support and the team ended play in routinely fill the stands at started playing in 1928. The Bisons December, 1936. N HSBC Arena in Downtown played a 42-game slate, picking up 17 Memorial Auditorium Buffalo for Sabres games. Things didn’t wins and seven ties behind Rolland The Works Progress Administration get that way overnight, though. For 37 Huard’s 26 points in 18 games. By the (WPA) countered the Depression by years the Sabres have been the hottest ’30-31 season, Buffalo paced the Inter- pumping millions of dollars into various ticket on ice, but before the NHL came national Hockey League with a 30-13-5 civic projects across the country. The WPA to town, the Buffalo Bisons were one of record before falling in the finals to the spent $2.7 million to build Memorial the top franchises in the American Windsor Bulldogs. Auditorium in Buffalo to replace the Hockey League, winning five Calder In 1930-31 the Majors were formed Broadway Auditorium. Construction Cups during their 30-year run from 1940 with games to be played in Buffalo at the began on November 30, 1939, and the to 1970. Broadway Auditorium – a 7,600-seat opening ceremonies were less than a year While the Bisons weren’t playing at arena. Midway through the season, later on October 14, 1940. Dedicated to the highest level, with only six teams though, Auditorium management decided “Ye Gude Olde Days” ARTHUR FARRELL, HOCKEY: CANADA’S ROYAL WINTER GAME, 1899 the soldiers of the First World War, competing in the National Hockey to turn the venue into a fulltime bowling League from 1942-67 the AHL’s level of center and the Majors were forced to share Memorial Auditorium became an icon of Memorial Auditorium has remained Harbor Development Corporation for Stars folded, eliminating the club’s top play was top-notch. The late-60s success the Bisons’ Fort Erie arena. With sagging Downtown Buffalo until its closing in vacant since its closing in the mid-90s $1.00 to move along the process of rival and sending several of the Bisons certainly set the table for attendance the team folded, and profes- 1996. Originally accommodating 12,280 with political debate raging over plans to preparing it for demolition. players to the most recent incarnation of the Sabres’ 1970 entrance into the NHL. sional hockey in “Buffalo” until 1940 was for hockey, the venue hosted events rang- the Bisons. Buffalo Hockey Pre-Bisons confined to the Bisons playing across the ing from the Bisons – and eventually remodel or tear down the venerable Golden Years Sabres hockey – to the Ringling Brothers arena. In March 2007 plans to use the Success starts at the top and the lead- Buffalo’s northerly location made hockey Niagara River. In 1940, along with the completion of the Circus, boxing, dog shows, wrestling and Aud as a Bass Pro Shop were scrapped, Aud, a series of events led to pro hockey’s ers of the newly formed Bisons knew a natural choice for a winter sport. Like The Bisons lasted to the 1936-37 season – typically finishing in the top political events. The “Aud,” as it is affec- and the building remains scheduled for rebirth in Buffalo. The International- Buffalo and knew hockey. Louis M. most organized sports in the English- half of the league – but a merger with tionately called, remains a prominent fea- demolition by the end of 2009 at a $10 American Hockey League awarded Buf- Jacobs and Edgar Danahy headed speaking world – baseball, various foot- Niagara Falls, NY led to dwindling ture of Downtown Buffalo architecture. million cost. In December 2007 Buffalo falo a franchise on December 4, 1939. Buffalo’s push for a pro franchise. Jacobs ball codes, boxing, etc. – hockey began sold the Auditorium to the Erie Canal After the ’39-40 season, the Syracuse co-owned Jacobs Brothers Concessions to be formalized in the latter-half of the 19th century. Although the modern game was developed over centuries with similar games being played on land as far back as in ancient Egypt, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association calls Kingston, Ont. the birthplace of hockey based on a game between Queen’s Uni- versity and the Royal Military College of Canada in 1886. With so many influ- ences it’s nearly impossible to say when the first game was actually played, but an indoor rink existed in Montreal in 1875. During Prohibition in the United States, wealthy Americans in northern cities routinely crossed the Canadian border to enjoy the vices outlawed state- side. Fort Erie’s Peace Bridge Arena was Local youths play hockey on the frozen Delaware Park Lake. home to the Canadian-Professional BUFFALO COURIER, ROTOGRAVURE PICTORIAL SECTION, JANUARY 7TH, 1923 A postcard of Memorial Auditorium in its glory days. SUE ECK COLLECTION 46 Winter 2008 WESTERN NEW YORK HERITAGE 47 Calder Cup 269864 WNYHVol10_4.qxd:263817 WNYHVol9_1_5.qxd 10/8/08 7:10 PM Page 48 – Bisons GM Lou Giffels joined the Marine Corps as a captain. In Springfield, Mass., the government requisitioned the Antiquers Alley Eastern States Coliseum for surplus sup- plies, leaving the defending Eastern Divi- sion champion Indians without a home. t is not an American flag by Jasper Springfield’s misfortune was a monu- Johns or a piece of Pop Art by mental gain for Western New York hockey Andy Warhol, but it has the fans. The Indians merged with the low- I graphic appeal of both contemporary budget Bisons, not only infusing Buffalo artists. It is an antique embossed tin with better players and more money but advertising sign for Campbell’s Soups. also bringing legend Eddie Shore to town. Called “The Holy Grail of all advertis- Eddie Shore was one of the sport’s first ing signs, rarely seen and seldom ever stars winning four Hart Trophies (Most appearing on the auction block,” in Valuable Player) with the NHL’s Boston James D. Julia’s November 2007 Toy, Bruins. “The Edmonton Express,” as Shore Doll, and Advertising Auction, lot 296, was called, was known for his physical, vio- Please Visit Our Website sold for $18,400 including buyers pre- lent play but the defenseman could also put 20thcentu- mium. The sign measures 39¼" wide by the puck in the net. He is widely regarded 27¼" high. as the best defenseman in league history ryfinest.com after fellow Bruin legend Bobby Orr. ALWAYS BUYING VINTAGE Shore owned the Indians and took over WESTERN NEW YORK ARTWORK A N T I Q U E S for Giffels as Bisons GM when the clubs AT THE merged. Shore hired his former teammate G L E N C R O F T Broadway Auditorium SUE ECK COLLECTION Art Chapman to take the role of player- Muleskinner 19th & 20th Century AMERICANA GALLERY coach. The new-look Bisons enjoyed ANTIQUES & ART 18th, 19th, 20th Century Bought and Sold incredible success under Shore’s guidance. Decorative Arts 10210 Main St., Clarence, NY 14031 (“A Salesman’s Walk Downtown,” Gordie Bell led the way in goal, helping the 633-4077 in the old Glencroft Coppershop Western New York Heritage, Summer team pace the league with a 2.55 goals 5548 Main St. in Williamsville 759-1720 2006) and Danahy was president of the http://www.muleskinnerantiques.com www.glencroftantiques.com against average for a 56-game schedule. Bisons in the ’30s. He would continue Right wing Bill Summerhill shattered the that role with the new franchise, landing team record with 68 points (41 goals, 27 Serving Collectors For Three Decades Louis Giffels as Auditorium general manager and Cecil “Tiny” Thompson as assists) with left winger Lloyd “Dede” Klein also topping the previous mark of 58 with Conservator of books coach. Thompson gained his fame dur- & historical artifacts Old-Rare-Collectible ing a 12-year career as a star goalie in the 22 goals and 42 assists. BOOKS – PRINTS In their first trip to the playoffs, the of local interest... - MAPS NHL for Detroit and Boston. He won AUTOGRAPHS-ENGRAVINGS ALWAYS BUYING BUFFALO BOOKS four Vezina Trophies as the league’s top Bisons took on the regular season champion Bought-Sold-Appraised Hershey Bears. The Bears had dominated 184 ST. JAMES PLACE, BUFFALO NY 14222 net minder, retiring with a lifetime goals 74 E. Huron @ Oak the regular season going 35-13-8 (78 [email protected] against average of 2.08. phone 842-1734 fax 332-6949 This monthly newspaper features in-depth articles about antiques and points) compared to the second place Thompson led a group of mediocre, hours Mon.-Sat. 10am-5:00pm collectibles, show and auction reports with prices realized and Lew Bisons’ 28-21-7 (63 points) record. 716-883-1906 Larason’s features about identifying and caring for antiques. blue-collar players to mid-table finishes in his two seasons as coach (19-27-10 in Hershey scored 240 goals while giving up Subscribe for ONLY $24.00 per year! year one, 25-25-6 in year two). The only 166. Buffalo fans of course know Call for a complimentary copy today. Bisons weren’t yet good enough to make regular season accolades mean little in the the playoffs, but Thompson was able to playoffs (see: Buffalo Sabres 2006-07 1-800-518-0875 prepare the franchise for the successes and Buffalo Bills 1990-93).