The Wichita Skyhawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Wichita, Kansas. They operated within the American Hockey Association for just under 5 years and were forcible dissolved due to financial difficulties.
| Wichita Skyhawks | |
|---|---|
| City | Wichita, Kansas |
| League | American Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1935–1940 |
| Home arena | The Alaskan Ice Palace |
| Colors | blue, red |
History edit
In January 1932, Samuel Noble Wible received a permit to build an ice hockey rink adjacent to business, the Wible Ice and Cold Storage company. The Initial rink was an outdoor facility but the artificial surface enabled Wible to entice the Duluth Hornets to move to Wichita the following winter.[1] The team lasted less than a year in the new home and dissolved just 3 games into the 1933–34 season.
A few years later, Wible's wife, Ella, decided to try her hand at owning a hockey team. She applied for a new franchise in the American Hockey Association and was approved during the summer meeting in 1935. That November, the Wichita Skyhawks debuted with Magnus "Mike" Goodman as player / head coach. The team had a poor first season but slowly resolved into a decent club by the third year. Goodman led the Skyhawks to their first playoff appearance in 1938 and the team was beginning to establish a foothold in the region.[2]
That summer, Goodman resigned as coach and the team replaced him with Wilf Peltier, a former Duluth Hornet who hadn't played or coached in 8 years. The team plummeted down the standings, finishing last in 1939. The sudden turn in their fortunes affected the team at the ticket office as well and the Skyhawks began to lose money. In early 1940, several players sued the team for lack of payment which prompted an investigation from the IRS. Ella Wible attempted to sell the team to a local businessman but he pulled out of negotiations on February 24. Two days later, the other AHA clubs voted to revoke the Wichita franchise and the remaining games were rescheduled. With no opponents to play, the Skyhawks suspended play and were disbanded shortly thereafter.[3]
Season by season results edit
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | Finish | Coach(es) | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935–36 | 48 | 16 | 32 | 0 | 32 | 6th | Mike Goodman | missed |
| 1936–37 | 48 | 18 | 27 | 3 | 36 | 5th | Mike Goodman | missed |
| 1937–38 | 48 | 23 | 21 | 5 | 46 | 3rd | Mike Goodman | Lost in Semifinal |
| 1938–39 | 48 | 15 | 33 | 7 | 30 | 5th | Wilf Peltier / Fern Headley | missed |
| 1939–40 | 45 | 12 | 33 | 0 | 24 | removed † | Danny Cox | — |
† Wichita was removed from the league with 3 games left in the season.
References edit
- ^ "DULUTH HORNETS (1914-1933)". Vintage Minnesota Hockey. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "KFH Barn Dance Frolic". Hillbilly Music. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
- ^ "Wichita Skyhawks Statistics and History". Hockey DB. Retrieved February 29, 2024.