The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice ...
team in the
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the lea ...
. They played in
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a City (New York), city in Warren County, New York, Warren County, New York, United States and is the central city of the Glens Falls, New York metropolitan area, Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,7 ...
, United States at the
Glens Falls Civic Center
The Cool Insuring Arena (originally called Glens Falls Civic Center) is a 4,794-seat multi-purpose arena located in downtown Glens Falls, New York, that currently serves as the home of the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL. Built in 1979, it was orig ...
. The team was affiliated with the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and are ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...
.
History
Desirous of promoting a winning atmosphere, Detroit ensured that the Adirondack Red Wings would have, for a minor league franchise, an unusually stable, veteran-laden roster. Veterans such as
Glenn Merkosky,
Jody Gage,
Greg Joly
Gregory James Joly (born May 30, 1954) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who was drafted first overall in the 1974 NHL amateur draft by the Washington Capitals from the Regina Pats. Washington's general manager, Milt Schmidt, ...
,
Norm Maracle and
Dennis Polonich bolstered a team that saw over thirty players have 200 or more games with the franchise, including nine with over 300 and two (Merkosky and Joly) with over 400. In consequence, the Red Wings missed the playoffs only once in their twenty-year history. They played for the
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars.
The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its curr ...
four times, winning each time.
The Red Wings' uniforms were identical to the parent club, with the white jersey featuring the distinctive red sleeves that the Detroit franchise has worn since 1956. During their final two seasons, the Adirondack Red Wings also wore a third jersey, based on Detroit's throwback design from
1991–92, replacing the word "DETROIT" on the front of the jersey with the winged wheel logo.
The Red Wings prospered as Detroit's top affiliate. However, by the late 1990s, the parent club wanted to move the affiliation closer to Detroit in order to ease movement of players between the minors and the NHL. In early 1999, the Detroit Red Wings announced plans to move the team to
Rossford, Ohio
Rossford is a city in Wood County, Ohio, United States, located along the Maumee River in the Toledo metropolitan area. The population was 6,293 at the 2010 census. The town includes the intersection of Interstate 75 and the Ohio Turnpike. R ...
—a
Toledo suburb—for the 2000–01 season. The Red Wings later suspended operations of the team following the 1998–99 season. As part of the agreement to relocate the franchise, the city of Rossford was to build a $48 million entertainment complex that included a 12,000-seat arena. However, the arena deal fell apart in late 2000. The franchise remained dormant until 2002, when it was purchased by the ownership of the
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball sports league, league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues i ...
's
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its home ...
and resurrected as the
San Antonio Rampage
The San Antonio Rampage were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League based in San Antonio, Texas. The Rampage was primarily owned by Spurs Sports & Entertainment throughout the team's existence. In 2020, the franchise was s ...
.
The franchise was replaced by:
*
Adirondack IceHawks/Frostbite of the
UHL (1999–2006).
*
Adirondack Phantoms
The Adirondack Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL), who began play in the 2009–10 AHL season. The Phantoms were based in Glens Falls, New York, playing home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center an ...
of the
AHL (2009–2014).
*
Adirondack Flames
The Adirondack Flames were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). The team was based in Glens Falls, New York, and played at the 4,794 seat Glens Falls Civic Center. They were the top affiliate of the Calgary Flames o ...
of the
AHL (2014–2015).
*
Adirondack Thunder
The Adirondack Thunder are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL that began play in the 2015–16 season. The team is based in Glens Falls, New York, and affiliated with the NHL's New Jersey Devils. The Thunder play their home games at the C ...
of the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The ...
(2015–present).
Coaches
*
Bill Purcell 1979–1980
*
Wayne Maxner 1980–1981
*
Doug McKay 1981–1982
*
Bill Mahoney
William Mahoney (June 23, 1939 – December 16, 2021) was a Canadian ice hockey coach. He was head coach of the Minnesota North Stars from 1983 to 1985.
Born in Peterborough, Ontario, he was a star multi-sport athlete. In addition to playing ho ...
1982–1983
*
Bill Dineen
William Patrick "Foxy" Dineen (September 18, 1932 – December 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1953 ...
1983–1989
*
Barry Melrose 1989–1992
*
Newell Brown
Newell Brown (born February 14, 1962) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who is an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 8th round (158th ov ...
1992–1997
*
Glenn Merkosky 1997–1999
General managers
*
Ned Harkness 1979–1982
*
Jim Devellano
James Devellano (born January 18, 1943) is a Canadian sports executive. He currently serves as the senior vice-president & alternate governor of the Detroit Red Wings National Hockey League (NHL) team and vice-president of the Detroit Tigers Ma ...
1982–1985
*
Neil Smith 1985–1989
*
Bill Dineen
William Patrick "Foxy" Dineen (September 18, 1932 – December 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and head coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1953 ...
1989–1990
*
Barry Melrose 1990–1992
*
Doug MacLean 1992–1994
*
Ken Holland
Kenneth Mark Holland (born November 10, 1955) is a Canadian-American ice hockey executive and former goaltender. Holland is currently the president of hockey operations and general manager of the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. H ...
1995–1997
*
Don Waddell 1997–1999
Season-by-season results
*
Tidewater Wings 1971–1972
*
Virginia Wings 1972–1975
* Adirondack Red Wings 1979–1999
Regular season
Playoffs
† Two game combined total goals series in preliminary round.
Notable alumni
Team records
:Career goals:
Glenn Merkosky: 204
:Career assists:
Glenn Merkosky: 212
:Career points:
Glenn Merkosky: 416
:Career penalty minutes:
Gord Kruppke: 1,028
:Career games:
Glenn Merkosky: 430
References
External links
The Internet Hockey Database - Adirondack Red Wings
{{Authority control
Sports clubs disestablished in 1999
Ice hockey clubs established in 1979
Ice hockey teams in New York (state)
1979 establishments in New York (state)
1999 disestablishments in New York (state)
Sports in Glens Falls, New York
Detroit Red Wings minor league affiliates
Tampa Bay Lightning minor league affiliates