The Long Island Cougars were a

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

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 hock ...

team that played at the

Long Island Arena Long Island Arena (also commonly known as the Commack Arena and the Suffolk Forum) was a 4,000-seat indoor arena in Commack, New York from 1959 until 1996. The Long Island Ducks of the Eastern Hockey League, a popular team in the small community ...

Commack, New York Commack ( ) is a hamlet and census designated place (CDP) that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. The CDP's population was 36,124 at the 2 ...

, from 1973 to 1975. The Cougars were a member of the

North American Hockey League The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...

, and were runners up for the Lockhart Trophy to the

Syracuse Blazers The Syracuse Blazers were a minor league professional ice hockey team that played in the Onondaga County War Memorial and State Fair Coliseum in Syracuse, New York. The team played in the Eastern Hockey League from 1967 to 1973 and the North ...

in the 1973–74 season.

History

The Cougars replaced the long-running

Long Island Ducks The Long Island Ducks are an American professional minor-league baseball team based on Long Island in Central Islip, New York. The Ducks compete in the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB), an independent "partne ...

, who had folded earlier in 1973, along with the rest of the

Eastern Hockey League The Eastern Hockey League was a minor professional United States ice hockey league. Eastern Amateur Hockey League (1933–1953) The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League (EAHL). The league was founded by Tommy Lockhart, ...

(EHL). Several refugees from the defunct EHL formed the North American Hockey League during the summer of 1973. The NAHL clubs quickly formed affiliation agreements to serve as farm clubs for teams in the upstart

World Hockey Association The World Hockey Association (french: Association mondiale de hockey) was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (NHL) ...

, which was challenging the NHL for top talent and expansion markets during the 1970s. Long Island was offered a new franchise to stand in for the Ducks, and took both the nickname and green and gold color scheme from their parent club, the

Chicago Cougars The Chicago Cougars were a franchise in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1975. The Cougars played their home games in the International Amphitheatre. During the 1974 Avco Cup Finals against Gordie Howe and the Houston Aeros, the team's ...

of the WHA. During the NAHL's first season, the Cougars advanced to the Lockhart Cup championship series. Minor league hockey legend John Brophy, a longtime Ducks star and the Eastern League's all-time penalty minutes leader, was the Cougars' head coach. They lost in the finals to the

. The Cougars played one final year on Long Island during the 1974–75 season, making the playoffs again despite a 29–40–5 record under new coach Ron Racette. In the spring of 1975 the Chicago Cougars of the WHA went out of business. In May of that year, Cougars owned Ben Kasper moved the team to

Erie, Pennsylvania Erie (; ) is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. Erie is the fifth largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 a ...

, where they were renamed the

Erie Blades The Erie Blades name was used by two professional ice hockey teams in Erie, Pennsylvania. Both teams played their home games in the Erie County Field House. After the second Blades team folded, the void was filled by the Erie Golden Blades, a tea ...

Season-by-season results

Season-by-season results:

Notable players

* Kevin Ahearn who played on the

1972 Within the context of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) it was the longest year ever, as two leap seconds were added during this 366-day year, an event which has not since been repeated. (If its start and end are defined using Solar time, me ...

US Olympic hockey team as well as for the

New England Whalers New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

of the WHA *

Jim Benzelock James John Benzelock (born June 21, 1947) is a former professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft. He never played in the National Hockey Lea ...

who played for both the

and

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (french: Nordiques de Québec, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Quebec City Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the W ...

of the WHA * Curt Brackenbury who played for the Quebec Nordiques (WHA and

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranked professional ...

) as well as the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

and

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the s ...

of the NHL * Brian Coates who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars,

Indianapolis Racers The Indianapolis Racers were a major league hockey team in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1974 to 1978. They competed in four full seasons before folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena. They are o ...

and

Cincinnati Stingers The Cincinnati Stingers were an ice hockey team based in Cincinnati that played in the World Hockey Association from 1975 to 1979 and in the Central Hockey League during the 1979–80 season. Their home arena was Riverfront Coliseum. They are ...

* Rich Coutu who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars and Cincinnati Stingers * Pat Donnelly who played for the WHA Cincinnati Stingers * Michel Dubois who played for the WHA Indianapolis Racers and Quebec Nordiques * Andre Gill who played for the NHL

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team has been in existence since 1924, making t ...

and the WHA Chicago Cougars * Don Gordon who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars and

Los Angeles Sharks The Los Angeles Sharks were an ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1974. Their primary home arena was the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena but they sometimes played at the Long Beach Sports Arena when ...

* Joe Hardy who played for the NHL Oakland/California (Golden) Seals and the WHA Chicago Cougars, Indianapolis Racers and

San Diego Mariners The San Diego Mariners were an ice hockey team based in San Diego that played in the World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1977 at the San Diego Sports Arena. Previous to being in San Diego, the team was known as the New York Raiders, New York ...

* Dan Justin who played for the WHA Cincinnati Stingers *

Keith Kokkola Keith Victor Kokkola (May 4, 1949 - September 24, 2004) was a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Between 1974 and 1977, Kokkola played 54 games in the World Hockey Association with the Chicago Cougars, Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics, ...

who played for the WHA Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics, Chicago Cougars and Birmingham Bulls * Mark Lomenda who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars, Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics, and Indianapolis Racers *

Peter Mara Peter John Mara (born July 5, 1947) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward. Early life Mara was born in Point Edward, Ontario. He played junior hockey with the Sarnia Legionnaires. Career Mara played 107 games in the World H ...

who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars, Denver Spurs/Ottawa Civics *

Larry Mavety Lawrence Douglas "Larry" Mavety (29 May 1942 – 4 December 2020) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, and former coach and executive in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), with both the Belleville Bulls and the Kingston Frontenacs. Play ...

who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars, Los Angeles Sharks,

Toronto Toros The Toronto Toros were an ice hockey team based in Toronto that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973 to 1976. History The franchise was awarded to Doug Michel in 1971 for $25,000 to play in the WHA's inaugural 1972–73 season. Haro ...

, Indianapolis Racers, and

Philadelphia Blazers The Philadelphia Blazers were an ice hockey franchise in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the 1972–73 WHA season based in Philadelphia. The team's home ice was the Philadelphia Convention Hall and Civic Center. The franchise was origina ...

Dunc McCallum Duncan Selby McCallum (March 29, 1940 – March 31, 1983) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 100 games in the World Hockey Association and 187 games in the National Hockey League. He was born in Flin Flon, Manitoba and ...

who played for the NHL

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

, WHA Houston Aeros and Chicago Cougars *

Wally Olds Walter Raymond Olds (August 17, 1949 – January 11, 2009) was an ice hockey player who played three seasons in the World Hockey Association for the New York Golden Blades, New York Raiders and Calgary Cowboys between 1973 and 1976. He was also p ...

who played on the 1972 US Olympic Hockey Team, WHA New York Raiders and

Calgary Cowboys The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1975–1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles, t ...

* Dick Proceviat who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars and Indianapolis Racers, *

George Swarbrick George Raymond Swarbrick (born February 16, 1942) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played 132 National Hockey League (NHL) games with the Oakland Seals, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Philadelphia Flyers. Swarbrick was born in Mo ...

who played for the NHL Seals, Penguins and Flyers *

Dave Walter David Lee Russell Walter (born December 9, 1964) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football for the Michigan Tech Huskies Michigan Techn ...

who played for the WHA Chicago Cougars, and San Diego Mariners * Jim Watson who played for the NHL

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1970, along w ...

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 (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

, WHA Chicago Cougars, Los Angeles Sharks and Quebec Nordiques Additionally, Brian Glenwright and

Dan Lodboa Daniel Stephen Lodboa (September 25, 1946 – May 11, 2019) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 58 games in the World Hockey Association. Born in Thorold, Ontario, he played with the Chicago Cougars. Lodboa was a tri-captain ...

both played for the Chicago Cougars.

References

{{Reflist Ice hockey teams in New York (state) North American Hockey League (1973–1977) teams