Roller Hockey International

Roller Hockey International was a professional inline hockey league that operated in North America from 1993 to 1999. It was the first major professional league for inline hockey.Robb, Sharon. "It Looks Like Hockey--But On Wheels", Sun-Sentinel, June 5, 1993. Accessed October 5, 2020. "Diamond, 21, a world-class in-line skater, will try out today for the Florida Hammerheads, one of 12 professional teams in the first-of-its-kind Roller Hockey International Pro League."
== History ==
League president Dennis Murphy had been involved in the establishment of the American Basketball Association, World Hockey Association and World TeamTennis. RHI hoped to capitalize on the inline skating boom of the early 1990s. Key parts of its success were its stance on no guaranteed contracts, instead teams would all split prize money.Good, Philip. "Roller Hockey Team Finds a Home", The New York Times, April 10, 1994. Accessed January 23, 2017. "Yet Dennis Murphy, the league's president, said the fastest-growing sports equipment sales were in Rollerblade skates. And he has no doubt about the direction of the sport. 'We believe we can be the No. 1 hockey sport,' he said. Mr. Murphy has a lot of experience in establishing new sports leagues. He is the founder of the roller hockey league with Larry King. Mr. Murphy, Mr. King and Billie Jean King founded World Team Tennis. Mr. Murphy also had a role in creating the old American Basketball Association and the World Hockey Association."
Teams were generally made up of minor league ice hockey players playing on inline skates during the summer months between ice seasons.
Murphy saw big potential for the sport and believed that inline hockey could become the #1 hockey sport in the US. The league had plans to expand to up to 24 teams, including some from Europe, by 1997. However, RHI became known for its unstable franchises, instability in the league's front office itself, little media coverage and many teams struggling to attract crowds - while the Anaheim Bullfrogs led in attendance with an average of 9800, seven teams attracted less than 4000 on average, while the whole league's attendance averaged around 5000 by 1996.
Ultimately, after five seasons of play and a fading in the inline skating boom, RHI folded in 1998 with two of its franchises joining Major League Roller Hockey: the Buffalo Wings and its premier club, the Anaheim Bullfrogs. RHI was revived in 1999, with a 10-team roster that included five holdovers that had played in RHI in 1997: the Anaheim Bullfrogs, Buffalo Wings, Minnesota Blue Ox, San Jose Rhinos and St. Louis Vipers.Staff. "ROLLER HOCKEY INTERNATIONAL TO RETURN", The Buffalo News, January 28, 1999. Accessed January 25, 2017. "After a one-year sabbatical to restructure the league and change half its teams, Roller Hockey International officials said Wednesday they will resume play this June with 10 franchises in the United States.... Only the San Jose Rhinos, Anaheim Bullfrogs, Buffalo Wings, Minnesota Blue Ox and Saint Louis Vipers remain from 1997."
The league cancelled the 2000 season and the league finally ceased operations in 2001 when their sites were limited to arenas in California.
The St. Louis Vipers were resurrected in 2020 as an expansion team of the National Roller Hockey League.
==Rules==
The rules in the RHI were similar to but not identical to those of ice hockey. Besides the obvious difference of playing on a floor instead of ice, the RHI had four players and a goalie at a time on the playing surface opposed to ice hockey's five and a goalie. Minor penalties were only a minute and a half as opposed to two minutes and major penalties were four minutes instead of five.
There were no blue lines and therefore no offside; however, there was still illegal clearing (icing) and a different version of offside—a player could skate over the red line before the puck; however, the player couldn't receive a pass over the line. The puck itself was lighter, at 3 oz. and made of red plastic as opposed to a 5 oz. black rubber ice hockey puck. There were four 12-minute quarters opposed to the NHL's three 20-minute periods. A tied score at the end of regulation time in the regular season would go straight to a shootout instead of overtime.
The playoffs followed a best-of-three series format; however, the third game was not a full 48 minute game. Instead it was just a regular 12-minute quarter called "the mini game". If the teams were tied at the end of the quarter a sudden-death overtime period would follow.
 Total Murphy Cup Championships
Team 	Titles	Runner Up
Anaheim Bullfrogs 	2 	2
St. Louis Vipers 	1 	0
Orlando Jackals 	1 	0
San Jose Rhinos 	1 	0
Buffalo Stampede 	1 	0
Oakland Skates 	0 	1
Portland Rage 	0 	1
Montreal Roadrunners 	0 	1
New Jersey Rockin' Rollers	0 	1
Roller Hockey International Progression	Roller Hockey International Progression	Roller Hockey International Progression
Year 	Teams 	Games Played
1993 	12 teams 	14 games
1994 	24 teams 	22 games
1995 	19 teams 	24 games
1996 	18 teams 	28 games
1997 	10 teams 	24 games
1998 	No season 	No season
1999 	8 teams 	26 games
==Teams==
Note: RHI 1993-97, revived RHI 1999
* Anaheim Bullfrogs (1993–1997; 1999)
* Calgary Rad'z (1993–1994)
* Connecticut Coasters (1993) / Sacramento River Rats (1994–1997)
* Florida Hammerheads (1993–1994)
* Los Angeles Blades (1993–1997; 1999)
* Oakland Skates (1993–1996)
* Portland Rage (1993–1994)
* San Diego Barracudas (1993–1996) / Ontario Barracudas (1998–99)
* St. Louis Vipers (1993–1997; 1999)
* Toronto Planets (1993)
* Utah Rollerbees (1993) / Las Vegas Flash (1994)
* Vancouver Voodoo (1993–1996)
* Atlanta Fire Ants (1994) / Oklahoma Coyotes (1995–1996) / Las Vegas Coyotes (1999)
* Buffalo Stampede (1994–1995)
* Chicago Cheetahs (1994–1995)
* Edmonton Sled Dogs (1994) / Orlando Rollergators (1995, renamed Orlando Jackals 1996–1997)
* Minnesota Arctic Blast (1994; 1996)
* Montreal Roadrunners (1994–1997)
* New England Stingers (1994) / Ottawa Loggers (1995–1996, renamed Ottawa Wheels in 1997)
* New Jersey Rockin' Rollers (1994–1997)
* Philadelphia Bulldogs (1994–1996)
* Phoenix Cobras (1994–1995) / Empire State Cobras (1996) / Buffalo Wings (1997; 1999)
* Pittsburgh Phantoms (1994)
* San Jose Rhinos (1994–1997; 1999)
* Tampa Bay Tritons (1994)
* Minnesota Blue Ox (1995; 1999)
* Detroit Motor City Mustangs (1995)
* Denver Daredevils (1996–1997)
* Long Island Jawz (1996–1997)
* Chicago Bluesmen (1999)
* Dallas Stallions (1999)
==Expansion==
Year	Teams	Expansion 	Defunct 	Suspended 	Return from Hiatus 	Relocated 	Name Changes
1993	12 	Anaheim BullfrogsCalgary Rad'zConnecticut CoastersFlorida HammerheadsLos Angeles BladesOakland SkatesPortland RageSt. Louis VipersSan Diego BarracudasToronto PlanetsUtah RollerbeesVancouver Voodoo 	 	 	 	 	
1994	24 	Atlanta Fire AntsBuffalo StampedeChicago CheetahsEdmonton Sled DogsMinnesota Arctic BlastMontreal RoadrunnersNew England StingersNew Jersey Rockin' RollersPhiladelphia BulldogsPhoenix CobrasPittsburgh PhantomsSan Jose RhinosTampa Bay Tritons	Toronto Planets 	 	 	Connecticut → Sacramento River Rats Utah → Las Vegas Flash 	
1995	19 	Detroit Motor City MustangsMinnesota Blue Ox 	Calgary Rad'zFlorida HammerheadsLas Vegas FlashPittsburgh PhantomsPortland RageTampa Bay Tritons 	Minnesota Arctic Blast 	 	New England → Ottawa LoggersAtlanta → Oklahoma CoyotesEdmonton → Orlando Rollergators	
1996	18 	Denver DaredevilsLong Island Jawz 	Buffalo StampedeChicago CheetahsDetroit Motor City Mustangs 	Minnesota Blue OxOklahoma Coyotes	Minnesota Arctic Blast	Phoenix → Empire State Cobras 	Orlando Jackals (Rollergators)
1997	10 	 	Minnesota Arctic BlastPhiladelphia BulldogsSan Diego BarracudasVancouver Voodoo 	Oakland SkatesOklahoma Coyotes 	 	Empire State → Buffalo Wings 	Ottawa Wheels (Loggers)
1998	0 	 	Denver DaredevilsLong Island JawzMontreal RoadrunnersOakland SkatesOrlando JackalsOttawa WheelsSacramento River Rats	 	 	 	
1999	8 	Chicago BluesmenDallas Stallions 	 	 	Minnesota Blue Ox 	Oklahoma Coyotes → Las Vegas Coyotes 	
==Conferences==
The Eastern Conference and Western Conference were created when RHI doubled in size to 24 teams in 1994 after its first series of expansion and realigned its teams into two conferences and four divisions. Prior to the 1994 realignment, Roller Hockey International divided its teams into only three divisions and no conferences.
From 1994 through 1996, the Eastern Conference was divided into the Atlantic Division and the Central Division, which were both successors to the Murphy Division. Starting in 1997, the conferences had no divisions.
From 1994 through 1996, the Western Conference comprised teams divided into two divisions: Northwest Division and Pacific Division. Starting in 1997 the conferences had no divisions.
===Eastern Conference champions===
* 1994 - Buffalo Stampede (won Cup)
* 1995 - Montreal Roadrunners
* 1996 - Orlando Jackals (won Cup)
* 1997 - New Jersey Rockin' Rollers
* 1998 - No Season
* 1999 - St. Louis Vipers (won Cup)
===Western Conference champions===
* 1994 - Portland Rage
* 1995 - San Jose Rhinos (won Cup)
* 1996 - Anaheim Bullfrogs
* 1997 - Anaheim Bullfrogs (won Cup)
* 1998 - No Season
* 1999 - Anaheim Bullfrogs
==Murphy Cup championship winners==
*1993 - Anaheim Bullfrogs def. Oakland SkatesPenner, Mike. "Bullfrogs Floor the Curse", Los Angeles Times, September 8, 1993. Accessed January 26, 2017. "The Bullfrogs are 1993 champions of Roller Hockey International, the little league that started up in early July in an attempt to capitalize on the in-line roller blade fad, warm some seats for Mighty Ducks ticket holders and maybe kill a few summer nights between Angel ulcers and Ram headaches. The Bullfrogs didn't lose a game. They went 13-0-1 during the regular season and swept through the playoffs in four games, including Tuesday's clincher, a 9-4 victory over the Oakland Skates."
*1994 - Buffalo Stampede def. Portland RageStaff. "This Day in Buffalo Sports History ; Sept. 2, 1994 -- On a roll", The Buffalo News, September 2, 2010. Accessed January 26, 2017. "The Stampede captured the Roller Hockey International title on this date, beating the Portland Rage, 8-7. A crowd of 14,175 -- an RHI record, even though there were reports of large ticket giveaways -- got to watch a Buffalo team win a championship."
*1995 - San Jose Rhinos def. Montreal Roadrunnersvia Associated Press. "Knicks Get $1 Million, No. 1 Pick for Riley", Los Angeles Times, September 2, 1995. Accessed January 26, 2017. "Ken Blum's overtime goal gave the San Jose Rhinos a 2-1 mini-game victory over the Montreal Roadrunners and the Roller Hockey International title at Montreal. Montreal forced the mini-game with a 7-6 victory."
*1996 - Orlando Jackals def. Anaheim Bullfrogs"McGann Makes Birdie Putt To Win Playoff", Los Angeles Times, September 3, 1996. Accessed January 26, 2017. "The Orlando Jackals won the Roller Hockey International championship by defeating the Anaheim Bullfrogs, 8-4, in the final game of the three-game series."
*1997 - Anaheim Bullfrogs def. New Jersey Rockin' Rollers"Results Plus: New Jersey Falls in Final", The New York Times, September 1, 1997. Accessed January 23, 2017. "The Anaheim Bullfrogs beat the New Jersey Rockin' Rollers, 9-5, last night in East Rutherford, N.J., to complete a two-game sweep of Roller Hockey International's Murphy Cup."
*1998 - No season (MLRH Champion: Anaheim Bullfrogs)
*1999 - St. Louis Vipers def. Anaheim BullfrogsMcLeod, Paul. "Bullfrogs Back in Business, but for How Long?Roller hockey: After a year off, league tries to get back on track. Anaheim opens Saturday at Pond.", Los Angeles Times, June 4, 1999. Accessed January 24, 2017. "The Bullfrogs' seven-year record is 128-35-6. They won RHI titles in 1993 and '97, but when the league went broke after the '97 season, they jumped to Major League Roller Hockey, where they finished 20-0-1 and won the championship in 1998."
== Licensing ==
The league inspired at least one video game, Super Nintendo's RHI Roller Hockey '95, although the game was never released.
There was also a call-in style stats, scores and interview hotline where fans could call in following games. The phone number was 1-800-741-4RHI. This line was updated nightly following each game.
==Media coverage==
In the 1994 and '95 seasons, there was a regular schedule of games on ESPN2. In addition, several teams had their own radio or TV contracts. For example, a number of Blades home games were seen on Prime Sports and the Bullfrogs had radio broadcasts from 1994 to '96.
==NHL alumni==
*Ralph Barahona
*Daniel Berthiaume
*Francis Bouillon
*Darren Banks
*Frank Caprice
*Jose Charbonneau
*Nick Fotiu
*Stefan Grogg NLA and (National Team, Switzerland)
*Radek Hamr
*Mike Kennedy
*Sasha Lakovic
*Darren Langdon
*Manny Legace
*Alain Lemieux
*Glen Metropolit
*Tyler Moss
*Steve Poapst
*Walt Poddubny
*Al Secord
*Paul Skidmore
*Peter Skudra
*Bryan Trottier
*Perry Turnbull
*Dave "Tiger" Williams
*Rick Wilson
*Bob Woods
*Harry York
==See also==
*1993 RHI season
*1994 RHI season
*1995 RHI season
*1996 RHI season
*1997 RHI season
*1999 RHI season
==References==
==External links==
*RHI statistics
*RHI at The Internet Hockey Database
*Roller Hockey photo archive by Shelly Castellano
Category:Roller Hockey International
Category:Inline hockey leagues in the United States