New Haven Nighthawks

The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had long-term affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars (1972–1977) and New York Rangers (1977–1981 and 1984–1987), but were affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings (1981–1991) in their final seasons. The team played their home games at the New Haven Coliseum. 
==History==
The Nighthawks were Calder Cup finalists four times: 1974–74, 1977–78, 1978–79 and a dramatic, unlikely playoff run in 1988–89 when they finished fourth in their division yet won two exciting playoff rounds before succumbing to the Adirondack Red Wings in the finals 4 games to 1. Those same Red Wings would take the Hawks out again in their last post-season before becoming the ill-fated New Haven Senators in 1992–93.
Notable players for the Nighthawks include former New York Islanders greats Bobby Nystrom and Billy Smith; Willie O'Ree; Tom Colley, the franchise's career leader in games (534), goals (204), assists (281) and points (485); ex-Boston Bruin Billy O'Dwyer; career penalty minute leader (688) Al Tuer; ex-WHA star Bobby Sheehan and Dale Lewis. The team was notorious for a revolving door for personnel holding the AHL record for players used in a single season with 62 in 1986. No player other than Colley played in as many as 300 games for the Nighthawks, while only one goaltender (Ron Scott) played over 100 games.
The franchise was renamed the New Haven Senators for the 1992–93 season when they began an NHL affiliation with the Ottawa Senators. The following season, the franchise moved to Prince Edward Island. Today, it is known as the Binghamton Senators.
===Franchise and Area History===
The franchise became known as:
*New Haven Senators (1992–93)
*Prince Edward Island Senators (1993–96)
*Binghamton Senators (2002–present)
The market was subsequently home to:
*Beast of New Haven (1997–1999)
*New Haven Knights (UHL) (2000–2002).
*Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2001–present)
==Season-by-season results==
===Regular season===
Season 	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	Points	Goalsfor	Goalsagainst	Standing
1972–73	76 	16 	40 	20 	— 	52 	246 	331 	6th, East
1973–74	76 	35 	31 	10 	— 	80 	291 	275 	4th, North
1974–75	76 	30 	35 	11 	— 	71 	282 	302 	5th, North
1975–76	76 	29 	39 	8 	— 	66 	261 	295 	3rd, South
1976–77	80 	43 	31 	6 	— 	92 	333 	287 	2nd, AHL
1977–78	80 	38 	31 	11 	— 	87 	313 	292 	2nd, South
1978–79	80 	46 	25 	9 	— 	101 	346 	271 	1st, South
1979–80	80 	46 	25 	9 	— 	101 	350 	305 	1st, South
1980–81	80 	29 	40 	11 	— 	69 	295 	321 	4th, South
1981–82	80 	39 	33 	8 	— 	86 	292 	276 	3rd, South
1982–83	80 	38 	34 	8 	— 	84 	337 	329 	3rd, South
1983–84	80 	36 	40 	4 	— 	76 	365 	371 	5th, South
1984–85	80 	31 	41 	8 	— 	70 	315 	341 	5th, South
1985–86	80 	36 	37 	7 	— 	79 	340 	343 	4th, South
1986–87	80 	44 	25 	— 	11 	99 	331 	315 	3rd, South
1987–88	80 	33 	37 	7 	3 	76 	288 	307 	5th, North
1988–89	80 	35 	35 	10 	— 	80 	325 	309 	4th, North
1989–90	80 	32 	41 	7 	— 	71 	283 	316 	7th, North
1990–91	80 	24 	45 	11 	— 	59 	246 	324 	7th, North
1991–92	80 	39 	37 	4 	— 	82 	305 	309 	3rd, North
===Playoffs===
Season 	1st round 	2nd round 	Finals
1972–73	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs
1973–74	W, 4-2, Rochester 	L, 0-4, Providence	—
1974–75	W, 4-1, Virginia 	W, 4-1, HER 	L, 1-4, Springfield
1975–76	L, 0-3, Richmond 	— 	—
1976–77	L, 2-4, Rochester 	— 	—
1977–78	W, 3-1, Philadelphia	W, 4-2, Rochester 	L, 1-4, Maine
1978–79	bye 	W, 4-2, Binghamton	L, 0-4, Maine
1979–80	W, 4-0, Rochester 	L, 2-4, Hershey 	—
1980–81	L, 0-4, Hershey 	— 	—
1981–82	L, 1-3, Rochester 	— 	—
1982–83	W, 4-1, Hershey 	L, 3-4 Rochester 	—
1983–84	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs
1984–85	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs
1985–86	L, 1-4, Hershey 	— 	—
1986–87	L, 3-4, Binghamton 	— 	—
1987–88	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs
1988–89	W, 4-2, Sherbrooke 	W, 4-2, Moncton 	L, 1-4, Adirondack
1989–90	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs
1990–91	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs 	Out of playoffs
1991–92	L, 1-4, Adirondack 	— 	—
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:American Hockey League team
Category:Established in 1972
Category:Disestablished in 1992
Category:New Haven Nighthawks
Category:American Hockey League teams