North American Hockey League (1973–1977)

:See also: North American Hockey League and Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey.
The North American Hockey League was a low-level minor professional hockey league that existed from 1973 to 1977. The NAHL was one of two leagues, along with the Southern Hockey League, that were formed after the Eastern Hockey League ceased operations in 1973. The Lockhart Cup was the league's championship trophy. The league served as the inspiration for the movie, Slap Shot.
A milestone in professional hockey occured in the NAHL in 1975-76 when Jocelyn Hardy of the Beauce Jaros scored 208 regular season points in one season, thus becoming the first player to ever achieve this mark, five years before Wayne Gretzky did pass the 200 points mark for the first time in the much more competitive National Hockey League.
==Teams==
Team name 	City 	Arena 	Years 	Comments
Broome Dusters 	Binghamton, New York 	Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena	1973–1977	Join American Hockey League
Cape Cod Cubs/Cape Codders	South Yarmouth, Massachusetts	Cape Cod Coliseum 	1973–1976	folded
Johnstown Jets 	Johnstown, Pennsylvania 	Cambria County War Memorial Arena 	1973–1977	Fold when arena is damaged in severe flooding
Long Island Cougars 	Commack, New York 	Long Island Arena 	1973–1975	Folded
Maine Nordiques 	Lewiston, Maine 	Lewiston Colisee 	1973–1977	fold with league
Mohawk Valley Comets 	Utica, New York 	Utica Memorial Auditorium 	1973–1977	fold with league
Syracuse Blazers 	Syracuse, New York 	Onondaga County War Memorial 	1973–1977	Folded after 1976-77 season
Philadelphia Firebirds 	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 	Philadelphia Civic Center 	1974–1977	join American Hockey League
Beauce Jaros 	Saint-Georges, Quebec 	Centre Sportif Lacroix-Dutil 	1975–1977	folded during 1976-77 season
Buffalo Norsemen 	North Tonawanda, New York 	Tonawanda Sports Center 	1975-1976	folded
Erie Blades 	Erie, Pennsylvania 	Erie County Field House 	1975–1977	Fold with league
Syracuse Condors 	Syracuse, New York 	Onondaga County War Memorial 	1977 	Awarded; but league folded before team plays
==Lockhart Cup==
Season 	Champion 	Finalist
1973-74	Syracuse Blazers 	Long Island Cougars
1974-75	Johnstown Jets 	Broome Dusters
1975-76	Philadelphia Firebirds	Beauce Jaros
1976-77	Syracuse Blazers 	Maine Nordiques
==References==
* Teams & standings
Category:Defunct ice hockey leagues
Category:North American Hockey League (1973-1977)