Philadelphia Firebirds

The Philadelphia Firebirds were a minor league professional minor league hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1974 to 1979. 
From 1974 to 1977 the Firebirds were a member club of the North American Hockey League winning the league's Lockhart Cup play-off championship in 1976. The Firebirds featured several key players during their time in Philadelphia. Goaltender Rejean Lemelin moved on from the Firebirds to a long career with Calgary and Boston in the NHL. The tandem of center Bobby Collyard and right wing Gordie Brooks were consistently among the leading scorers in both the NAHL and AHL during their Firebird careers.
When the NAHL folded in 1977, the Firebirds, along with the Broome Dusters, joined the then-struggling American Hockey League. The Firebirds played all five seasons in Philadelphia (three NAHL and two AHL seasons) at Convention Hall, which has since been torn down. The Firebirds were affiliated with the NHL Detroit Red Wings in 1977–78 and the Colorado Rockies in 1978–79.
Following the 1979 season, the franchise moved to Syracuse, New York, where the club played one final season as the Syracuse Firebirds before folding. 
==Season-by-season results==
* Philadelphia Firebirds 1974–1977 (North American Hockey League)
* Philadelphia Firebirds 1977–1979 (American Hockey League)
* Syracuse Firebirds 1979–1980 (American Hockey League)
===Regular season===
Season 	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	Points	Goalsfor	Goalsagainst	Standing
1974–75	74 	40 	31 	3 	83 	311 	288 	2nd, NAHL
1975–76	74 	45 	29 	0 	90 	373 	319 	2nd, West
1976–77	74 	38 	33 	3 	79 	319 	294 	4th, NAHL
1977–78	81 	35 	35 	11 	81 	294 	290 	3rd, South
1978–79	80 	23 	49 	8 	54 	230 	347 	5th, South
1979–80	80 	31 	42 	7 	69 	303 	364 	3rd, South
===Playoffs===
Season 	1st round 	2nd round 	Finals
1974–75	L, 1–3, Long Island	— 	—
1975–76	W, 3–2, Erie 	W, 4–2, Johnstown	W, 4–2, BeauceLockhart Cup Champions
1976–77	L, 1–3, Erie 	— 	—
1977–78	L, 1–3, New Haven 	— 	—
1978–79	Out of Playoffs 	Out of Playoffs 	Out of Playoffs
1979–80	L, 0–4, Hershey 	— 	—
==External links==
*"A Brief History of The American Hockey League & Minor League Pro Hockey in Philadelphia: 1927 - 2005"
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:American Hockey League team
Category:North American Hockey League (1973–1977) teams