Ohio

Ohio (pronounced O-hi-O) is a state in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions of the United States. Ohio has 88 counties and a total population of over 11.8 million and is 44,825 square miles, making Ohio the nation's 7th most populous and 34th largest state in the US. The state name derives from the Seneca word ohi:yo', meaning "beautiful river" or "large creek."
==History of hockey in Ohio==
see also: Cleveland Amateur Hockey (1946-1970)
Ice polo was being played in Cleveland by 1896-97, with the Forest Citys and Kennards facing one another. In late December, it was said that there were plans for hockey to be played and a league formed in Cleveland for the 1897-98 season, but no games were subsequently reported. The Cleveland Hockey Club blanked the Comets 5-0 in a hockey game on February 6, 1901. The Cleveland Hockey Club visited Pittsburgh in February, playing two games against local teams. They were blanked 7-0 by the Pittsburgh Bankers and 5-0 by Duquesne CAC. The following year, the Cleveland Hockey Club beat the Cleveland Imperials twice to win the city title, and also played five games (two home, three away) against teams from Pittsburgh, dropping them all. Cleveland HC visited St. Louis and played three games against the local teams in February 1903, winning two and losing one. The first hockey game in Canton took place in 1904. The Amazon Canoe Club was active in Cincinnati in 1905. They were said to have beaten "some good Chicago teams" on the road in 1901 and 1902. The Landon Athletic Club of Cleveland defeated Canton Marine AC twice in 1905. The following year, the Cincinnati Amazon Canoe Club scheduled games against Cleveland and Hamilton, Ontario, but neither wound up taking place. Landon AC beat the Cleveland Imperials 6-1 on February 6. 
The Elysium Arena opened in Cleveland on December 3, 1907, providing the city with its first indoor ice rink. The Northern Ohio Hockey Association was formed, comprised of four teams, the Clevelands (who won the inaugural championship), Collegians, Ohios, and Bankers. Princeton University, the Duluth Northern Hardware team, Pittsburgh, and the Montreal Wanderers all visited Cleveland that winter. The NOHA lasted until 1910. Hockey was first played in Akron in 1909. Case and Western Reserve University both formed hockey teams for the 1909-10 season. For 1910-11, an independent team known as the Cleveland Athletic Club was formed, and played exhibition games. In Canton, a league was set up. Cleveland AC won the MacNaughton Cup by defeating American Soo in a series in 1914. The Elysium was closed in 1916-17, so only a few games were played that year, but re-opened the following year and Cleveland AC returned. The team joined the United States Amateur Hockey Association in 1920-21, and won the inaugural championship. They remained in the league until it folded in 1925.
The Cleveland Collegians faced Dartmouth and Yale in 1925-26, and the Cleveland Amateur Hockey League was formed for 1926-27. The Cleveland Indians joined the International Hockey League in 1929. The team was renamed the Falcons, and later the Barons, and played in the IHL and the American Hockey League until 1973. A second incarnation of the Barons played in the AHL from 2001-2006. There was a franchise called the Cleveland Barons that played in the National Hockey League from 1976-1978. The Columbus Blue Jackets later joined the NHL in 2010. The Cleveland Crusaders (1972-1976) and Cincinnati Stinngers (1975-1979) were both members of the World Hockey Association. Ohio has had numerous minor professional franchises over the years. The Miami Valley Bruins played independently in 1950-51 before joining the International Hockey League the following season. The Ohio State Hockey League operated from 1946-1948. The Akron Stars were active intermittently from 1946-1962. The Cincinnati Jr. Mohawks played from 1954-1973. The Lima Chargers were an independent semi-professional team that was active from 1967-1974. The Central Ohio Hockey Association was contested in the Columbus area from 1973-1976.
College teams from Ohio played in the Penn-Ohio Intercollegiate Hockey League from 1937-1941. The Ohio State Buckeyes have played college hockey at the NCAA Division I level since 1963. The Ohio Bobcats had a program from 1964-1973. The Bowling Green Falcons have had a DI program since 1969, and the Miami RedHawks since 1978. The Findlay Oilers played at the DII level from 1996-1999, and in DI from 1999-2004. The Oberlin Yeomen had a Division II program from 1964-1979.
;List of minor pro franchises
*Cleveland Indians - (IHL) - (1929-1934)
*Cleveland Falcons - (IHL) - (1934-1937)
*Cleveland Barons - (AHL) - (1937-1973)
*Akron Icers - (TSHL) - (1940-1941)
*Toledo Babcocks - (MoHL) - (1940-1942)
*Akron Clippers - (MoHL) - (1941-1942)
*Toledo Babcocks - (Independent) - (1939-1940, 1942-1943)
*Toledo Bombers - (Independent) - (1943-1944)
*Akron Stars - (OSHL) - (1946-1948)
*Toledo Rovers - (OSHL) - (1946-1948)
*Cleveland Thompson Products - (OSHL) - (1946-1947)
*Toledo Mercurys - (IHL) - (1947-1962)
*Akron Americans - (IHL) - (1948-1949)
*Cleveland Knights - (EHL) - (1949-1950)
*Cincinnati Mohawks - (AHL) - (1949-1952)
*Toledo Buckeyes - (EHL) - (1949-1950)
*Troy Bruins - (IHL) - (1951-1959)
*Cincinnati Mohawks - (IHL) - (1952-1958)
*Marion Barons - (IHL) - (1953-1954)
*Cincinnati Wings - (CHL) - (1963-1964)
*Toledo Blades - (IHL) - (1963-1970)
*Dayton Gems - (IHL) - (1964-1977)
*Columbus Checkers - (IHL) - (1966-1970)
*Toledo Hornets - (IHL) - (1970-1974)
*Cincinnati Swords - (AHL) - (1971-1974)
*Columbus Golden Seals - (IHL) - (1971-1973)
*Cleveland Crusaders - (WHA) - (1972-1976)
*Columbus Owls - (IHL) - (1973-1977)
*Toledo Goaldiggers - (IHL) - (1974-1986)
*Cincinnati Stingers - (WHA) - (1975-1979)
*Dayton Owls - (IHL) - (1977)
*Cincinnati Stingers - (CHL) - (1979)
*Dayton Gems - (IHL) - (1979-1980)
*Cincinnati Tigers - (CHL) - (1981-1982)
*Dayton Jets - (AAHL) - (1986-1987)
*Troy Sabres - (AHL) - (1986-1987)
*Miami Valley Sabres - (AAHL) - (1987-1989)
*Cincinnati Cyclones - (ECHL) - (1990-1992)
*Columbus Chill - (ECHL) - (1991-1999)
*Dayton Bombers - (ECHL) - (1991-2009)
*Toledo Storm - (ECHL) - (1991-2007)
*Cincinnati Cyclones - (IHL) - (1992-2001)
*Cleveland Lumberjacks - (IHL) - (1992-2001)
*Dayton Ice Bandits - (ColHL) - (1996-1997)
*Cincinnati Mighty Ducks - (AHL) - (1997-2005)
*Cincinnati Cyclones - (ECHL) - (2006-present)
*Cleveland Barons - (AHL) - (2001-2006)
*Columbus Stars - (UHL) - (2003-2004)
*Youngstown Steelhounds - (CHL) - (2005-2008)
*Findlay Freedom - (NEHL) - (2006-2008)
*Wooster Warriors - (MAHL) - (2007-2008)
*Lake Erie Monsters - (AHL) - (2007-2016)
*Dayton Gems - (IHL) - (2009-2012)
*Toledo Walleye - (ECHL) - (2009-present)
*Wooster Korn Kings - (AAHL) - (2010)
*Queen City Storm - (AAHL) - (2010-2011) 
*Troy Bruins - (AAHL) - (2010-2011)
*Dayton Demonz - (FHL) - (2012-2015)
*Cleveland Monsters - (AHL) - (2016-present)
*Mentor Ice Breakers - (FHL) - (2018-2020)
Category:States