Twin Cities Vulcans

The **Twin Cities Vulcans** are a team of the Twin Cities Hockey League, where they have played since joining the league as an expansion team for the 1919-20 season. Based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area, the Vulcans play their home games at the 1,000-seat Augsburg Arena on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

## History

The Vulcans were founded as the **Twin Cities Vulcans** by center Lou Tschida, previously one of the original players for the St. Paul Saints, in 1919. Known for having issues with several teammates, most notably star center Maurice Martin (with whom he would get into shouting matches and even fights). After the Saints lost the 1919 semifinals to the Minneapolis Millers, Martin blamed Tschida for their loss. That would prove to be the last straw for Tschida, as he gathered up many of his more sympathetic Saints teammates as well as Minneapolis co-workers to form the Vulcans, whose name and visual identity were chosen to be the opposite of the Saints'.

The Vulcans became the first (and so far only) team in MAHL history to win the Kellogg Cup in their inaugural season, defeating the Ely Black Bears in the title game to capture the Cup. Although the Vulcans have not won the Cup since then, they have won 10 Twin Cities League Titles and appeared in 7 Super Series.

From 1962-1968, the Vulcans played as a member of the TCHL's West Division (where they won 3 Division Titles) and later switched to the East Division from 1969-1971, when the league returned to its single-table format.

In 1977, the Vulcans changed their name to the **St. Anthony Vulcans**, as most of the team's players hailed from the St. Anthony neighborhood in St. Paul. That name change caused a good deal of controversy among fans, many of whom blamed the Vulcans' recent troubles (such as their first-round upset loss in 1977 and their respective sixth-place and ninth-place finishes in 1978 & 1979) on the name change, noting that the Vulcans do not even play in St. Paul, let alone its St. Anthony neighborhood. Because of the backlash, the team restored the Twin Cities Vulcans name in 1980, with the team securing a second-place finish in the Twin Cities League as well as a first-round bye that year.

### Lou Tschida's Legacy

Tschida retired as a player following the Vulcans' 1929 Kellogg Cup Finals loss to the Duluth Voyageurs, and as a coach following the 1950 season. Shortly after his retirement as a player, the MAHL introduced the Tschida Trophy would be awarded to the league's most valuable player in the league after the season.

After Tschida's death in 1956 at the age of 62, the Vulcans retired his #6, becoming the first MAHL team to ever retire a uniform number.

### Culture

#### A Team of Eras

Perhaps no team in the MAHL has changed more over the years than the Vulcans.

The team began with players from both Minneapolis & St. Paul (though the majority would come from Minneapolis), a trend that continued until about the mid 70s when the team began to de facto represent the St. Anthony area with most of the players living there. That lasted until St. Anthony got their own team in the St. Anthony Trojans, taking a good chunk of the Vulcans roster with them.

Since the majority of their TCHL league-mates represent specific towns or neighborhoods, the Vulcans were left with a bit of an issue as they didn't have anyone they truly represented. The Vulcans would continue to lose players year after year until by the mid 80s the team was primarily made up of local college students.

The majority of the team consists of current or recently graduated students from the University of Minnesota, but there are also players from other local schools such as the University of St. Thomas, Augsburg University, and Hamline University. The Vulcans seem to have become Dinkytown's team, often attracting drunken college students to games, creating a unique experience in the MAHL.

#### Traditions

The Twin Cities Vulcans have been playing "Ring of Fire" by Johnny Cash to celebrate victories since 1963. Fans sing and clap along, yelling *"I fell into a burning ring of fire, Went down, down, down, And the flames went higher, And it burns, burns, burns, The ring of fire, The ring of fire!"* after every Vulcans home win.

#### The Funnel Chant

Vulcan fans are known for their use of the "Funnel Chant" during games. The chant is directed at the opposing goalie to try and throw them off their game.

The chant gained popularity in the mid 80s after students at the U of M began using it during Vulcan games. The chant has become a mainstay at both Gopher & Vulcan games.

Chant:

> *"Hey, (Opposing Goalie's Name), you're not a sieve, you're a funnel!*
>
>
> *Hey, (Opposing Goalie's Name), you're not a funnel, you're a vacuum!*
>
>
> *Hey, (Opposing Goalie's Name), you're not a vacuum, you're a black hole!*
>
>
> *Hey, (Opposing Goalie's Name), you're not black hole*
>
>
>
> *You just suck! You just suck! You just suck!"*
>
>

### Rivalry Trophies

#### The Holy War Trophy

Beginning in 1960, the Vulcans compete with their archrivals the Saints for The Holy War Trophy, awarded to whichever team wins the head-to-head season series (or, if the series is tied, which team scores the most goals between them).

Currently, the Saints hold the Trophy, having won it back in 1985 and holding it the following three years. The Halos lead the all-time trophy series, 16-13.

#### City of Lakes Trophy

The Vulcans compete against their in-city rivals the Minneapolis Bakers, Minneapolis Millers and Nokomis Skippers for the City of Lakes Trophy, awarded to the team which finishes the highest in the standings at the end of the season.

Currently, the Millers hold this Trophy, having won it for the first time in 1984 and holding it the following four years. The Millers lead the all-time trophy series, 5-3-0, with the Bakers and Skippers not yet having won it as of 1988.

### Vinny Vulcan

Beginning in 1974, the Vulcans have a mascot named Vincent Vulcan, commonly known as Vinny Vulcan. The first body-costumed mascot in MAHL history, the trickster Vinny has quickly become a favorite of Vulcans fans. In addition to every Vulcans home game at Augsburg Arena, Vinny also travels to most of their away games, making him the first MAHL mascot to travel with his team and already a staple of Twin Cities League fan culture.

Vinny is known for his strong dislike of the Saints' mascot, Saint Paul, their personal rivalry as fierce as their teams'.

### Retired Numbers

* **6** - Founder/Coach/Player Lou Tschida (1920-1950): Founded the Vulcans in 1919, led them to the 1920 Kellogg Cup and to 6 Twin Cities League Titles. After retiring as a player in 1929, he remained the team's head coach until 1950. The MAHL's MVP trophy, the Tschida Trophy, is named to honor him.