Cincinnati Tigers (ice hockey)

The Cincinnati Tigers were a minor league ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League during the 1981–82 season. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Riverfront Coliseum. The team was owned and operated by Maple Leaf Gardens Limited, and served as a farm team for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[1][2][3][4] Prior to launching the Tigers, the Leafs were affiliated with the New Brunswick Hawks of the American Hockey League (AHL), which they shared with the Chicago Black Hawks.[1][3] However, Harold Ballard, owner of the Leafs, decided that they needed a developmental team of their own,[5] with a spokesperson citing the limited number of roster spots as the rationale for the move.[3][1]

Cincinnati Tigers
CityCincinnati, Ohio
LeagueCentral Hockey League
Operated1981-82
Home arenaRiverfront Coliseum
ColorsBlack with blue, gold and white trim
Owner(s)Maple Leaf Gardens Limited
AffiliatesToronto Maple Leafs

The team averaged only 1,500 fans and lost $750,000 in their first season, leading the Leafs to fold the Tigers in spring 1982.[6][7][8] Shortly thereafter, with Chicago having pulled out of New Brunswick in favour of affiliating with the Springfield Indians on their own,[7][8] the Leafs relocated the New Brunswick Hawks to St. Catharines, Ontario to establish the St. Catharines Saints as their farm team.[9][10][4]

The market was previously served by:

The market was later served by:

References
  1. "Leafs get new farm club in Central Hockey League". The Globe and Mail. 1981-06-24.
  2. Houston, William (1982-03-31). "'Everything has price,' Ballard says; it's $50 million for Leafs. Gardens". The Globe and Mail.
  3. Campbell, Neil (1981-06-17). "Cincinnati may get Leaf farm team". The Globe and Mail.
  4. "Leafs place AHL team in St. Kitts". The Globe and Mail. 1982-06-22.
  5. "Ballard wants Leafs to have own farm club". The Globe and Mail. 1980-03-21.
  6. Campbell, Neil (1982-06-11). "Salming wins Conacher award Niagara may get Leaf farm team". The Globe and Mail.
  7. Campbell, Neil (1982-05-28). "It's musical chairs on ice as CHL franchises switch". The Globe and Mail.
  8. "Leaf team to leave Moncton". Toronto Star. 1982-06-02.
  9. Kane, Mike (1982-07-24). "Red Wings return to North as AHL swells to 13 teams". Schenectady Gazette.
  10. "AHL adds three teams in expansion". The Globe and Mail. 1982-07-24.
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