The date was Oct. 10, 1969. Golden Eagles winger Ted Hodgson completed his hat trick by firing the puck into an empty San Diego net late in the third period. The final score: Salt Lake Golden Eagles 4, San Diego Gulls 2. A long history of the most successful pro sports franchise in Utah was born.
For 25 years, the Eagles provided Utah sports fans with a winning combination of hard-hitting action and good value for the entertainment dollar.The Eagles survived the demise of two leagues, the tragic deaths of two owners, the financial breakup of a parent club and the expense of flying visiting teams to Salt Lake City so they could join a new league. Because of Salt Lake's entry into the International Hockey League in 1984, what was once a Midwestern bus league has expanded into major-league markets from coast to coast and boasts talent half a step away from the National Hockey League.
Conceived early in 1968 through the dreams of Salt Lake businessman Dan Meyer, the Eagles cease operations after April 12 because of their sale by Larry H. Miller to Detroit investors. Area hockey fans are still in disbelief.
A look back seems appropriate.
When the Eagles moved to the Delta Center in 1991, it spelled the end of an era. Though roomy and new, the DC lacks the gloried history of the Salt Palace. Through nearly 1,000 hockey games, the Salt Palace hosted eight league championship series, two Central Hockey League All-Star games and countless memories and traditions, from between-period puck shoots to Bikini Night. It started in the days when many goalies went without facemasks and most skaters played helmetless, when wooden dashers and wire screen defined the rink.
Charlie Finley, flamboyant former owner of Oakland's A's and Seals, purchased the team from Meyer's estate after his death in 1972 and outfitted the Golden Eagles in green and gold uniforms with white skates. Finley was forced out a year later, the NHL operated the club and then prepared to shut it down. Art Teece and Thayne Acord took over in 1974 and never looked back.
JoAnne Harmon provided hours of rousing refrains perched atop her organ loft near Section 2. Another favorite was Noel Twitchell's resonate "Star Spangled Banner" before each game. And who can forget the original mascot, Goldy, skating on four-foot stilts to the utter amazement of visiting players?
Salt Lake hockey crowds proved to be among the noisiest, most rambunctious and most loyal anywhere. Through the '70s and early '80s, the Eagles set minor league records for attendance, outdrawing some NHL clubs. Palace faithful always had creative ways to encourage the Eagles and irritate opponents: "Crazy Ray" leading the four-sided "Eagles Eagles Eagles Eagles!" cheer (equivalent to today's "wave") and the Red Belle Roto Rooters clanking cowbells and blowing horns.
Perhaps that fan loyalty more than anything encouraged Teece to keep hockey alive in Utah as long as he did. More than once the Eagles faced what seemed like a sure death. Each time, Teece somehow found a way to keep them afloat. Fans still say Teece made more saves than ex-Eagle netminder Rick Heinz.
Many believe the greatest sporting event ever at the Salt Palace was Game 7 of the 1975 CHL finals, the Eagles and the Dallas Blackhawks. Before a sellout crowd minutes into the second overtime period, Eagle winger Gary Holt, being checked by his Blackhawk brother, Randy, popped a backhander into the Dallas goal to give Salt Lake its first hockey championship, the Adams Cup.
Eagle legend Lyle Bradley had an assist on that goal. His retired jersey, No. 11, hangs from Delta Center rafters as do five championship banners, three CHL, two IHL. The other jersey hanging there is Doug Palazzari's No. 24. "Pizza" led the Eagles to two CHL titles and was one of the most talented American skaters. Another American who starred for the Eagles in a sport still dominated by Canadians was current Pittsburgh Penguin Joey Mullen. He holds the NHL record for career points by an American and has skated on three Stanley Cup championship teams and two Adams-Cup Eagle teams. Mullen has enjoyed more success than any other Eagle, and it all started in Salt Lake.
Eagle fans have been treated to the talents of dozens of other skilled and entertaining players. Acrobatic goalies used any means available, including a bare forehead: Jim Armstrong, 1970; he left for stitches and finished the game.
Standouts include Heinz, who owns three Eagle championship rings; Andrei Trefilov, the Russian import from last season; Olympic gold medalist Jim Craig; Calgary Flame and NHL all-star Mike Vernon; Ray Martyniuk, Ed Staniowski, Doug Grant and current Eagle equipment manager Paul Skidmore.
On defense, the Eagles have featured Moose Vasko, Brent Meeke, Steve Harrison, Paul Terbenche, Glenn Patrick, Neil Labatte, Len Frig and Ken Sabourin. Smooth forwards like Bradley, Mullen and Palazzari, Guyle Fielder, Rich Chernomaz, Charlie Simmer, Richie Hansen, Marc Bureau, Theoren Fleury and Scott MacLeod collectively scored almost as many points as the Salt Palace had bricks. Holt, Floyd Thomson, Jim Nill, Curt Brackenbury, Rick Bowness, Dave Hrechkosy and Perry Anderson did the dirty work in the corners. Enforcers Paul Kruse, Kerry Clark, Stu Grimson, Martin Simard, Reggie Fleming, Paul Tantardini and Rick Hayward kept the Eagle penalty box warm.
And the coaches: Jack "Tex" Evans (all three CHL championships), IHL championship mentors Wayne Thomas and Paul Baxter; Tom Webster, Al Rollins and Eagle captain-turned-coach Bob Francis.
For years, the Eagles were the yardstick by which all minor-league hockey franchises were measured.
Too many faces go unmentioned: Fans, management, trainers, stickboys, rinkrats, ushers, pressbox aides, popcorn and soda vendors; they, too, helped make hockey something to look forward to. As the Golden Eagles' 25th anniversary season comes to a close, fans everywhere mourn the loss of a hockey team. We are all genuinely fortunate to be able to recall so many fond memories of the past quarter century. Isn't it ironic that the Golden Eagles' final home opponent is the San Diego Gulls? Anyone care to bet on the score?