| Cleveland Crusaders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Cleveland, Ohio |
| League | World Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1972–1976 |
| Home arena | Cleveland Arena (1972–74) Richfield Coliseum (1974–76). |
| Colors | Purple, black, white |
| Media | WUAB WHK |
| Franchise history | |
| 1972 (did not play) | Calgary Broncos |
| 1972–1976 | Cleveland Crusaders |
| 1976–1977 | Minnesota Fighting Saints |
TheCleveland Crusaders were a professionalice hockey team fromCleveland. They played in theWorld Hockey Association from1972 to1976. Their home ice was theCleveland Arena from 1972 to 1974, and theRichfield Coliseum from 1974 to 1976.
The team was owned byNick Mileti, who had been the founder of theNBA'sCleveland Cavaliers, and also ownedMajor League Baseball'sCleveland Indians. Mileti had made a bid for a franchise in theNational Hockey League but was denied.[1] He had also owned the nine-timeAmerican Hockey League championCleveland Barons, but moved them toJacksonville, Florida to make room for the Crusaders. On July 27, 1972, the Crusaders made their first big signing when they signedGerry Cheevers, star goalie of theBoston Bruins to the WHA in a move that Cheevers stated was for "the security of my family". The first coach for the Crusaders wasBill Needham, a mainstay of the Barons. Needham coached the Crusaders to winning records in the first two seasons but failed to advance past the second playoff round. In the1974–75 season,John Hanna took over as coach, to be replaced mid-season byJack Vivian. Cleveland finished second in the east division despite a losing record, but fell in the first round of the playoffs.Johnny Wilson led the team for its final season, also losing in the first round of the post-season.
Mileti sold the team to Jay White in 1975, but White sold it back to Mileti in 1976. In that year, the Crusaders hosted the1976 WHA All-Star Game at theRichfield Coliseum on January 13, 1976. However, not long after Mileti closed on his repurchase, theNational Hockey League'sCalifornia Golden Seals moved to Cleveland and became theCleveland Barons. Mileti knew he could not hope to compete with an NHL team and decided to move the Crusaders elsewhere.
By July 1976, a deal with Atlanta businessman Bill Putnam was announced but not fully consummated. He aimed to purchase a team and play inHollywood, Florida with "orange and turquoise blue colors", and he even debated just buying theSan Diego Mariners and moving them to Florida if unable to buy the Crusaders.[2][3] Putnam planned to name the team theFlorida Breakers,[4] going far enough to have a logo designed.[5] After the proposed move fell through, the Crusaders relocated toSt. Paul, Minnesota, becoming the second incarnation of theMinnesota Fighting Saints.[6][7]
Gary Jarrett was the Crusaders top scorer in their four seasons, playing in 298 games, scoring 104 goals, 119 assists, totalling 223 points.Gerry Pinder played the most games in a Crusader uniform, 304 in total. Other notable Crusaders players includedPaul Shmyr (538 penalty minutes in four seasons), netminderGerry Cheevers (99 wins in four seasons), and defensemanWayne Hillman. Cheevers won the inauguralBen Hatskin Trophy for his goaltending in 1973. Seven Crusaders were named to anWHA All-Star Team in their history, withPaul Shmyr being named to the First-Team three times (1972–73, 1973–74, 1975–76) and Cheevers being named a First-Team once and Second Team twice.
The last active Crusaders player in major professional hockey wasPaul Baxter, who last played the1986-87 NHL season.
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs | Avg. attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–73 | 78 | 43 | 32 | 3 | 89 | 287 | 239 | 1095 | 2nd, Eastern | Won quarter-final (Blazers) Lost semi-final (Whalers) | 5,287 |
| 1973–74 | 78 | 37 | 32 | 9 | 83 | 266 | 264 | 1007 | 3rd, Eastern | Lost quarter-final (Toros) | 6,212 |
| 1974–75 | 78 | 35 | 40 | 3 | 73 | 236 | 258 | 1273 | 2nd, Eastern | Lost quarter-final (Aeros) | 6,931 |
| 1975–76 | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 75 | 273 | 279 | 1356 | 2nd, Eastern | Lost preliminary round (Whalers) | 6,356 |
| Totals | 314 | 150 | 144 | 20 | 320 | 1062 | 1040 | 4731 | 6,197 |
