| Erie Blades | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Erie, Pennsylvania |
| League | NAHL (1975–77) NEHL (1978–79) EHL (1979–81) AHL (1981–82) |
| Operated | 1975–1982 |
| Home arena | Erie County Field House |
| Colors | Navy blue, gold, white |
| Franchise history | |
| 1st Franchise | |
| 1975–1977 | Erie Blades |
| Second Franchise | |
| 1978–1982 | Erie Blades |
| 1982–1993 | Baltimore Skipjacks |
| 1993–2016 | Portland Pirates |
| 2016–present | Springfield Thunderbirds |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 3: (1978–79NEHL) (1979–80, 1980–81EHL) |
| Playoff championships | 3: (1978–79NEHL) (1979–80, 1980–81EHL) |
TheErie Blades name was used by two professionalice hockey teams inErie, Pennsylvania. Both teams played their home games in theErie County Field House. After the second Blades team folded, the void was filled by theErie Golden Blades, a team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 1982 to 1987. They changed the colors from orange and black, to gold and blue with the name change.
The first team was a member of theNorth American Hockey League from 1975 to 1977.Nick Polano was the team's coach both seasons.[1] During the 1975–76 season, the Blades had primary affiliations with theDenver Spurs andOttawa Civics of theWorld Hockey Association, in addition to theFort Worth Texans andTucson Mavericks in theCentral Hockey League. During the 1976–77 season, the Blades had a primary affiliation with theHouston Aeros of the World Hockey Association. During both season, the Blades had secondary affiliations with theLos Angeles Kings andNew York Islanders of theNational Hockey League.[2]
The second team was a member of theNortheastern Hockey League during the 1978–79 season, then theEastern Hockey League from 1979 to 1981. The Blades won three consecutive league championships during these seasons. Nick Polano coached the second Blades team for its first three seasons.[3] The Blades had National Hockey League affiliations with theNew York Islanders from 1978 to 1980, theQuebec Nordiques from 1979 to 1981, and theBuffalo Sabres for the 1980–81 season.[4]
The Blades were then admitted to theAmerican Hockey League for the1981–82 season.Lou Angotti replaced Polano as the head coach in 1981. The Blades were affiliated with thePittsburgh Penguins andBoston Bruins.[5] After one season, the team was relocated toBaltimore, Maryland, merging with theBaltimore Skipjacks of theAtlantic Coast Hockey League, for the1982–83 season. Coach Angotti and sixteen players were transferred to the Skipjacks.[citation needed]
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 | 74 | 37 | 36 | 1 | 75 | 310 | 298 | 3rd, West |
| 1976–77 | 74 | 37 | 33 | 4 | 78 | 257 | 251 | 5th, NAHL |
| 1978–79 | 69 | 47 | 19 | 3 | 97 | 344 | 260 | 1st, NEHL |
| 1979–80 | 70 | 46 | 21 | 3 | 95 | 349 | 241 | 1st, EHL |
| 1980–81 | 72 | 52 | 14 | 6 | 110 | 407 | 252 | 1st, EHL |
| 1981–82 | 80 | 22 | 52 | 6 | 50 | 317 | 425 | 6th, South |
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | Finals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 | Lost | –– | –– | |||||
| 1976–77 | Won | Lost | –– | |||||
| 1978–79 | Champions | |||||||
| 1979–80 | Champions | |||||||
| 1980–81 | Champions | |||||||
| 1981–82 | Out of playoffs | |||||||