| Cincinnati Stingers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Cincinnati, Ohio |
| League | World Hockey Association |
| Operated | 1975–1979 |
| Home arena | Riverfront Coliseum |
| Colors | Black, gold |
| Media | WXIX-TV WKRC |
TheCincinnati Stingers were anice hockey team based inCincinnati that played in theWorld Hockey Association from1975 to1979 and in theCentral Hockey League during the1979–80 season. Their home arena wasRiverfront Coliseum. They are the only major league hockey team to have played in Cincinnati.
The Stingers franchise was awarded in 1974 as part of the WHA's ill-conceived attempt at expansion. They entered the league for the1975–76 WHA season along with theDenver Spurs. Most of the league's existing teams were not financially stable, and franchise relocations were commonplace. The Stingers achieved enough stability that they were the only one of the WHA's five expansion teams that lasted through to the end of the league, but they were left out of theNHL–WHA merger in mid-1979. The WHA insisted on including all three of its surviving Canadian teams,[1] though below-average attendance made it unlikely that the Stingers would have made the cut. The Stingers, along with theBirmingham Bulls, were paid to disband when the WHA ceased operations. With the NHL'sCleveland Barons merging with theMinnesota North Stars the previous year,Ohio would be left without a major professional hockey team until theColumbus Blue Jackets started play in 2000.
The Stingers were the first professional team of long-time NHL starsMike Gartner andMike Liut, and the second pro team forMark Messier, who scored one goal on a line withRobbie Ftorek, one of the league's top scorers.[2]
After the WHA shut down, a minor professional version of the Cincinnati Stingers began the 1979–80 season in theCentral Hockey League (CHL). The CHL team included only three players from the 1978–79 WHA Stingers;Dave Debol,Byron Shutt andPaul Stewart, but disbanded 33 games into the season.
The last Cincinnati Stingers player active in North American major professional hockey was Mark Messier, who retired in 2004.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975–76 | 80 | 35 | 44 | 1 | 71 | 285 | 340 | 1344 | 4th, Eastern | Did not qualify |
| 1976–77 | 81 | 39 | 37 | 5 | 83 | 354 | 303 | 970 | 2nd, Eastern | LostQuarterfinals vs.Indianapolis Racers, 0–4 |
| 1977–78 | 80 | 35 | 42 | 3 | 73 | 298 | 332 | 1701 | 7th, WHA | Did not qualify |
| 1978–79 | 80 | 33 | 41 | 6 | 72 | 274 | 284 | 1651 | 5th, WHA | LostQuarterfinals vs.New England Whalers, 1–2 |
| Totals | 321 | 142 | 164 | 15 | 299 | 1211 | 1259 | 5666 |
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979–80 | 33 | 11 | 21 | 1 | 23 | 108 | 151 | 591 | n/a | Incomplete season |