SKIPJACKS | bmoresportsnest

BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS HISTORY

The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor league hockey club that served as a farm team to the Boston Bruins (1982-1983), Pittsburgh Penguins (1982-1987) and Washington Capitals (1988-1993). Prior to the Skipjacks, Baltimore had a long and checkered history with pro hockey. Going back to the World War II era, all of Baltimore’s various minor league clubs were named the “Clippers”.

The Skipjacks’ finest seasons came during the mid-1980’s when they served as a Penguins’ farm club and were coached by Gene Ubriaco. In 1983-84, the Skipjacks had the best regular season record in the American Hockey League (46-24-10). The 1983-84 squad kept their core talent together for much of the season, thanks in part to Pittsburgh’s conscious effort to tank the NHL season and win the right to select Mario Lemieux in the 1984 NHL draft. At one point, the 1983-84 Skipjacks set an AHL record by winning 16 games in a row, but they were bounced in the Calder Cup semis by the Rochester Americans.

The following season, Ubriaco’s charges went further, advancing to the 1985 Calder Cup finals. The Skipjacks’ captain that season was Steve Carlson, a minor league warhorse who played one of the Hanson Brothers in Slap Shot. The 1984-85 team also included notorious tough guys Marty McSorley and Bennett Wolf. Rookie goaltender Jon Casey, on loan from the Minnesota North Stars, was outstanding with a 30-11-4 mark and a 2.63 GAA. But in the Calder Cup finals, Baltimore ran into the Sherbooke Canadiens and a young Montreal goaltending prospect named Patrick Roy. Sherbrooke beat the Skipjacks 4 games to 2 behind Roy’s heroics in net.

During their 12-year run in Baltimore the Skipjacks played second fiddle to the Baltimore Blast indoor soccer team, the ‘Jacks winter co-tenant at the Civic Center. The Blast, whose original 1980-1992 run coincided closely with the Skipjacks’ lifespan, consistently outdrew the hockey team on a magnitude of about 3:1.

That meant that the Skipjacks consistently lost six figures a year. After the 1986-87 season the Pittsburgh Penguins, who funded most of the club’s expenses, lost patience and shifted their top farm club relationship to Muskegon of the IHL. Businessman Tom Ebright saved the team, buying the club for $250,000 and operating as an independent (without NHL affiliation) for the 1987-88 season.

Starting in 1988, the Skipjacks became the top farm club for the nearby Washington Capitals of the NHL. With the switch, the Skipjacks dropped their black & yellow palate of the Penguins era in favor of a red, white & blue color scheme. The Capitals era wasn’t particularly fruitful for Baltimore hockey fans, but the ‘Jacks did help to produce two future NHL goaltending stars for Washington in Byron Dafoe and Olaf Kolzig.

Owner Tom Ebright lost an estimated $2.5 million on the Skipjacks over six years from 1987 to 1993. In March of 1993 he threw in the towel and signed a deal to move the Skipjacks to Portland, Maine. The Skipjacks became the Portland Pirates for the 1993-94 AHL season and continue to play under that identity today.

1981-82: The Skipjacks began their existence in the ill-fated Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL). With a history that featured teams folding after as few as six games and a franchise buyout by future pro wrestling icon Vince McMahon, the ACHL finished the season with only four team. Baltimore had a largely forgettable third place finish with a 22-23-3 mark. Goalie Jim Stewart earned 1st team all-star honors but his future NHL career was fitting for an ACHL alumni. He played in just one game for the Boston Bruins in 1979 and gave up 3 goals in the first 4 minutes and 5 goals in the 1st period and never played again.

1982-83: Long time NHL veteran Lou Angotti was named head coach of the Skipjacks, Baltimore’s new AHL entry that was actually a merge with the Erie Blades. Future Hall of Famer and franchise all-time scoring leader Mitch Lamoureaux (57 goals, 50 assists, 107 points) was named rookie of the year and Greg Tebbett (56 assists) was named defenseman of the year. Left wing Mike Gilles set single-season franchise records with 81 assists and 113 points while Lamoureaux’s 57 goals also set a single-season franchise record. The Skipjacks finished the season with a 35-36-9 record and missed the playoffs in their one and only season as a Boston Bruins affiliate.

1983-84: The Skipjacks became a Pittsburgh Penguins affiliate in their second AHL season and benefitted greatly from a roster stocked with top prospects that where being kept in the minors so the Penguins could secure the top draft pick and take future superstar Mario Lemiuex. Gene Ubriaco took over as head coach and earned AHL Coach of the Year honors as Baltimore captured their only Southern Division championship with a 46-24-10 mark and a team record 384 goals scored. But Baltimore’s success was more the result of much improved goaltending as Roberto Romano, Vincent Tremblay and Jim Ralph each had a goals against average of under 4.00. Romano had a 23-6-1 record between the pipes and lowered his GAA from 4.05 to 3.62. In the opening round of the playoffs, the Skipjacks swept the Springfield Indians four straight before getting eliminated four games to two by the Rochester Americans in the semifinals.

1984-85: In a league known for offense, Skipjacks goalie Jon Casey turned in a franchise record performance with four shutouts and a 2.63 GAA and was named the AHL Goalie of the Year. Right winger Tom Roulston led Baltimore in scoring with 31 goals and 70 points. A sixteen game win streak enabled the Skipjacks to finish second in the Southern Division with a 45-27-8 record. Baltimore was red-hot in the playoffs as they downed Rochester four games to one in the opening round and swept regular season champion Binghamton to reach the Calder Cup finals. Playoff MVP Brian Skrudland and a future NHL Hall of Fame goalie named Patrick Roy led the Sherbrooke Canadiens to a six game series with over the Skipjacks to take the AHL title.

1985-86: Instead of carrying momentum from the previous season’s playoff run, the wheels fell off for the Skipjacks as they finished dead last in the Southern Division with a 28-44-8 record and a league low 64 points. Tom Roulston again led Baltimore in scoring (38g, 49a, 87pts) and the tandem of Denis Herron (3.42 GAA) and Brian Ford (3.66 GAA) replaced Jon Casey but couldn’t duplicate his remarkable success between the pipes.

1986-87: Center Alain Lemieux (41g, 56a, 97pts) finished second in the AHL in scoring but no other Skipjacks came close to his level of production. Baltimore improved to a 35-37-8 record, however Gene Ubriaco’s squad again missed the playoff with a 5th place finish in the Southern Division. After the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they were ending their affiliation with the Skipjacks.

1987-88: With no NHL affiliation, the Skipjacks were far and away the worst team in the AHL. Sixteen consecutive losses to start the season prompted coach Gene Ubriaco to say, “It’s like being dead without being buried.” A 13-58-9 finish resulted in the most forgettable season in the long history of hockey in Charm City. The primary culprit in the horrendous season was goaltending as six different goalies combined to post a dreadful 5.79 GAA.

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1988-89: A new and much welcomed era of Skipjacks hockey began as the Washington Capitals took over as the team’s NHL affiliate. Gene Ubriaco was replaced by Terry Murray as head coach and several notable future Capitals like center Michal Pivonka, right wing John Druce and goaltenders Jim Hrivnak and Don Beaupre. Baltimore improved to 30-46-4 with Mike Richard finishing fourth in the AHL in scoring (44g, 63a, 107 pts) but the Skipjacks missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year.

1989-90: Looking to emerge from their four year doldrums, the Skipjacks jumped out to a 26-17-2 mark before Terry Murray was promoted to coach the Washington Capitals. Led by outstanding goaltending from Jim Hrivnak (3.06 GAA, 4 SO), Baltimore finished third in the South Division and took the opening round four games to two over Adirondack before being eliminated by division champion Rochester. Mike Richard was not among the league leaders but still was the Skipjacks top scorer with 41 goals and 42 assists.

1990-91: Some of the all-time franchise greats dotted the Skipjacks roster, such as center Alfie Turcotte, left wing Steve Maltais, center Tim Taylor and right wing Reggie Savage as Baltimore again finished third in the Southern Division with a 39-34-7 mark. Maltais (36), Turcotte (33) and Savage (32) each cracked the 30 goal mark with Turcotte leading the team in scoring (52a, 85pts). Jim Hrivnak (3.24 GAA) shared net minding duties with future Capitals star Olaf Kolzig (3.16 GAA). Baltimore didn’t fare better in the playoffs as they were eliminated by Binghamton four games to two.

1991-92: The AHL expanded to 15 teams and went to a three division format. Under second-year head coach Rob Laird, the Skipjacks were paired in the newly formed Southern Division along with league powerhouses Binghamton, Rochester and Hershey. The new division proved problematic for Baltimore as they finished last in the division with a 28-42-10 mark. Right wingers John Purves (43) and Reggie Savage (42) each topped the 40 goal mark and center Simon Wheeldon led the Skipjacks in scoring (38g, 53a, 91pts). But their defense was not enough to stop the other top teams in the league.

1992-93: Current Capital head coach Barry Trotz was behind the bench for what would be the Skipjacks finals season. With Olaf Kolzig and Jim Hrivnak moving up to the Capitals, the goaltending was substandard as starter Byron Dafoe finished with a 4.38 GAA. Despite a sub .500 record, Baltimore made the playoffs and pushed Binghamton (who set an AHL record with 124 points along with 57 wins) to a deciding game seven in the opening round. But the Rangers won the deciding game seven 5-3 in what would be the final game in Skipjacks history. Citing declining attendance and lack of community support, owner Tom Ebright decided to move the franchise to Portland, Maine for the 1993-94 season; closing the book on one of Baltimore’s most memorable franchises.