Johnstown Jets
The Johnstown Jets were a professional ice hockey team from Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The Jets were founded in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for the 1950–51 season, playing at the newly constructed Cambria County War Memorial Arena. The Jets won consecutive EHL championships in 1951–52 and 1952–53.
When the EAHL suspended operations in 1953, the Jets transferred to the International Hockey League, where they played two seasons. Johnstown were Turner Cup finalists in 1953–54, losing 4 games to 2, to the Cincinnati Mohawks.
In 1955, the Jets joined the Eastern Hockey League, and won three consecutive EHL championships in 1959–60, 1960–61 and 1961–62. Johnstown remained in the league until its demise in 1973.
The Jets then joined the new North American Hockey League in 1973. Dick Roberge coached Johnstown to the Lockhart Cup championship 1974–75, defeating the Broome Dusters. That season's playoff run included the Carlson brothers, Jeff, Jack and Steve, who became the basis for the Hanson Brothers in the movie Slap Shot. Jeff and Steve Carlson portrayed their fictional selves in the movie, while former Jet Dave Hanson portrayed Jack. The Jets played four seasons total in the NAHL before the league folded in 1977. The team itself folded in the offseason, when the Johnstown flood of 1977 damaged the arena's ice making equipment.
Johnstown was later represented by the Johnstown Wings from 1978-80. The Red Wings folded after two seasons, but hockey returned to Johnstown in 1988 with the Johnstown Chiefs, which named itself after the Jets' fictional counterpart from Slap Shot.
Season-by-season results
NHL alumni
List of Johnstown Jets who played in the National Hockey League, 46 in total.League All-Stars
The following players were named to the league's respective All-Star team, announced at the end of the season.Year | Player | Position | Team | Total |
1951-52 | Ivan Wamsley | Goalie | First Team | 1st nomination |
Larry Archambeault | Defense | First Team | 1st nomination | |
Skip Burchell | Center | First Team | 1st nomination | |
Reggie Grigg | Right Wing | Third Team | 1st nomination | |
1952-53 | Ivan Wamsley | Goalie | Second Team | 2nd nomination |
Don Hall | Left Wing | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
1953-54 | Don Hall | Left Wing | First Team | 2nd nomination |
Arnie Schmaultz | Right Wing | Right Team | 1st nomination | |
1954-55 | Don Hall | Left Wing | First Team | 3rd nomination |
John Horvath | Center | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
1955-56 | Don Hall | Left Wing | First Team | 4th nomination |
Ken Coombes | Center | First Team | 1st nomination | |
Dick Roberge | Right | First Team | 1st nomination | |
Alex Zubatiuk | Defense | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
1956-57 | Don Hall | Left Wing | First Team | 5th nomination |
Lloyd Ailsby | Defense | First Team | 1st nomination | |
Ken Coombes | Center | First Team | 1st nomination | |
1957-58 | Don Hall | Left Wing | First Team | 6th nomination |
Ken Coombes | Center | First Team | 2nd nomination | |
Dick Roberge | Right Wing | Second Team | 2nd nomination | |
Dave Lucas | Defense | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
1958-59 | Dick Roberge | Right Wing | First Team | 3rd nomination |
Steve Brklacich | Defense | First Team | First nomination | |
Don Hall | Left Wing | Second Team | 7th nomination | |
Jim Shirley | Goalie | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
1959-60 | Dick Roberge | Right Wing | First Team | 4th nomination |
Ed Johnston | Goalie | First Team | 1st nomination | |
Steve Brklacich | Coach | First Team | 2nd nomination | |
Steve Brklacich | Defense | Second Team | 3rd nomination | |
Don Hall | Left Wing | Second Team | 8th nomination | |
Dave Lucas | Defense | Second Team | 2nd nomination | |
Ken Coombes | Center | Second Team | 3rd nomination | |
1960-61 | Dick Roberge | Right Wing | First Team | 4th nomination |
Don Hall | Left Wing | Second Team | 9th nomination | |
Ken Laufman | Center | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
Steve Brklacich | Defense | Second Team | 4th nomination | |
1961-62 | Dick Roberge | Right Wing | First Team | 5th nomination |
Ken Laufman | Center | First Team | 2nd nomination | |
John Lumley | Left Wing | First Team | 1st nomination | |
Dave Lucas | Defense | First Team | 3rd nomination | |
1962-63 | Butch Martin | Coach | First Team | 1st nomination |
Butch Martin | Left Wing | Second Team | 2nd nomination | |
Dave Lucas | Defense | Second Team | 4th nomination | |
1963-64 | Dave Lucas | Defense | First Team | 5th nomination |
Butch Martin | Right Wing | Second Team | 3rd nomination | |
Butch Martin | Coach | Second Team | 3rd nomination | |
1964-65 | Dick Roberge | Right Wing | First Team | 6th nomination |
Dave Lucas | Defense | Second Team | 6th nomination | |
Bill Ives | Left Wing | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
1965-66 | Dick Roberge | Right Wing | First Team | 7th nomination |
Dave Lucas | Defense | Second Team | 7th nomination | |
Dave Lucas | Coach | Second Team | 8th nomination | |
Andy Brown | Goalie | Second Team | 1st nomination | |
1966-67 | Ralph McSweyn | Right Wing | First Team | 1st nomination |
Dick Roberge | Right Wing | Second Team | 8th nomination | |
1967-68 | Reg Kent | Center | First Team | 1st nomination |
1968-69 | Dick Roberge | Coach | First Team | 9th nomination |
Reg Kent | Center | First Team | 2nd nomination | |
Galen Head | Right Wing | First Team | 1st nomination | |
1972-73 | Ted Lanyon | Defense | Second Team | 1st nomination |
Most All-Star appearances
Player | Appearances | Notes |
Don Hall | 9 | |
Dick Roberge | 9 | Includes one appearance as a coach |
Dave Lucas | 8 | Includes one appearance as a coach |
Steve Brklacich | 4 | Includes one appearance as a coach |
Butch Martin | 4 | Includes one appearance as a coach. Only player in Jets' history to be named to EHL All-Star team under two positions |
Ken Coombes | 3 | |
Ken Laufman | 2 | |
Reg Kent | 2 | |
Ivan Wamsley | 2 |