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.
YearPlayerPositionTeamTotal
1951-52Ivan WamsleyGoalieFirst Team1st nomination
Larry ArchambeaultDefenseFirst Team1st nomination
Skip BurchellCenterFirst Team1st nomination
Reggie GriggRight WingThird Team1st nomination
1952-53Ivan WamsleyGoalieSecond Team2nd nomination
Don HallLeft WingSecond Team1st nomination
1953-54Don HallLeft WingFirst Team2nd nomination
Arnie SchmaultzRight WingRight Team1st nomination
1954-55Don HallLeft WingFirst Team3rd nomination
John HorvathCenterSecond Team1st nomination
1955-56Don HallLeft WingFirst Team4th nomination
Ken CoombesCenterFirst Team1st nomination
Dick RobergeRightFirst Team1st nomination
Alex ZubatiukDefenseSecond Team1st nomination
1956-57Don HallLeft WingFirst Team5th nomination
Lloyd AilsbyDefenseFirst Team1st nomination
Ken CoombesCenterFirst Team1st nomination
1957-58Don HallLeft WingFirst Team6th nomination
Ken CoombesCenterFirst Team2nd nomination
Dick RobergeRight WingSecond Team2nd nomination
Dave LucasDefenseSecond Team1st nomination
1958-59Dick RobergeRight WingFirst Team3rd nomination
Steve BrklacichDefenseFirst TeamFirst nomination
Don HallLeft WingSecond Team7th nomination
Jim ShirleyGoalieSecond Team1st nomination
1959-60Dick RobergeRight WingFirst Team4th nomination
Ed JohnstonGoalieFirst Team1st nomination
Steve BrklacichCoachFirst Team2nd nomination
Steve BrklacichDefenseSecond Team3rd nomination
Don HallLeft WingSecond Team8th nomination
Dave LucasDefenseSecond Team2nd nomination
Ken CoombesCenterSecond Team3rd nomination
1960-61Dick RobergeRight WingFirst Team4th nomination
Don HallLeft WingSecond Team9th nomination
Ken LaufmanCenterSecond Team1st nomination
Steve BrklacichDefenseSecond Team4th nomination
1961-62Dick RobergeRight WingFirst Team5th nomination
Ken LaufmanCenterFirst Team2nd nomination
John LumleyLeft WingFirst Team1st nomination
Dave LucasDefenseFirst Team3rd nomination
1962-63Butch MartinCoachFirst Team1st nomination
Butch MartinLeft WingSecond Team2nd nomination
Dave LucasDefenseSecond Team4th nomination
1963-64Dave LucasDefenseFirst Team5th nomination
Butch MartinRight WingSecond Team3rd nomination
Butch MartinCoachSecond Team3rd nomination
1964-65Dick RobergeRight WingFirst Team6th nomination
Dave LucasDefenseSecond Team6th nomination
Bill IvesLeft WingSecond Team1st nomination
1965-66Dick RobergeRight WingFirst Team7th nomination
Dave LucasDefenseSecond Team7th nomination
Dave LucasCoachSecond Team8th nomination
Andy BrownGoalieSecond Team1st nomination
1966-67Ralph McSweynRight WingFirst Team1st nomination
Dick RobergeRight WingSecond Team8th nomination
1967-68Reg KentCenterFirst Team1st nomination
1968-69Dick RobergeCoachFirst Team9th nomination
Reg KentCenterFirst Team2nd nomination
Galen HeadRight WingFirst Team1st nomination
1972-73Ted LanyonDefenseSecond Team1st nomination

Most All-Star appearances
PlayerAppearancesNotes
Don Hall9
Dick Roberge9Includes one appearance as a coach
Dave Lucas8Includes one appearance as a coach
Steve Brklacich4Includes one appearance as a coach
Butch Martin4Includes one appearance as a coach.
Only player in Jets' history to be named to EHL All-Star team under two positions
Ken Coombes3
Ken Laufman2
Reg Kent2
Ivan Wamsley2