Saginaw Gears
Various Saginaw Gears franchises spent portions of thirty years thrilling eastern Michigan, but the Gears that played in the IHL from 1972 through 1983 were arguably the most memorable. In nine of their eleven seasons, the Gears made the IHL playoffs, including five Finals trips and two Turner Cup victories in 1977 and 1981. Don Perry, who eventually went on to coach the LA Kings, coached them for many years. After the 1982-83 season, the Gears folded. For a few years, two teams would take their place, first the Generals, then the Hawks, but neither would last long.
After the original Gears went out of business in 1983, the Gears name was revived several times. From 1991 through 1996, the name was used by a NAHL junior club for five seasons. From 1998 to 2000, the Gears were resurrected by Saginaw's UHL club. That franchise began with the Wheels, then the Lumber Kings, and finally landed on Gears. After a disappointing year and a half in Saginaw, the Gears relocated in the middle of the night (and for the remainder of the 1999-00 season) to Massillon, Ohio. The team was much worse on the ice and they barely drew spectators, as they were playing in a small community rink. That version of the Gears would close its doors following the 1999-00 season.
After the original Gears went out of business in 1983, the Gears name was revived several times. From 1991 through 1996, the name was used by a NAHL junior club for five seasons. From 1998 to 2000, the Gears were resurrected by Saginaw's UHL club. That franchise began with the Wheels, then the Lumber Kings, and finally landed on Gears. After a disappointing year and a half in Saginaw, the Gears relocated in the middle of the night (and for the remainder of the 1999-00 season) to Massillon, Ohio. The team was much worse on the ice and they barely drew spectators, as they were playing in a small community rink. That version of the Gears would close its doors following the 1999-00 season.
