Chicago Americans
The Chicago Americans played only one season in the AHA, 1926-27, but it was a tumultuous one and the first time that Chicago had pro hockey. The Americans, originally called the Cardinals, began play in the AHA and were in immediate and direct competition with the NHL's newest franchise, also located in Chicago and debuting the same season. The teams and leagues fought over players and got into a price war over tickets. In the end, the Cardinals/Americans lost swiftly and succinctly, folding after only one season. Towards the end of the season, the Cardinals were sold and attempted a rebrand by changing to the Americans. They played only a few games as the Americans before going out of business for good. On the other side of things, the NHL's Windy City team is still going strong nearly 100 years later.
