Hamilton Steelhawks
The Hamilton Steelhawks started play at Copps Coliseum in 1984. The major junior franchise had undergone a number of moves. They had been the Hamilton/St Catharines Fincups a decade earlier before moving to Brantford when there wasn't an adequate arena in Hamilton. When the Copps Coliseum was built they moved back from Brantford where they had been the Alexanders.Â
The Steelhawks however ran into the same problems that the Fincups and Alexanders had in their locations, where fan support wasn't enough to keep the team in town for very long. The Steelhawks spent four seasons in Hamilton, making the playoffs three times but failing to capture a league title. The team had won the 1976 Memorial Cup and the Fincups. Shayne Corson, Keith Primeau, Mike York, and Bob Probert are notable Steelhawks alums.Â
The franchise would relocate again to Niagara Falls and become the Niagara Falls Thunder in 1988.Â
