New Brunswick Hawks

Playing their home games in the Moncton Coliseum, the New Brunswick Hawks were established in 1978 at a joint farm team for the NHL’s Chicago Black Hawks and Toronto Maple Leafs. A notable NHL’er to play for the Hawks was Daryl Sutter, who won the rookie of the year award in the 1979-80 season. They had winning records in all of the seasons they played in Moncton and received strong community support. In the 1981-82 season, they finished first overall and won the Calder Cup, defeating the Binghamton Whalers four games to one. In the summer of 1982, the Black Hawks withdrew their support for the team, as they looked to establish a farm team closer to home. The Leafs had an issue coming to terms on a new lease with the arena, and the team moved to St. Catherines, Ontario, becoming the Saints. Moncton didn’t have to wait long for a new franchise, as the Edmonton Oilers established the Moncton Alpines that same off-season.