Arizona

Arizona is a state in the southwestern region of the United States. Arizona has 15 counties and a total population of over 7.1 million and is 113,998 square miles making Arizona the 14th most populous and 6th largest state in the US. The state name derives from the Basque phrase aritz ona meaning "good oak."

History of hockey in Arizona

Hockey was first played in Arizona at the Phoenix Iceland rink on September 14, 1956, with the Albuquerque Falcons and Manzano Tigers of the Sandia Mountain Hockey League facing one another. The Phoenix Apaches played their first game on December 1, and faced some of the New Mexico teams. Michigan and Michigan State played a two-game series at Iceland on December 26-27, 1956.

Games at the rink (1956-1960)

1956-57

• 9/14: Albuquerque Falcons - Manzano Tigers 4:2
• 9/15: Albuquerque Falcons - Manzano Tigers 7:4
• 12/1: Phoenix Apaches - Sandia Bombers 5:3
• 12/8: Manzano Tigers - Phoenix Apaches 7:6 OT
• 12/15: Kirtland Flyers - Phoenix Apaches 3:2
• 1/26: Phoenix Apaches - Kirtland Flyers

1957-58

• 10/27:Phoenix Flyers - Phoenix Apaches 8:7 OT
• 11/2: Los Angeles Canadians - Phoenix All-Stars 16:3
• 11/9: Phoenix Apaches - Phoenix Flyers 15:11
• 11/23: Albuquerque Falcons - Phoenix Flyers 7:6
• 12/14: Phoenix Apaches - Phoenix Flyers 11:8
• 12/21: Phoenix Apaches - Arizona Comets 11:11
• 1/11: Phoenix Apaches - Phoenix Flyers 13:8
• 1/18: Phoenix All-Stars - Salt Lake City 13:6
• 1/25: Phoenix All-Stars - Hollywood Bears 9:5
• 2/1: Phoenix All-Stars - Paramount Hornets 8:8
• 2/8: Phoenix Apaches - Phoenix Flyers
• 2/15: Phoenix All-Stars - Pasadena Panthers 1:1
• 2/24: Trail Rockets - Phoenix All-Stars 10:8
• 2/25: Trail Rockets - Phoenix All-Stars 10:6
• 3/1: Phoenix All-Stars - Pasadena Panthers

1959-60

• 1/4: Phoenix Thunderbirds - Arizona Comets 13:9
• 1/11: Phoenix Warriors - Phoenix Thunderbirds 13:12
• 1/15: Los Angeles Canadians - Phoenix Apaches 10:8
• 1/18: Phoenix Warriors - Arizona Comets 3:3
• 1/25: Phoenix Thunderbirds - Arizona Comets 12:9
• 2/1: Phoenix Warriors - Phoenix Thunderbirds 14:12
• 2/6: Los Angeles Canadians - Phoenix Apaches 7:5
• 2/8: Arizona Comets - Phoenix Warriors 11:7
• 2/15: Arizona Comets - Phoenix Thunderbirds 13:6
• 2/20: Hollywood Stars - Phoenix Apaches 5:3

A three-game professional hockey series at the Phoenix Coliseum was played between the Seattle Americans and Winnipeg Warriors of the Western Hockey League from October 4-6, 1956. These proved to be the only hockey games played at the problem-plagued Coliseum, which declared bankruptcy in 1957 and was converted to retail space by 1961.

• 10/4: Seattle Americans - Winnipeg Warriors 9:3
• 10/5: Winnipeg Warriors - Seattle Americans 4:2
• 10/6: Seattle Americans - Winnipeg Warriors 4:2

The Phoenix Apaches, based at the Iceland rink, spent the 1958-59 season playing in the California Hockey League. The Apaches were revived in 1968, and the Tucson Tigers were also formed, playing at the Iceland Ice Arena in the city. The Desert Hockey League began play on November 3, 1968, with the Tuscon Hockey Club facing the Phoenix Apaches. There were two Tucson and three Phoenix teams in it. Youth hockey was also played in Tucson and Phoenix during the late 1960s and 1970s, and in Flagstaff beginning in 1972.

1968

• 3/23: Phoenix Apaches - Albuquerque Flyers
• 6/29: Phoenix Apaches - Tuscon Tigers 7:2
• 7/13: Tucson Tigers - Phoenix Apaches 9:2
• 8/25: Tuscon Tigers - Phoenix Apaches 10:5

1969

• 3/2: Tucson Wildcats - Phoenix Apaches 4:3 - Phoenix held a 7-4 edge in the series
• 3/23: Tucson Wildcats - Albuquerque Flyers
• 11/23: Phoenix Apaches - Tucson Wildcats 7:4

1970

• 1/10: Phoenix Apaches - Albuquerque 7:2
• 1/11: Tucson Wildcats - Albuquerque 6:5
• 12/13: Tucson Wildcats - Phoenix Apaches

The Phoenix Roadrunners competed in the Western Hockey League from 1967-1974. A franchise by the same name was a member of the World Hockey Association from 1974-1977. Arizona has had numerous minor pro teams over the years, and the Arizona Coyotes of the National Hockey League have called Phoenix home since 1996.

The Northern Arizona Lumberjacks, based in Flagstaff, had an NCAA Division I program from 1981-1986. They previously had a club team, which dated back to 1971. The Arizona State Sun Devils have played at the Division I level since the 2015-16 season. The Sun Devils previously had a club team, which first played in 1973. The Phoenix Flyers had a senior team during the 1978-79 season. They beat Arizona State 3-2 on December 4, and were set to face Northern Arizona on February 24-25.

List of minor pro teams

• Phoenix Apaches - (1958-59) - (CalHL)
• Phoenix Roadrunners - (1967-74) - (WHL)
• Phoenix Roadrunners - (1974-77) - (WHA)
• Tucson Mavericks - (1975-76) - (CHL)
• Tucson Icemen - (1976-77) - (SWHL)
• Phoenix Roadrunners - (1977) - (CHL)
• Phoenix Roadrunners - (1977-79) - (PHL)
• Tucson Rustlers - (1978-79) - (PHL)
• Phoenix Roadrunners - (1989-97) - (IHL)
• Phoenix Mustangs - (1997-01) - (WCHL)
• Tucson Gila Monsters - (1997-99) - (WCHL)
• Phoenix Roadrunners - (2005-09) - (ECHL)
• Arizona Sundogs - (2006-14) - (CHL)
• Tucson Roadrunners - (2016-present) - (AHL)

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