Indiana

Indiana is a state in the Midwestern United States.

Its population is about 6,700,000.

Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis.

History of hockey in Indiana

Indiana had ice hockey by January 1904, Springport edging Oakville 1-0 and the Muncie Specials blasting Springport 9-1. The Congerville (Muncie) Specials went undefeated in 1905. Concordia College of Fort Wayne defeated the Culver Military Academy 2-1 at Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver on February 9, 1907. The sport was played in Indianapolis in 1910. The Warsaw Sparrows had an independent team that defeated all comers in 1914, including Culver. The Illinois-Indiana Hockey League was formed in 1915-16, and was composed mostly of teams from Illinois, but also the Culver Military Academy and Warsaw Hockey Club from Indiana. Hockey was played in Whiting by 1920.

There were hockey activities in Elkhart and South Bend from 1928-1936, and the St. John Valley Hockey League was contested in 1935 and 1936. The strong Mishawaka Ball-Band joined it. The Hammond Rangers, who were first founded back in 1929-30, beat the East Chicago Shamrocks 4-0 on February 5, 1933. The Whiting Macks spent the 1933-34, 1934-35 and 1937-38 seasons in the Chicago Amateur Hockey League. The Hammond Rangers also played in the league in 1935. The Whiting Mack Jr.s, Roseland Phantoms, Hammond Rangers, Glenwood Panthers, Harrison Park, Valparaiso Vikings, Gary Aces, and Hobart Brickies formed the Lake County Hockey League for 1935-36. It lasted through 1941. In 1939, the Whiting Planerts (formerly the Macks) captured the Illinois state title, and then the Midwestern Championship with a 6-1 win over the Wisconsin All-Stars on March 26.

The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish played their first ice hockey game on February 3, 1912, beating Culver Military Academy 7-1. They played three games in 1913, blanking Culver 6-0, and losing twice to the Cleveland Athletic Club Juniors at the Elysium in Cleveland. Hockey later returned to Notre Dame from 1921-1927, and the program was restarted for good in 1968.

The Indianapolis Capitals became the state's first professional team when they joined the American Hockey League for the 1939-40 season. The Capitals played in it until 1952. Indianapolis had previously landed a franchise in the American Hockey Association in 1935, but it never got off the ground. The Indianapolis Chiefs played in the International Hockey League from 1955-1962. Muncie had the Chiefs in the Ohio State Hockey League in 1947-48 and the Flyers in the IHL in 1948-49. The Fort Wayne Komets have played in various minor pro leagues since 1952.

The Indianapolis Racers, who played in the World Hockey Association, are the most notable franchise to have called the state home. Wayne Gretzky played his first eight pro games for the Racers in 1978. Indianapolis has later had the Checkers, Ice, and Fuel play in minor leagues. The Evansville IceMen played in the All-American Hockey League, Central Hockey League, and ECHL between 2008 and 2016.

List of minor pro franchises

• Indianapolis Capitals - (1939-1952) - (AHL)
• Muncie Chiefs - (1947-1948) - (OSHL)
• Muncie Flyers - (1948-1949) - (IHL)
• Fort Wayne Komets - (1952-1999) - (IHL)
• Indianapolis Chiefs - (1955-1962) - (IHL)
• Indianapolis Capitals - (1963) - (CHL)
• Indianapolis Racers - (1974-1978) - (WHA)
• Indianapolis Checkers - (1979-1984) - (CHL)
• Indianapolis Checkers - (1984-1987) - (IHL)
• Indianapolis Ice - (1988-1999) - (IHL)
• Indianapolis Ice - (1999-2004) - (CHL)
• Fort Wayne Komets - (1999-2007) - (UHL)
• Fort Wayne Komets - (2007-2010) - (IHL)
• Evansville IceMen - (2008-2010) - (AAHL)
• Evansville IceMen - (2010-2012) - (CHL)
• Fort Wayne Komets - (2010-2012) - (CHL)
• Fort Wayne Komets - (2012-present) - (ECHL)
• Evansville IceMen - (2012-2016) - (ECHL)
• Indy Fuel - (2014-present) - (ECHL)
• Evansville Thunderbolts - (2016-present) - (SPHL)

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