February 3, 2025/Midnight
Erie, PA. – Over 3,500 games played. 8 million spectators. 50 NHL alumni. Six championships among six professional teams. The sport of hockey has made its presence in Erie over the last 60 years. The hockey community has tremendously supported the Flagship City, starting from the independent Erie Lions club that formed in 1963 to the present-day Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League. Despite numerous challenges, the spirit and love for the sport has remained strong as Erie’s hockey growth over the last six decades has pathed away a future for the next generation.
While Erie has been around since 1805, the sport of professional hockey did not make its presence until the early 1960s. When the independent Erie Lions debuted in 1964-65, they faced off against teams around the area. Erie Times-News reported that the club matched against the Cleveland Americans, Akron Burgoyne Hawks, and the University of Buffalo, among others. While little information is historically recorded, HockeyDB stated that the Lions were a successful club on the ice boasting a winning record in nine out of their ten active seasons.
A year after the Erie Lions folded, the city was awarded a team in the North American Hockey League in 1975. This new team would be known as the Erie Blades and would play for the next 12 years at Erie County Field House while being a part of three different leagues. Donning beautiful orange and black jerseys, the Blades would not find success in their two years in the league before the NAHL folded per HockeyDB. Soon after, Erie would move to the new Eastern Hockey League in 1978. Vintage Ice Hockey accounts that the Blades would notch three consecutive championships while earning affiliation with three NHL teams. This would further prove that the city can support a hockey team.
According to HockeyDB, The Blades were promoted to the American Hockey League, the NHL’s top development league, in 1982 where they would be coached by the late Lou Angotti, who had previously coached the St. Louis Blues. After an unsuccessful season, the team relocated to Baltimore the next season and is now the current-day Springfield Thunderbirds.
From 1982-1987, Erie would be awarded a team in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. The Golden Blades would play at the newly opened Louis J. Tullio Arena, which would be the home of hockey in Erie for decades to come. After making the playoffs in four of their five seasons, the team would become league champions in 1984 winning the Bob Payne Trophy. The team rostered five NHL alumni including current Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella as noted at erieblades.tripod.com.
After the ACHL folded in 1987, Erie would be a founding member of the East Coast Hockey League due to its success with the Golden Blades. The new team would be known as the Erie Panthers and don black and grey jerseys. Known for their physical brand of hockey, and the ability to score many goals, the team became regular season champions in 1989. The Panthers would have 68 NHL-drafted players play for the team over their eight years before relocating to Baton Rouge as said by Fun While It Lasted.
In 1996, the Niagara Falls Thunder of the Ontario Hockey League announced their relocation down south to become the Erie Otters. The team was bought by an ownership group led by Sherry Bassin, who would become the owner and general manager of the club for nearly two decades. The Otters made the playoffs in each of their first five seasons culminating with the club’s first J. Ross Robertson Cup Finals Championship in 2002 as observed by OHL Arena Guide.
Following their victory, Erie would struggle on ice for the next decade, missing the postseason six times and winning only one playoff series. Despite the team’s misfortunes, the loyal fans would still show up passionately to cheer on the home team. Following the team’s worst season to date in 2011-12, the Otters were rewarded with the first-overall pick in the upcoming draft stated by CHL.com. Erie would select 15-year-old Connor McDavid, who was regarded as a once-in-a-lifetime superstar phenomenon.
With all eyes on the team across the country along with Canada, the Otters would become the first OHL team in history to win 50 or more games in four consecutive seasons culminating in the club’s second championship in 2017 as mentioned by yourerie.com. McDavid would be selected first-overall in the 2015 NHL Draft and would become one of the most electric hockey players in history. The current face of the NHL, McDavid’s years in Erie provided a great reputation for the Otters and has encouraged more players to want to play in the Flagship City.
The success of the Erie Otters has inspired the growth of major junior hockey in the United States. The OHL has added two U.S. teams since Erie’s inception and has explored expanding more including Youngstown and Muskegon per Sportsnet. Honoring its history, the Otters recently celebrated 60 Years of Hockey Hist-Erie recognizing the past Erie hockey teams while honoring alumni of the Lions, Blades, and Panthers as mentioned by WJet-TV24.
The last sixty years have shown that Erie’s love and passion for hockey is unmatched. From a local independent club team in the early 1960s playing in a community ice rink to a major junior hockey team that has seen multiple successful NHL players suit up, Erie will forever be known as a hockey town. It is unknown what the next sixty years will bring, but the Flagship City will be there to always support the sport as it continues to grow all around the country.
