Baltimore Skipjacks | |
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City | Baltimore, Maryland, United States |
League | EHL (1979–81) ACHL (1981–82) AHL (1982–93) |
Operated | 1979–1993 |
Home arena | Baltimore Civic Center (renamed Baltimore Arena in 1986) |
Affiliates | Minnesota North Stars (1979–81) Boston Bruins (1982–83) Pittsburgh Penguins (1982–87) Washington Capitals (1988–93) |
Franchise history | |
1979–1981 | Baltimore Clippers |
1981–1982 | Baltimore Skipjacks (ACHL) |
merged with | Erie Blades in 1982 |
1982–1993 | Baltimore Skipjacks |
1993–2016 | Portland Pirates |
2016–present | Springfield Thunderbirds |
Championships | |
Regular season titles | 1: (1983–84) |
Division titles | 1: (1983–84) |
The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor league professional ice hockey team from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. The Skipjacks originated in 1979, and played as the Baltimore Clippers in the Eastern Hockey League for two seasons. The team was renamed to Skipjacks in 1981, and played the following season in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. The Skipjacks then played eleven seasons as members of the American Hockey League (AHL), from 1982 until 1993. The Skipjacks were one of three AHL teams to have been based in Baltimore, including the Baltimore Clippers, and the Baltimore Bandits. The Skipjacks operated as a farm team to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals for five seasons each, and were previously a farm team to the Minnesota North Stars for two seasons, the Boston Bruins for one season. The team played its home games at the Baltimore Civic Center, which was renamed to the Baltimore Arena in 1986.
Gene Ubriaco was the team's head coach for seven seasons, and won the AHL Coach of the Year Award during the 1983–84 AHL season, when he led the Skipjacks to a division title. The Skipjacks reached the Calder Cup finals in the 1984–85 AHL season, but were defeated by the Sherbrooke Canadiens. In the same season, Jon Casey won the AHL Goaltender of the Year Award and led the AHL in goals against average. Mitch Lamoureux is the Skipjacks career leader in goals (119), assists (133), and points (252), and was inducted into the AHL Hall of Fame.
The Skipjacks relocated from Baltimore in 1993, and became the Portland Pirates.