Dayton Gems

This article is about the ice hockey team who played in International Hockey League (1945-2001). For the team that played in the International Hockey League (2007–2010) and the Central Hockey League, see Dayton Gems (2009–2012).
For other uses, see Dayton Gems (disambiguation).
Original Dayton Gems team logo from 1968

The Dayton Gems were a minor league ice hockey team based in Dayton, Ohio, and members of the International Hockey League from 1964 to 1977, and 1979–1980.

The Gems were an expansion team assembled from various cast-offs and young players looking for their first break in minor league hockey. The team began play in 1964 in the new Hara Arena.

Dayton was the host for several IHL all-star games due to the large attendance in their 5,500 seat arena.[citation needed] The Gems played exhibition games against the US Olympic team as well as the Oklahoma City Blazers of the Central Hockey League. The team had a few games a season televised locally as well as all games broadcast on the premier AM radio station in town.

Other teams in the league copied the uniform styling of the Gems.[citation needed] The Dayton Gems were the first adult team in North America to make helmets mandatory, long before the NHL adopted them.[1]

  1. ^ Smith, Chris (July 29, 2010). "For CHL fans, a history lesson". Pro Hockey News. Retrieved October 7, 2021.