407:
lacked enough money for their next road trip. Even though they had won six of their last nine games and were in contention for a playoff berth, no credible buyers were on the horizon. Welker finally gave up and shuttered the team that night. The
Capital District Islanders promptly honored all Choppers season tickets in an attempt to boost their own attendance. Somewhat ironically, Henry, Knickle and Vivieros finished the season back in Springfield, where they helped the Indians to their final
376:
The team sank into last place, and attendance plummeted; for numerous games attendance in the cavernous 'Knick' (capacity 15,000) was no more than a few hundred fans. After local media reported attendance figures at odds with the ones management was reporting (by quite literally counting heads), the
368:
However, the
Choppers suffered the most. Not only were they essentially an expansion team, but they also had to foot the travel expenses for six IHL teams as a condition of being allowed to move to Albany. They were unable to secure a full NHL affiliation (and its subsidized salaries); they had to
406:
The end came in
February, when Price Chopper announced it was pulling its sponsorship and its investment after the season, citing a poor relationship with Welker and lackluster promotion. By February 14, the Choppers were so short of cash that they were not only about to miss payroll again, but
398:
By
December, the Choppers were gasping. Their assets had been frozen when a travel agency sued them for non-payment, and they lost their radio flagship due to three months of unpaid bills. Out of desperation, Allison put all of the players who did not have NHL contracts on waivers. The
390:
team, which took the Komets' name and history), some 670 miles west. The team eventually struggled to meet payroll, missing it several times, and supplies ran short. One notorious incident came during an overtime game against the Komets, when
385:
As it was, the team hemorrhaged funds, held back by the most expensive travel budget in the IHL and a lack of natural rivalries. Their nearest opponent was the new Komets (Welker's franchise had been replaced by the relocated
333:
The team began play in the 1990–91 season, but ran into several major roadblocks. By this time, the IHL had firmly established itself as a top-level feeder league for the NHL. The entrenched
419:
and prove key in their own Turner Cup championship in that same season against the Komets, the team with whom Burnie signed. Lemieux, Burnie and
Richter retired after the season. Defenseman
403:
claimed Henry, forcing the
Choppers to trade Lemieux to the Admirals to get Henry back. However, it was understood that Lemieux would return to Albany if Welker found a buyer for the team.
229:
had been mainstays of the IHL for four decades. Before the 1990–91 season, its owner, gravel magnate David Welker, opted to move his franchise to Albany. The city had recently built
29:
1176:
365:
also played in Troy. All three suffered at the gate through the subsequent price wars (although RPI benefited from having the
Capital District Islanders as a tenant).
1136:
361:. Never in recent history had so many minor-league teams been crammed into such a small market. It did not help matters that the perennial college hockey powerhouse
1146:
1166:
1171:
1161:
1156:
253:
supermarket chain bought in as a minority partner—hence the name and colors of red, white and blue, which matched Price
Chopper's corporate hues.
1151:
564:
573:
214:
51:
1080:
337:
was unnerved by the IHL's expansion into its traditional stronghold in the
Northeast, and hastily planted a team just across the
518:
867:
1141:
237:
standards of the time. They represented the IHL's first effort in years to push beyond its traditional heartland in the
1100:
238:
557:
485:
362:
1070:
1085:
1075:
952:
827:
772:
395:
was sent out for the final shot in a shootout because he had the only sound hockey stick remaining on the bench.
1065:
1007:
712:
657:
837:
742:
687:
550:
862:
346:
250:
1090:
902:
887:
852:
812:
297:, who was the team's leading scorer until he was traded for cash. A large number of players were ex-
942:
702:
697:
314:
334:
271:
234:
210:
967:
957:
897:
892:
752:
727:
637:
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283:
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737:
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526:
428:
354:
542:
8:
1115:
1037:
1027:
1017:
947:
927:
882:
797:
792:
757:
672:
612:
298:
230:
85:
377:
team ceased to report attendance altogether, while giving season tickets away outright.
977:
832:
777:
747:
617:
477:
400:
275:
1105:
847:
807:
802:
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40:
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279:
202:
131:
440:
423:
was the final
Chopper active in professional hockey, playing for the
306:
28:
572:
241:; they were the easternmost team in the IHL since the
209:, which existed for the first 55 games (of 82) in the
519:"Like Trying to Build a Skyscraper Out of Chopsticks"
434:
1177:Defunct sports clubs and teams in New York (state)
1128:
256:Among players for the Choppers were goaltenders
512:
510:
508:
506:
504:
373:. They only had 11 players with NHL contracts.
1147:Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States
1137:International Hockey League (1945–2001) teams
558:
1167:Defunct ice hockey teams in New York (state)
501:
369:settle for a secondary affiliation with the
1172:1991 disestablishments in New York (state)
565:
551:
77:1990–91 (folded mid-season, February 1991)
465:
463:
461:
459:
411:championship, while leading goal scorer
1162:1990 establishments in New York (state)
1157:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1991
574:International Hockey League (1945–2001)
469:
1129:
516:
456:
16:American pro ice hockey team (1990–91)
546:
301:, including Henry, Lemieux, forwards
1152:Ice hockey clubs established in 1990
476:. Images of Sports. Charleston, SC:
357:were less than fifty miles north in
13:
435:Former radio affiliate (1 station)
328:
14:
1188:
325:served as the team's head coach.
201:were an independent professional
1071:Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy
27:
1086:Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy
1076:James Gatschene Memorial Trophy
473:Hockey in the Capital District
245:left the league in 1955. The
1:
450:
1101:James Norris Memorial Trophy
1081:Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy
517:Miller, Chuck (April 1996).
349:. Moreover, the three-time
7:
220:
215:International Hockey League
10:
1193:
1142:Sports in Albany, New York
688:Detroit Bright's Goodyears
380:
347:Capital District Islanders
1046:
1023:Windsor Hettche Spitfires
998:Toledo-St. Louis Mercurys
813:Louisville Shooting Stars
580:
431:in the 2006–2007 season.
187:
179:
171:
163:
158:
150:
145:
137:
127:
117:
109:
91:
81:
73:
65:
57:
47:
35:
26:
21:
943:Salt Lake Golden Eagles
703:Detroit Metal Mouldings
993:Toledo-Marion Mercurys
335:American Hockey League
235:National Hockey League
1066:Commissioner's Trophy
958:San Francisco Spiders
753:Indianapolis Checkers
728:Grand Rapids Griffins
638:Columbus Golden Seals
623:Cleveland Lumberjacks
470:Mancuso, Jim (2006).
233:, which was built to
164:Regular season titles
1061:Fred A. Huber Trophy
868:Muskegon Lumberjacks
798:Los Angeles Ice Dogs
738:Grand Rapids Rockets
678:Des Moines Oak Leafs
429:United Hockey League
355:Adirondack Red Wings
284:Minnesota North Star
1116:IHL Man of the Year
1091:Ken McKenzie Trophy
1028:Windsor Ryan Cretes
1018:Windsor Gotfredsons
948:San Antonio Dragons
903:Phoenix Roadrunners
888:Orlando Solar Bears
853:Minneapolis Millers
793:Long Beach Ice Dogs
758:Indianapolis Chiefs
698:Detroit Jerry Lynch
673:Des Moines Capitols
613:Cincinnati Cyclones
299:Springfield Indians
293:'s brother, center
231:Knickerbocker Arena
95:Blue, red and white
86:Knickerbocker Arena
978:Toledo Goaldiggers
833:Milwaukee Admirals
778:Kansas City Blades
748:Huntington Hornets
618:Cincinnati Mohawks
478:Arcadia Publishing
415:would move to the
401:Milwaukee Admirals
1124:
1123:
1106:John Cullen Award
1096:Governor's Trophy
1038:Windsor Staffords
1033:Windsor Spitfires
848:Milwaukee Falcons
808:Louisville Rebels
803:Louisville Blades
788:Las Vegas Thunder
733:Grand Rapids Owls
723:Fort Wayne Komets
683:Detroit Auto Club
633:Columbus Checkers
371:Vancouver Canucks
313:, and defensemen
278:and team captain
276:New York Islander
227:Fort Wayne Komets
195:
194:
180:Conference titles
146:Franchise history
1184:
1013:Windsor Bulldogs
933:Saginaw Generals
923:Russian Penguins
913:Port Huron Wings
908:Port Huron Flags
878:Muskegon Zephyrs
873:Muskegon Mohawks
843:Milwaukee Clarks
838:Milwaukee Chiefs
828:Michigan K-Wings
763:Indianapolis Ice
663:Denver Mavericks
658:Denver Grizzlies
628:Colorado Rangers
567:
560:
553:
544:
543:
538:
537:
535:
533:
514:
499:
498:
496:
494:
467:
207:Albany, New York
105:
102:
99:
43:
41:Albany, New York
31:
19:
18:
1192:
1191:
1187:
1186:
1185:
1183:
1182:
1181:
1127:
1126:
1125:
1120:
1048:
1042:
988:Toledo Mercurys
968:St. Paul Saints
953:San Diego Gulls
898:Peoria Rivermen
893:Peoria Prancers
858:Minnesota Moose
783:Lansing Lancers
773:Kalamazoo Wings
693:Detroit Hettche
603:Chatham Maroons
598:Atlanta Knights
593:Albany Choppers
588:Akron Americans
576:
571:
541:
531:
529:
515:
502:
492:
490:
488:
468:
457:
453:
437:
417:Peoria Rivermen
383:
341:in neighboring
331:
329:Early struggles
223:
199:Albany Choppers
172:Division titles
154:Albany Choppers
103:
100:
97:
96:
39:
22:Albany Choppers
17:
12:
11:
5:
1190:
1180:
1179:
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1169:
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1154:
1149:
1144:
1139:
1122:
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1119:
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1083:
1078:
1073:
1068:
1063:
1058:
1052:
1050:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1040:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1020:
1015:
1010:
1008:Utah Grizzlies
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
983:Toledo Hornets
980:
975:
970:
965:
963:Sarnia Sailors
960:
955:
950:
945:
940:
935:
930:
925:
920:
918:Quebec Rafales
915:
910:
905:
900:
895:
890:
885:
880:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
818:Manitoba Moose
815:
810:
805:
800:
795:
790:
785:
780:
775:
770:
768:Johnstown Jets
765:
760:
755:
750:
745:
740:
735:
730:
725:
720:
715:
713:Flint Generals
710:
708:Detroit Vipers
705:
700:
695:
690:
685:
680:
675:
670:
668:Denver Rangers
665:
660:
655:
650:
645:
640:
635:
630:
625:
620:
615:
610:
608:Chicago Wolves
605:
600:
595:
590:
584:
582:
578:
577:
570:
569:
562:
555:
547:
540:
539:
500:
486:
480:. p. 25.
454:
452:
449:
448:
447:
436:
433:
425:Elmira Jackals
421:Scott Drevitch
382:
379:
330:
327:
319:Manny Vivieros
262:St. Louis Blue
243:Johnstown Jets
222:
219:
211:1990–91 season
193:
192:
189:
185:
184:
181:
177:
176:
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1145:
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1140:
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1135:
1134:
1132:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1111:Ironman Award
1109:
1107:
1104:
1102:
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1097:
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1092:
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1082:
1079:
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1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
973:Toledo Blades
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
939:
938:Saginaw Hawks
936:
934:
931:
929:
928:Saginaw Gears
926:
924:
921:
919:
916:
914:
911:
909:
906:
904:
901:
899:
896:
894:
891:
889:
886:
884:
883:Omaha Knights
881:
879:
876:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
863:Muncie Flyers
861:
859:
856:
854:
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
831:
829:
826:
824:
823:Marion Barons
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
781:
779:
776:
774:
771:
769:
766:
764:
761:
759:
756:
754:
751:
749:
746:
744:
743:Houston Aeros
741:
739:
736:
734:
731:
729:
726:
724:
721:
719:
718:Flint Spirits
716:
714:
711:
709:
706:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
689:
686:
684:
681:
679:
676:
674:
671:
669:
666:
664:
661:
659:
656:
654:
651:
649:
646:
644:
643:Columbus Owls
641:
639:
636:
634:
631:
629:
626:
624:
621:
619:
616:
614:
611:
609:
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554:
549:
548:
545:
528:
524:
523:Hockey Digest
520:
513:
511:
509:
507:
505:
489:
487:0-7385-4467-1
483:
479:
475:
474:
466:
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455:
446:
442:
439:
438:
432:
430:
426:
422:
418:
414:
410:
404:
402:
396:
394:
389:
388:Flint Spirits
378:
374:
372:
366:
364:
363:RPI Engineers
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
340:
336:
326:
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
304:
300:
296:
295:Alain Lemieux
292:
291:Mario Lemieux
288:
285:
281:
277:
273:
270:
266:
263:
259:
254:
252:
251:Price Chopper
248:
244:
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236:
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228:
218:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
190:
186:
182:
178:
174:
170:
166:
162:
159:Championships
157:
153:
149:
144:
140:
136:
133:
130:
126:
123:
120:
116:
112:
108:
94:
90:
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68:
64:
61:East Division
60:
56:
53:
50:
46:
42:
38:
34:
30:
25:
20:
1047:Trophies and
592:
530:. Retrieved
522:
493:November 29,
491:. Retrieved
472:
405:
397:
393:Jim McGeough
384:
375:
367:
339:Hudson River
332:
323:Dave Allison
311:Jim McGeough
287:Dave Richter
269:Boston Bruin
265:Bruce Racine
258:Rick Knickle
255:
224:
198:
196:
122:Dave Allison
113:David Welker
1003:Troy Bruins
653:Dayton Owls
648:Dayton Gems
532:November 7,
527:Times Union
413:Yves Héroux
359:Glens Falls
267:and former
247:Schenectady
239:Great Lakes
188:Turner Cups
141:Independent
1131:Categories
1056:Turner Cup
451:References
409:Calder Cup
351:Calder Cup
315:Vern Smith
303:Stu Burnie
280:Dale Henry
203:ice hockey
132:Dale Henry
118:Head coach
82:Home arena
353:champion
307:Bob Bodak
282:, former
274:; former
272:John Blue
260:, former
138:Affiliate
221:Creation
205:team in
110:Owner(s)
74:Operated
58:Division
443:/1540:
427:of the
381:The end
249:-based
213:of the
151:1990–91
128:Captain
66:Founded
1049:awards
484:
445:Albany
345:, the
289:, and
104:
101:
98:
92:Colors
48:League
581:Teams
534:2021
495:2011
482:ISBN
441:WPTR
343:Troy
317:and
309:and
225:The
217:.
197:The
191:None
183:None
175:None
167:None
69:1990
36:City
321:.
52:IHL
1133::
525:.
521:.
503:^
458:^
305:,
566:e
559:t
552:v
536:.
497:.
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