Albuquerque Chaparrals
The Chaparrals — another name for a member of the roadrunner family of birds — moved in at Tingley Coliseum after the one-year wonder, Albuquerque Six Guns, shut down. The Chaparrals started playing in the 1975–76 season as part of the short-lived SWHL. The SWHL sought to be an amateur developmental league, in contrast to the professional minor league of the CHL that the Six Guns had been a member of.
The Chaparrals finished just three points behind the Amarillo Wranglers in their inaugural year, going 39-32-1. Even though both the league and the Chaparrals would return for a second season, neither was commercially successful. The Chaparrals were trying to gather funds before December to be able to send players home for the holidays. The players resigned immediately when their general manager refused to give them that money. The SWHL followed suit shortly after, dissolving in January 1977.
The Chaparrals finished just three points behind the Amarillo Wranglers in their inaugural year, going 39-32-1. Even though both the league and the Chaparrals would return for a second season, neither was commercially successful. The Chaparrals were trying to gather funds before December to be able to send players home for the holidays. The players resigned immediately when their general manager refused to give them that money. The SWHL followed suit shortly after, dissolving in January 1977.
