Johnstown Blue Birds
The Johnstown Blue Birds were the start of a long series of iconic Johnstown, PA hockey teams. That said, the Blue Birds had a brief existence. They skated at the Shaffer Ice Palace, which was sponsored by the Shaffer Ice Company and supplied ice to the city prior to the advent of modern refrigeration.
Bill Hines relocated his Baltimore Orioles (EHL) franchise to Johnstown for the 1941-42 season, renaming it the Blue Birds. Unfortunately, the Blue Birds had financial troubles almost immediately. Hines was unable to pay the bills for the Blue Birds after only 14 games. Harry Crichton, a local, saved the squad and kept them afloat for the rest of the season. They would finish first in the league in a three-way tie. When World War 2 started, the Ice Palace was repurposed into an industrial complex, and the Blue Birds disbanded.
Bill Hines relocated his Baltimore Orioles (EHL) franchise to Johnstown for the 1941-42 season, renaming it the Blue Birds. Unfortunately, the Blue Birds had financial troubles almost immediately. Hines was unable to pay the bills for the Blue Birds after only 14 games. Harry Crichton, a local, saved the squad and kept them afloat for the rest of the season. They would finish first in the league in a three-way tie. When World War 2 started, the Ice Palace was repurposed into an industrial complex, and the Blue Birds disbanded.
