New Jersey (EHL)
The Jersey Larks were New Jersey's first professional hockey club, although they only played one season in the Eastern Hockey League at the Haddonfield Ice House in 1960-61. (EHL). They had relocated from Washington the previous year and would depart for Knoxville the following year to become the Knoxville Knights. They were, however, the first to enter the New Jersey market and demonstrate that it was, in fact, a hockey market. The Jersey Devils of the EHL succeeded the Knights in 1961 and the state eventually obtained its own NHL franchise in the 1980s.
In 1964, after the Jersey Larks relocated to Knoxville, another team took their place in Cherry Hill, NJ in the Cherry Hill Arena. The Jersey Devils would play there until 1972, when the expansion of the WHA and NHL turned the hockey landscape on its head. They would have their most successful season in the EHL in 1966-67, losing in the finals. Rosaire Paiement led the team that year with 125 points in 72 games and went on to play a few years in the NHL for Vancouver. Vic Stasiuk, who played in the NHL for many years, including a successful time in Boston, also coached the squad. This franchise was another milestone in New Jersey hockey's history until the state ultimately gained its own NHL franchise in the 1980s.
In 1964, after the Jersey Larks relocated to Knoxville, another team took their place in Cherry Hill, NJ in the Cherry Hill Arena. The Jersey Devils would play there until 1972, when the expansion of the WHA and NHL turned the hockey landscape on its head. They would have their most successful season in the EHL in 1966-67, losing in the finals. Rosaire Paiement led the team that year with 125 points in 72 games and went on to play a few years in the NHL for Vancouver. Vic Stasiuk, who played in the NHL for many years, including a successful time in Boston, also coached the squad. This franchise was another milestone in New Jersey hockey's history until the state ultimately gained its own NHL franchise in the 1980s.
