Spokane Comets

The Spokane Comets debuted in the WHL in 1958-59, originally as the Spokane Spokes. Spokane had long been known for the WIHL's Flyers, but the city made the transition to the professional WHL in 1958 with the inclusion of the Spokes when the Flyers folded following the 1957-58 season. For their second season, the Spokes renamed themselves the Comets after winning only 26 of 70 games. In their debut season as the Comets, they actually performed worse, winning only 19 games. In their third season, their second as the Comets, they improved to 33 wins and made the playoffs in 1960-61. That club also included a future big timer named Forbes Kennedy, who went on to play 603 NHL games. The team's greatest season came in 1961-62, when they reached the finals before losing in seven games to the Edmonton Flyers. The team was sold in 1963 and relocated to Denver, where they were renamed the Invaders.