Atlantic Coast Hockey League

For the other league of the same name, see the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002).

The Atlantic Coast Hockey League was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. Beginning in 1988 the league merged with the All-American Hockey League to create the East Coast Hockey League (today the ECHL). The Wheeling Nailers of the current ECHL is derived from this league, as are the Victoria Salmon Kings. Jim Riggs (Commissioner) was the commissioner.

1981-87 Teams[]

Team	Location	Arena	Tenure	Notes
Baltimore Skipjacks	Baltimore, Maryland	Baltimore Civic Center	1981-1982	city gets American Hockey League team
Cape Cod Buccaneers	South Yarmouth, Massachusetts	Cape Cod Coliseum	1981-1982	folded February 1, 1982
Fitchburg Trappers	Fitchburg, Massachusetts	Wallace Civic Center	1981-1981	folded early November 1981
Mohawk Valley Stars	Utica, New York	Utica Memorial Auditorium	1981-1985	renamed Mohawk Valley Comets
Salem Raiders	Salem, Virginia	Salem Roanoke County Civic Center	1981-1982	renamed Virginia Raiders
Schenectady Chiefs	Schenectady, New York	Schenectady Civic Center	1981-1981	folded Noivember 11, 1981
Winston-Salem Thunderbirds	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum	1981-1982	renamed Carolina Thunderbirds
Carolina Thunderbirds	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum	1982-1987	join All-American Hockey League
Erie Golden Blades	Erie, Pennsylvania	Erie County Field House	1982-1987	folded
Hampton Roads Gulls	Hampton, Virginia	Hampton Coliseum	1982-1983	Folded February 2, 1983
Nashville South Stars	Nashville, Tennessee	Nashville Municipal Auditorium	1982-1983	relocated to Vinton, Virginia as Virginia Lancers early in 1983-84 season
Virginia Raiders	Salem, Virginia	Salem Roanoke County Civic Center	1982-1983	folded after 1982-83 season
Hampton Jets	Hampton, Virginia	Hampton Coliseum	1982	replacement team for Gulls, folded within 24 hours due to a lack of players willing to play for team
Birmingham Bulls (ACHL)	Birmingham, Alabama	Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center	1983-1983	Suspended operations October 29, 1983
Pinebridge Bucks	Spruce Pine, North Carolina	Pinebridge Coliseum	1983-1985	folded
Virginia Lancers	Vinton, Virginia	LancerLot	1984-1987	join All-American Hockey League
Mohawk Valley Comets	Utica, New York	Utica Memorial Auditorium	1985-1987	city gets American Hockey League team; Utica Devils
New York Slapshots	Staten Island, New York	Phil Esposito Sports Complex (never built, played season on road)	1985-1986	relocated to Troy, New York when arena fell through
Troy Slapshots	Troy, New York	Houston Field House	1986-1986	folded November 17, 1986

Regular Season Champions[]

1981-1982: Salem Raiders
1982-1983: Carolina Thunderbirds
1983-1984: Carolina Thunderbirds
1984-1985: Carolina Thunderbirds
1985-1986: Carolina Thunderbirds
1986-1987: Virginia Lancers

Bob Paine Trophy winners[]

Seasons[]

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