Party Like It's 1977

Published by Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners Media Relations and Broadcast Manager

"Throwback Night" was held on January 5th, 2019 at the Cross Insurance Arena as the Mariners hosted the Brampton Beast.

In the summer of 1977, the Cross Insurance Arena (then, the Cumberland County Civic Center) prepared for its very first hockey game. Construction had broken ground two years prior and the building first opened its doors in March of '77. Three franchises aspired to host their teams in Portland: the Quebec Nordiques (a WHA franchise at the time, who had a farm team in Lewiston), the AHL's Providence Reds (who would move to Binghamton, NY, and only wanted a handful of games played in Portland), and the Philadelphia Flyers, who intended on placing their top affiliate there. The Flyers had the most attractive offer, and thus the Maine Mariners were born. Some 40 years later, the Mariners resurfaced under a new affiliation and color scheme - but still with a Flyers connection that was honored on January 5th, 2019 on a special night at the Cross Insurance Arena.

Michael McNicholas gets set for a faceoff against Brampton's Anthony Beauregard

The '77-78 Mariners did what no other team had done before them: they won the Calder Cup in their first season of operation. They were led by Bob McCammon, a career minor leaguer as a player in the IHL, who with his success with the Mariners had two stints as bench boss of the Flyers themselves, and later the Vancouver Canucks. He was named AHL Coach of the Year. The team's play-by-play announcer was none other than Mike "Doc" Emrick (award-winning lead broadcaster of the NHL on NBC), who hasn't aged one bit when you look at him in the old team photos hanging in the Cross Insurance Arena's Hall of Fame Lounge. Doc would broadcast in Portland for three seasons, before being replaced by current Boston Bruins TV host Dale Arnold. The Mariners' leading scorer was 22-year-old Al Hill, who went on to play over 220 NHL games with the Flyers and later coach in the AHL himself. Also on the team were Wayne Schaab, Guy Delparte, and Frank Bathe - all who still make their homes in the Portland area today and were a part of a nostalgic Throwback Night appearance.

From L to R: Gary McAdam, Guy Delparte, Wayne Schaab, Dan Lucas, Len Hachborn, Frank Bathe, and Steve Tsujiura (pictured behind Tsujiura is former USM Coach Glen Amico, and grandson in the middle)

Hockey fever in Portland was quickly unleashed in the Mariners inaugural season, with over 6500 people attending the first game in franchise history, which was ironically played against the Binghamton Dusters (who had been those Providence Reds). They finished third in the league in attendance their inaugural season, and then led the league for the next four, rewarding the Portland faithful with a second Calder Cup in year two - still holding the distinction as the only franchise in AHL history to win it each of their first two seasons (although the Portland Pirates would later get halfway there).

Jason Salvaggio pumped up the crowd of 4,733 strong with his goal in the third period.

McCammon won his second AHL coach of the year award in '80-81 as the Mariners returned to the Calder Cup Finals for a third time, but lost to the Adirondack Red Wings. They'd play under the Flyers umbrella for just two more seasons before the franchise was sold to the New Jersey Devils. Their first year as a Devils affiliate, the Mariners won another Cup - in bizarre fashion. They finished the regular season with a sub-.500 record (33-36-11), becoming just the fourth team in AHL history to do so and then win it all. They had no All-Stars or award winners. No one on the team was in the league's top ten in scoring. Paul Evans and Gary McAdam, who were present on Throwback night, were on the team. Bathe played in four games that season, which was his last in pro hockey.

Local Mariners heros of the 1970s and 80s are still very popular in 2019!

The Devils-led Mariners would last three more seasons before re-locating to Utica after 1986-87, paving the way for the Boston Bruins to put their top affiliate in Portland. The Mariners kept their name and logo, but traded orange and black for yellow and black. April 4th, 1992 was the final game in "original Mariners history," before the Bruins took their team to Providence - a city that in many ways began and ended Mariners AHL history.

The Boston Bruins edition of the Mariners was the only one not to win the Calder Cup. They did, however, hold the best regular season record in the North Division in 1986-87, going 44-25-7-4.

Of course, the Portland Pirates kept the AHL tradition alive when they moved in the following year, won the Calder Cup, and were a staple for over 20 years until their 2016 relocation to Springfield, Mass. But when the Port City was once again without hockey in 2017, and a naming contest popped up for a new ECHL franchise, there was little doubt that the Mariners would be coming back. Well, there was some doubt. The second-place "Wild Blueberries" made quite a run of their own and they'll get their own theme night on March 9th.

"Wild Blueberries Night" on March 9th will mark the fourth and final specialty jersey of the season: Captain America (November 10th), Double Dare (December 28th), and Throwbacks (January 5th)

It doesn't take much to feel the rich history of hockey when you walk through the halls of the Cross Insurance Arena. Even after its 2013 renovations, the aura is there (the other Aura is right across the street, by the way). Talking to any number of local hockey fans at a game or in the community is almost certain to bring up fond memories of Mariners past. There's an extra depth of meaning in Portland's hockey history, and as an outsider coming in, it doesn't take long to take notice. A walk through the brand new Saco & Biddeford Savings Hall of Fame Lounge is as good a journey through the past as any. Walls filled with team photos, championship banners, ticket stubs, locker rooms, newspaper articles, and more. A history that the current Mariners embrace and a tradition they seek to carry on.

The Saco & Biddeford Savings Hall of Fame Lounge is located just to the right of the main security gates inside the Cross Insurance Arena and is full of Portland hockey history and more!

While another first year championship may be a lot to ask, the Mariners delivered on Throwback night with a 3-1 win. Ty Ronning scored less than two minutes into the game. Morgan Adams-Moisan tipped home a perfect re-direct early in the 2nd. Jason Salvaggio sniped home an insurance goal in the third on a 3-on-1. Brandon Halverson was almost perfect in between the pipes. Over 4,700 fans made for a terrific atmosphere that would have (and did make the 70s and 80s Mariners proud). Another chapter in Mariners hockey written; many more to come.

The 2018-19 Mariners did what the original Mariners did best: win. The final score was 3-1.