Home Ice: Cleveland Arena (9,300) 1972-74, Richfield Coliseum
(18,500)1974-76
Colors: Purple, White, and Black
The Cleveland Crusaders were the city of Cleveland's first attempt at
major league hockey. Playing in the World Hockey
Association from 1972
to 1976, they struggled through their brief life. Originally conceived
as the Calgary Broncos, the Calgary franchise was forced to withdraw
before it started due to financial trouble. Calgary would later recieve
the Calgary Cowboys. The franchise was
then
re-granted, this time to Nick Mileti, the sports tycoon of Cleveland. He
already owned the Indians, and Cavaliers, as well as having interest in
the AHL's Cleveland Barons. (Incidentally, the Barons were the name of
Cleveland's short-lived NHL franchise.) The agreement was that the
Crusaders, granted in June 1972, would be operational by the start of the
1972-73 season. Players chosen by the now-defunct Calgary Broncos were
then pursued by the Crusaders. Mileti was successful in signing Boston
Bruins netminder Gerry Cheevers to the lineup, which was mostly prospects
and minor leaguers. Behind the bench was Bill Needham, who led the club
to a second place finish, defeating the Philadelphia
Blazers before losing
to New England in the playoffs. The offense sputtered for 1973-74, as
Cleveland dropped to third in the eastern Division, bowing in the
playoffs to the Toronto Toros.
Cleveland quickly established itself as one of the better run and
supported WHA clubs. Playing at the Cleveland Arena, where it had
averaged 6000 fans per game, the club moved in
1974 to the new Richfield Coliseum, located south of Cleveland. This
was the unfortunate beginning of Cleveland's downfall. The arena was too
far from Cleveland and Akron to draw large crowds consistently. Defense
remained consistent, but offense was consistently lacking. John Hanna
had replaced Needham behind the Bench, but was in turn replaced by Jack
Vivian. The Crusaders made the playoffs, but fell in five games to the
Houston Aeros.
Cleveland hosted the 1976 All-Star game at the Coliseum, but that
proved to be the only true bright spot in a season that fell short in
many ways. Jay Moore had purchased the Crusaders from Mileti in 1975,
and Moore always seemed to have a lackadaisical attitude toward the club.
He was also openly interested in gaining an NHL club for Cleveland. In
January 1976, Cheevers opted out of his contract and returned to the
Bruins. The addition to the WHA of the Cincinnati Stingers gave the Crusaders a
natural rivalry, for one season at least. John Wilson led the club to
another second place finish in
the Eastern Division, but attendance was sagging. Cleveland fell in the
playoffs to New England.
Mileti regained
the club in spring 1976, right as the NHL's California
Golden Seals were relocating to the Coliseum, to be known as the Barons. Finding the
Crusaders without a home, Mileti moved the club to Saint Paul, Minnesota,
where they became the second incarnation of the Minnesota Fighting Saints.