Cleveland Crusaders

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.

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Florida Breakers

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Originally, the team planned a move to Florida to be known as the Florida Breakers. For a time during the summer of 1976, the team was actually known as such. Had the Crusaders not been forced to move in 1976, they probably would have made it to the NHL in 1979.

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Crusaders year-by-year

Year       W     L     T     pts.     Finish       Playoffs
1972-73   43    32     3     89       2nd Eastern  Beat Philadelphia 4-0
                                                   Lost to New England 1-4
1973-74   37    32     9     83       3rd Eastern  Lost to Toronto 1-4
1974-75   35    40     3     73       2nd Eastern  Lost to Houston 1-4
1975-76   35    40     5     75       2nd Eastern  Lost to New England 0-3
 
Information on this page is from The Complete Historical
and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Association
1972-1979; by Scott Adam Surgent.