Portland Eagles
Minor league hockey team that played in Portland from 1944 to 1951.
The Portland Eagles were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon. They played in the Pacific Coast Hockey League from 1944 through 1951, and for one season they were called the Portland Penguins.
In their first season, the Eagles finished second in the league and lost the championship to the Seattle Ironmen. The following year (1945–46), they won their division, beat the Ironmen in the semifinals, but were swept by the Los Angeles Monarchs in the finals. The team made the playoffs two more times over the rest of its existence, losing in the first round both times.
The club changed its name to the Portland Penguins for the 1949–50 season. For the 1950–51 season, the Eagles name returned, and Tony Hemmerling became head coach. That year, the Eagles lost in the first round of the playoffs. The team folded after the 1950–51 season due to financial troubles and a deteriorating arena.
Notable players who later reached the NHL included Gordon Buttrey, Don Campbell, Red Carr, Les Colvin, Hec Highton, John Holota, Eddie Kullman, Bill Kyle, Jack McDonald, Al Millar, Bill Summerhill, and Aubrey Webster.
- League
- Pacific Coast Hockey League
- Years active
- 1944–1951
- Location
- Portland, Oregon
- Inaugural season finish
- Second place, lost championship to Seattle Ironmen
- Best playoff result
- Finals (1945–46), swept by Los Angeles Monarchs
- Name change
- Portland Penguins for 1949–50 season
- Final season
- 1950–51, lost in first round of playoffs
Lore & Background
The Portland Eagles began play in the Pacific Coast Hockey League in 1944. In their first season, they placed second and lost the championship game to the Seattle Ironmen. The following season (1945–46), the Eagles finished first in their division, defeated the Ironmen in the semifinals, but were swept by the Los Angeles Monarchs in the finals. The Eagles made the playoffs twice more in their remaining seasons, each time losing in the first round. For the 1949–50 season, the team changed its name to the Portland Penguins. The Eagles name was restored for the 1950–51 season, with Tony Hemmerling appointed head coach. That season ended with a first-round playoff loss. The team folded after 1950–51 due to financial problems and a worsening arena.
Reader's Guide
The Portland Eagles were a minor league team in the Pacific Coast Hockey League, active from 1944 to 1951. Their early success included a division title and a finals appearance in 1945–46, but they never won a championship. The team briefly rebranded as the Portland Penguins for one season before reverting to the Eagles name. The franchise folded after the 1950–51 season because of financial difficulties and a deteriorating arena. Several players from the Eagles later played in the National Hockey League, including Gordon Buttrey, Don Campbell, Red Carr, Les Colvin, Hec Highton, John Holota, Eddie Kullman, Bill Kyle, Jack McDonald, Al Millar, Bill Summerhill, and Aubrey Webster. The Eagles represent a chapter in the history of professional hockey on the West Coast during the mid-20th century.
Did You Know?
- The Portland Eagles were known as the Portland Penguins for the 1949–50 season.
- The Eagles lost the 1944 championship game to the Seattle Ironmen.
- Tony Hemmerling was head coach in the team's final season, 1950–51.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Portland Eagles' best playoff run?
Their deepest postseason came in 1945–46, when they won their division, defeated the Seattle Ironmen in the semifinals, and then were swept by the Los Angeles Monarchs in the championship series.
Why did the team briefly go by the name Portland Penguins?
During the 1949–50 season the franchise temporarily operated under the Portland Penguins name before reverting to the Eagles identity the following year.
How did the Portland Eagles' inaugural season end?
In 1944–45 the Eagles finished second in the league and lost the championship series to the Seattle Ironmen.
Why do fans still look up the Portland Eagles?
As a short-lived PCHL franchise that never captured a title, the Eagles represent a small but memorable chapter of mid-century minor league hockey in the Pacific Northwest.
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