Frequently Asked Questions
The most-asked questions about defunct ice hockey teams, part 5.
What exactly is the Defunct Ice Hockey Teams Encyclopedia, Part 5?
It is a fan-written, community-maintained reference volume that profiles ice hockey clubs which no longer exist, covering their rosters, seasons, arenas, and the circumstances of their dissolution. Part 5 specifically focuses on teams that folded between 1968 and 1989 across the AHL, WHA, and various European second-tier leagues.
Who are the main contributors behind Part 5?
The volume was compiled by a loose collective of retired players, local newspaper archivists, and long-time forum members who pooled box scores, ticket stubs, and oral histories. The lead editor credits three former WHA gatekeepers as the primary fact-checkers for that league's entries.
Where should a newcomer begin if they pick up Part 5 for the first time?
Start with the introductory timeline in Chapter 1, which maps every covered franchise to its city and the year it ceased operations. From there, the 'Lost Arenas' sidebar pages give quick visual context before you dive into individual team chapters.
How many teams does Part 5 actually profile?
The volume contains full-length entries on 34 defunct clubs, plus 11 shorter 'honorable mention' profiles for teams that lasted fewer than two seasons. Each main entry runs roughly 12 to 18 pages depending on how much archival material was available.
What league or era is the biggest focus of this part?
The WHA's 1974-to-1986 run receives the most space, accounting for nearly half the page count, because many of those clubs left behind surprisingly little mainstream documentation. The AHL and Scandinavian B-tier leagues fill out the remainder.
Is Part 5 an official publication tied to any hockey governing body?
No; it is entirely a fan project with no affiliation to the NHL, IIHF, or any national federation. All photographs are either public-domain scans from local libraries or donated by former players, and the text is written in plain language rather than league-press style.
What is one of the most surprising or overlooked teams featured in this volume?
The 1975–76 Sault Ste. Marie Gulls, a short-lived AHL expansion club that played only 41 games before a warehouse fire destroyed their home rink, get a full chapter with reconstructed standings and a handful of surviving radio broadcast clips transcribed by volunteers.
How is the book organized beyond simple alphabetical listing?
Teams are grouped by league and then by the year they folded, with cross-reference callouts linking a club to any successor franchise that inherited its name, arena, or player pool. A final appendix cross-indexes every arena mentioned across all five parts of the series.
What kind of 'notable moments' does Part 5 highlight that mainstream hockey histories tend to skip?
Entries include things like a WHA team that played an entire midweek road trip in borrowed jerseys because a shipment was lost, or a European club whose final season was decided by a coin flip after a power outage during the deciding game. These anecdotes are sourced from player interviews and local press clippings.
Where can fans find Part 5, and is it still being updated?
It is distributed as a free PDF and as a print-on-demand paperback through the fan community's shared repository, with a changelog page noting corrections submitted by readers. The editors have stated Part 5 is considered 'final' for now, though errata patches are released whenever a contributor uncovers a new box score or photograph.