The Cincinnati Garden was born at the ready to serve popcorn, hot dogs and hockey. Its major backers included wealthy concessionaire Louis Jacobs of Buffalo, NY and unnamed Canadians with business and hockey interests. They modeled the new Garden in Cincinnati after the Maple Leaf Gardens, the famous hockey cathedral in Toronto and named Frank Selke, a successful hockey executive as Cincy's General Manager. Selke had boundless energy and for two decades was a driving force in the success of the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs. There was little doubt of Selke's intention to turn the Queen City into a hockey town.
On February 22, 1949, grand opening night, the first event at the Garden was of course, a hockey game. A packed house at the Garden ate popcorn and hotdogs as they watched an exhibition between the Montreal Canadians of the National Hockey League and the Dallas Texans, a group of players who would form the nucleus of a new hockey club coming to Cincinnati. It was a momentous night and a great beginning for Cincinnati's hockey barn.
The Cincinnati Mohawks
Season 3 for the AHL Mohawks was another disappointment. Although they improved to a third place finish, it was a losing season and fan support was dismal. By season's end, financial conditions were such that the three year old hockey club folded. Professional Hockey was seemingly done for at the Gardens. But it wasn't over - quickly, private investors organized and funded a new hockey club they named the Cincinnati Mohawks; new team, same name. By October, the Mohawks were again skating on Garden ice, this time in the International Hockey League.
From the get go, the new Mohawk's hockey club dominated the International League. They benefited by their affiliation with the Montreal Canadians who had an extensive farm system. The Mohawk's ruled the Garden ice against competitors like the Troy Bruins, Fort Wayne Komets, Toledo Mercurys and the Grand Rapid's Rockets. Their strength was such that they have been called the greatest minor league hockey team of all-time. Between 1952 and 1958 the Mohawks finished first in the International Hockey League all six seasons and won the Turner Cup Championship five years in a row. NHL notables skating for the Mohawks included Paul Bibeault, Don Marshall and Phil Goyette.
In June of 1958, to the surprise of many, the Cincinnati Mohawks folded for a second time. It was reported that the Mohawks cost the Gardens an estimated $250,000 over the nine years of operation. Garden executive Thomas Grace told the Cincinnati Enquirer that despite winning six straight championships, the team has been a loser at the gate. "We have a hard core of very loyal hockey fans, but there just aren't enough of them," Grace said. He added that he would like to see Cincinnati in a league of major cities with major playing arenas, which would be feasible from a travel standpoint. "We are not giving up on hockey. What we're doing is giving up hockey in its present status."
Cincinnati Swords
It was a dozen years before another professional hockey opportunity presented itself to the Gardens. The National Hockey League expanded to Buffalo, NY in 1971 and the Cincinnati Swords were formed to serve as a farm club for the NHL Buffalo Sabres. The Swords played in the American Hockey League and skated the Gardens ice from 1971- 1974. The team was outstanding, posting a winning record all three years. In 1973 they dominated the league with a record of 54-17-5 winning the AHL Championship and the Calder Cup. Although attendance at the Gardens was mediocre, the Swords had a loyal fan base and were popular with the media. Their success helped fuel efforts to bring major league hockey to Cincinnati. In 1972, the Swords went so far as to participate in a "We're Ready" promotion led by a group co-chaired by William Dewitt, Jr and Brian Heekin. That group was awarded a franchise by the World Hockey Association in 1975 and they formed the Cincinnati Stingers. The Stingers debuted at Cincinnati's new Riverfront Coliseum and ironically spelled the end for the AHL Swords and professional hockey at the Gardens.
The Stingers left town in 1980 and the Queen City was a decade without a professional hockey team until a group headed by Knoxville businessman Doug Kirchhofer, brought the Cincinnati Cyclones to town. The Clones began skating on Gardens ice in the fall of 1990 playing in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). From the beginning the Cyclones had a winning combination of victories on the ice and fans in the stands. They made the play-off's their first year with a record of 37-24. Attendance averaged an impressive 7,696. The Clones marketed their product well, creating an enjoyable fan experience. In their second season the Cyclones continued winning making the semi finals in post season play. Gardens attendance averaged a league high 9,473. In 1992 the team moved to the International Hockey League and experienced their first losing season winning only 27 of 82 games. The Cyclones bounced back the following year and fan support remained strong, In the 1995/96 season the Clones had nine sellouts of the Gardens. Hockey players come and go, but over the years fans at the Gardens became accustomed to watching regulars like Don Biggs, Chris Chchocki, Jeff Greenlaw and Paul Lawless.
In 1997, the Cyclones lease was up at the Gardens and Clones owner, Doug Kirchhofer, saw as an opportunity. Looking to build on the Cyclone's success he formed a group, Cincinnati Entertainment Associates that acquired the 17,000 seat, Riverfront Coliseum. The purchase included a 14 million dollar renovation and renaming the arena "The Crown." Kirchhofer further announced that the Cincinnati Cyclones would make the Crown their new home. After seven exciting, memorable and entertaining seasons at the Gardens, the Cyclones packed up and left.
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
When the Cyclones vacated, Gardens owner, Jerry Robinson had but one choice; he scrambled and within months hatched the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks of the American Hockey league. The Ducks, affiliates of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim made their Gardens launch on October 5, 1997, facing off against the Kentucky Thoroughblades. That same evening the Cincinnati Cyclones premiered at the newly named Crown, officially making Cincinnati a two-team hockey town. John Erardi of the Cincinnati Enquirer called it "Ice Wars." He described the night as the beginning of a battle between facilities, teams and team owners to determine who would attract sufficient fans to remain in business. Would it be the Crown or the Gardens? The Cyclones or the Ducks? Doug Kirchhofer or Jerry Robinson? Opinions differed, but there was unanimous agreement that there would be only one winner. Jerry Robinson predicted the Gardens and the Mighty Ducks would be victors in two years. Doug Kirchhofer said he could not envision a scenario where the Clones would lose and said the battle would continue as long as Jerry wants it to.
The Mighty Ducks under direction of club President Peter Robinson nestled into their home at the Gardens. Over their first three years the team struggled on the ice finishing each season with a losing record, but they played aggressive hockey and provided fans at the Gardens an entertaining hockey experience. In their fourth season under coach Mike Babcock the Ducks improved, winning 41 games.
In 2001 the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks became winners of the Ice War when the Cyclones folded. Doug Kirchhofer's decision to move the Cyclones to the Cincinnati's riverfront proved disastrous. The Crown, renamed the US Bank Arena filed for bankruptcy and was sold. Doug Kirchhofer left the Queen City and returned home to Tennessee.
The Mighty Ducks ruled the Gardens ice for another four years. During their eight seasons at the Gardens they averaged a respectable 5,000 fans per game. 2005 spelled the end of professional hockey at the Gardens when the Ducks lost their NHL affiliation and Jerry Robinson opted not to secure a replacement team.
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The Gardens was the best place to watch a hockey game. Especially on dollar dog and dollar beer night. The Cyclones especially had that place rocking. The Mighty Ducks not so much, but they played a higher level of hockey than the Cyclones. The US Bank Arena or whatever they're calling it these days is a lousy place to watch a hockey game. Ohiogirl81 2016
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The Cincinnati Gardens was where I discovered hockey in person after watching it on NBC. I fell in love with the Cincinnati Swords in the early to mid 1970s. I learned to play hockey thanks to Hap Myers and John Gould, who were Swords players and ran a hockey school. John was the coolest guy, he spent so much time with me on the ice 1 on 1, Rick Dudley was another player I got to know who tossed me pucks a few times (Duds is now an exec with the Montreal Canadiens.) We never missed a game--we were even there the night of the April 3rd tornadoes in 1974 when one was chewing Elmwood Place up a few blocks away. What a great place for a 10-year old kid to grow up in...great days watching the Swords and playing games in both the main arena and annex all the way through high school. I'll miss that barn. Cyclingwriter 2016
