View source for Spokane Flyers (1974–1980)

{{Infobox ice hockey team
| logo        =
| text_color  = #000000
| bg_color    = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#020168 5px solid; border-bottom:#020168 5px solid;
| team        = Spokane Flyers
| city        = [[Spokane, Washington]]
| league      = [[Western International Hockey League]],<br>[[Pacific Hockey League]]
| operated    = 1974–80
| arena       = [[Spokane Coliseum]]
| colours     = Blue and white
| affiliates  =
| owner       =
<!---Franchise history--->
| name1       = [[Spokane Jets]]
| dates1      = 1963–1974
| name2       = [[Spokane Flyers (1974–1980)|Spokane Flyers]]
| dates2      = 1974–1980
<!---Championships--->
| championships = 1975, 1976, 1977
}}
The '''Spokane Flyers''' were a [[senior ice hockey]] team based in [[Spokane, Washington]]. They played in the [[Western International Hockey League]] (WIHL) from [[1974–75 WIHL season|1974–75]] to the [[1979–80 WIHL season|1979–80]] except for a one-year hiatus when they played in the [[Pacific Hockey League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hockeydb.com/stte/spokane-flyers-9696.html |title=Spokane Flyers Statistics and History [1974-1978 WIHL] |work=Hockeydb.com |accessdate=July 14, 2024}}</ref>
==History==
The Second WIHL franchise in Spokane, the Flyers were originally named [[Spokane Jets]] and played from 1963 to 1974. After winning five league championships and two [[Allan Cup]]s, the franchise was renamed as the Flyers, the same name as the [[Spokane Flyers (1948–1958)|earlier Spokane franchise]]. The rechristened team promptly won three more WIHL titles and a third Allan Cup ([[1976 Allan Cup|1976]]), making them top senior club in North America. In 1978, the Flyers made the jump to professional hockey and joined the [[Pacific Hockey League]], a minor circuit that was supported by the [[World Hockey Association]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=VUT0v_BSkFoC&pg=PA229 The Story of the Pacific Hockey League]</ref> Unfortunately, the Flyers joined at the same time that the WHA was preparing to be absorbed by the [[National Hockey League|NHL]]. Despite the relative success of the PHL, the NHL had no interest in acquiring the league as it already used three different minor leagues for player development ([[American Hockey League|AHL]], [[Central Professional Hockey League|CHL]] and [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|IHL]]).
When the PHL dissolved in 1979, the Flyers returned to the WIHL and won another league championship and Allan Cup.<ref>{{cite web|author=Doug Mathieson |url=http://www.allancup.ca/allancuparchivescores.htm#70%27s |title=Allan Cup Archives Scores |publisher=Allancup.ca |date= |accessdate=2011-09-10}}</ref> Just like the previous franchise, this Flyers team was then pushed out of the market by the [[Western Hockey League]] when the [[Great Falls Americans]] relocated to Spokane. Coincidentally, the new team was also named the [[Spokane Flyers (junior)|Spokane Flyers]].
==References==
{{reflist|50em}}
[[Category:Edmonton Oilers minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Sports in Spokane, Washington]]
[[Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States]]
[[Category:Western International Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1974]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 1980]]
[[Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1974 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:1980 disestablishments in Washington (state)]]
{{US-icehockey-team-stub}}
{{Washington-sport-team-stub}}
[[de:Spokane Flyers]]