What do we know about the Seattle Breakers

[staal4pm]

Guys, I've gotten into the habit recently of rummaging through the archives at DYG and HockeyDB to learn about some of the wild players, teams, leagues, and brawls of yesteryear. I can usually find enough to satisfy myself from the stats listed there, fight comments, postings here, old newspaper articles, etc. But I'd like to pick your brains to see how much you know of an old Western Hockey League team: the Seattle Breakers and their 1981-1982 team specifically.

This group looks like one of the rowdiest bunch of goons ever assembled, which makes sense since they skated during the massive arms race that was the WHL in the late 1970s and early 1980s sparked by teams like the legendary New Westminster Bruins and the Saskatoon Blades. I've read that there nickname around the league was the "The Seattle Gangsters" but some these guys could play the game and apparently play the game quite well.

*Of the 25 players who suited up at least 10 games, 20 had more PIMs than games played.
*They had an equal number of players with 10+ goals and 100+ PIMs (13), and 9 players accomplished both.

These players caught my eye the most:

*D Wayne Prestage 72GP, 50G, 58A, 197 PIM
*D Craig Channell 71GP, 9G, 79A, 244 PIM
*RW Brent Shaw 71GP, 33G, 42A, 209 PIM
*LW Ken Ficocelli 71GP, 39G, 34A, 185 PIM
*D Phil Stanger 61GP, 13G, 28A, 349 PIM
*RW Marc LeClair 50GP, 21G, 19A, 284 PIM
*RW Mitch Wilson 60GP, 18G, 17A, 436 PIM
*D Steve Dykstra 57GP, 8G, 26A, 139 PIM
*RW Alan Kerr 68GP, 15G, 18A, 107 PIM
*RW Pat Smith 71GP, 10G, 20A, 102 PIM
*D Ken Daneyko 38GP, 1G, 22A, 151 PIM
*Les Bellai 60GP, 11G, 9A, 132 PIM
*Lee Robbins 59GP, 4G, 8A, 100 PIM

Everyone knows Daneyko (although I don't know anything about his pre-NHL days), and Kerr and Dykstra spent time bruising their knuckles in the NHL in the mid-late 1980s but I've frankly never heard of most of the guys who looked like they played some mean hockey for a tough team and put up a ton of PIMs throughout their, mostly short, careers. Does anyone have any stories or information about this team or its players?

[BENNETTWOLF]

I can't add anything about seattle but a few of those guys sparked my memory from the AHL. Mitch Wilson was one badass "pound for pound" type.

It's too bad he only had a few fights in the show. He was a terror in the AHL. Guaranteed massive penalty totals and fights. One of the toughest guys under six feet i've seen.

I looked him up on DYG. He also cracked 400 one other time and broke 349 or better four other times. In 756 pro games, he compiled 3769 pims!

[staal4pm]

A lot of these guys' careers seem to begin and end with the Breakers. To wit is Phil Stanger, a defenseman from Calgary. He came to the Breakers before the 1980-1981 season after a year spent with the Nor-Wes Caps of the BCJHL and used the 1981-1982 season as a springboard and was selected with the 97th overall pick in the 5th round by the Quebec Nordiques. He spent his last season with the Breakers the next season, returned to the BCJHL (this time with the Langley Eagles) for the 1983-1984 season (stats unavailable) and was never heard from again, at least hockey-wise. In 192 games over 3 seasons with Seattle, he managed to rack up 929 PIMs (305, 379, 275) and 61 PIMs in 19 playoff games. The Breakers were littered with stories like that.

[staal4pm]

Here is an article I found on the Breakers from SeattleHockey.net

Here are some highlights:

In 1977 the Kamloops Chiefs of the Western Canada Hockey League (WCHL) moved to Seattle and were renamed the Seattle Breakers.

Below is a brief season-by-season history of the Breakers, the team later renamed the Thunderbirds for the start of the 1985-86 season. During the era of the Breakers, the WHL was a wild league known as much for the frequency and ferocity of its fights as for its talent level. Given the often odd events that seemed to follow the Breakers, comparisons to the movie Slap Shot are more than appropriate.

1977-78 - There was some excitement in Seattle, as the Breakers played an exhibition game against the Moscow Selects, an all-star team of Russians which was touring North America. The overmatched Breakers lost a competitive contest by a final score of 5-3.

Another important player in the Breakers success was Ryan Walter (left) who finished the season with 125 points (54 goals and 71 assists) in only 62 games. Walter was chosen in the first round of the 1978 NHL Entry Draft, selected second overall by the Washington Capitals.

1978-79 - Another highlight was the play of defenseman Tim Hunter who scored 49 points while racking up 300 penalty minutes.

1979-80 - The Breakers faced the Russians in an exhibition for the second time in three years, this time taking on Moscow Spartak of the Soviet First Division on December 12, 1979. The Russians were on an eight game tour of the WHL, and were coming off wins against Victoria (14-3) and New Westminster (11-1). The Breakers borrowed a complete five player line from Portland for the game which included future NHLer Dave Babych on the blueline. A crowd of 2,700 was on hand as the Russians beat the Breakers 7-4, quite an accomplishment for the junior players from Seattle (and Portland) against a much older and more experienced Soviet squad. The Breakers also took on the Swedish National Junior Team on December 29, 1979, and came away with a 7-2 victory.

1980-81 - Things got so tight financially that coach Monte Miron was fired with seven games remaining in the season because the team could no longer afford to pay him. He was replaced by one of his players, Mike Mesic, who led his teammates to a 2-5 record down the stretch, followed by a quick first round departure from the playoffs as Seattle was beaten by Portland four games to one.

One former team employee told me that the season was like "a low-budget version of Slap Shot in the front office", complete with an owner who kept a well stocked liquor cabinet, and his "trophy wife" who made personnel decisions. Did I mention that the organ player was blind, and used to listen to the radio broadcasts to know when to play? Unfortunately no one told him there was a seven second delay in the broadcast.... seriously.

1981-82 - Jack Sangster was the team's new coach, and the Breakers became known as "Sangster's Gangsters" as they terrorized the league. The team featured 13 players with more than 100 minutes in penalties each, led by Mitch Wilson with 436 (he still managed to score 35 points on the season). Even leading scorer Wayne Prestage (50 goals, 58 assist) got into the act, racking up 197 minutes. Sangster was named the Coach of the Year at season's end.

In the playoffs, Seattle finally picked up a win in the first round by sweeping Victoria four game to none. It was then on to the division finals, where Portland outlasted Seattle in a bloodbath of fights and bench-clearing brawls to win the series four games to two.

1982-83 - Sangster's Gangsters dropped to fourth place, with a 24-47-1 record in the six team West Division. There really wasn't much to cheer about, the team didn't stand out in any way. Fred Ledlin was the leading scorer (50 goals, 59 assists), and no one even came close to 300 penalty minutes (Phil Stanger led with 275).

In January of 1983 the Breakers made what is undoubtedly the strangest trade in the history of hockey. Seattle owned the rights to forward Tom Martin, who was playing with the University of Denver. They traded his rights to the Victoria Cougars "for a used bus and future considerations" (quote from Total Hockey, 2nd ed.). When asked about the trade years later, Breakers owner John Hamilton stated "It may have been the best deal I ever made." What did Martin have to say about the deal? "I heard the bus was a really nice one."

1983-84 - Alan Kerr led the offense with 46 goals and 66 assists. Kerr and defenseman Gary Stewart were both named to the First Team of the West Division All-Stars. Brent Severyn was the only player selected in the 1984 draft, picked in the 5th round (99th overall) by Winnipeg.

1984-85 - John Kordic was named West Division Second Team All-Stars. The last Seattle player chosen, Jamie Huscroft (9th round, 171st overall) would go on to a long NHL career with a number of different teams.

One player making his WHL at the age of 14 would go on to be a fixture in Seattle for six years, and would be the only player to have his number (#10) retired by the team. That young man was Glen Goodall, and his 26 points in 1984-85 was little indication of what was to come.

Seattle picked up brawler John Kordic from Portland early in the season. He had a fine season in Seattle, tallying 53 points and 154 penalty minutes in 46 games.

After the season the Breakers were sold to new owners and renamed the Seattle Thunderbirds. The Thunderbirds continued in the WHL, and they still play in the league today.

[Shoryuken]

1980-81 - Things got so tight financially that coach Monte Miron was fired with seven games remaining in the season because the team could no longer afford to pay him. He was replaced by one of his players, Mike Mesic, who led his teammates to a 2-5 record down the stretch, followed by a quick first round departure from the playoffs as Seattle was beaten by Portland four games to one.

One former team employee told me that the season was like "a low-budget version of Slap Shot in the front office", complete with an owner who kept a well stocked liquor cabinet, and his "trophy wife" who made personnel decisions. Did I mention that the organ player was blind, and used to listen to the radio broadcasts to know when to play? Unfortunately no one told him there was a seven second delay in the broadcast.... seriously.

Pure gold

[smashem]

Originally Posted by BENNETTWOLF

I can't add anything about seattle but a few of those guys sparked my memory from the AHL. Mitch Wilson was one badass "pound for pound" type.

It's too bad he only had a few fights in the show. He was a terror in the AHL. Guaranteed massive penalty totals and fights. One of the toughest guys under six feet i've seen.

I looked him up on DYG. He also cracked 400 one other time and broke 349 or better four other times. In 756 pro games, he compiled 3769 pims!

Mitch Wilson, I also like him i think his # was 49 with the Devils, and had a short stint with the Bruins

[darius]

#40 with the Devils and #33 with the Penguins.

I am in the midst of making a Mitch Wilson DVD

Here's what I got so far. If anybody has anything to add, it will only make the disc better.

Mats Thelin vs Mitch Wilson BRUINS vs DEVILS NHL
Mitch Wilson vs Steve Taylor MAINE MARINERS vs SPRINGFIELD INDIANS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Tom Martin ROUND 1 MAINE MARINERS vs SHERBROOKE CANADIENS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Tom Martin ROUND 2 MAINE MARINERS vs SHERBROOKE CANADIENS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Greg Joly MAINE MARINERS vs ADIRONDACK RED WINGS AHL
Steve Thomas vs Mitch Wilson ST CATHERINES SAINTS vs MAINE MARINERS AHL
Basil McRae vs Mitch Wilson ADIRONDACK RED WINGS vs MAINE MARINERS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Carl Mokosak MAINE MARINERS vs HERSHEY BEARS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Mike Rowe MAINE MARINERS vs BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs John Miner MAINE MARINERS vs NOVA SCOTIA OILERS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Ali Butorac MAINE MARINERS vs MONCTON FLAMES AHL
Ari Haanpaa vs Mitch Wilson SPRINGFIELD INDIANS vs MAINE MARINERS AHL
Andre Dore vs Mitch Wilson HERSHEY BEARS vs MAINE MARINERS AHL
Basil McRae vs Mitch Wilson ADIRONDACK RED WINGS vs MAINE MARINERS ROUND 2 AHL
John Miner vs Mitch Wilson NOVA SCOTIA OILERS vs MAINE MARINERS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Alan Kerr MAINE MARINERS vs SPRINGFIELD INDIANS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Barry Melrose MAINE MARINERS vs ADIRONDACK RED WINGS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Bruce Shoebottom MAINE MARINERS vs BINGHAMPTON WHALERS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Dale Henry MAINE MARINERS vs SPRINGFIELD INDIANS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Mal Davis MAINE MARINERS vs ROCHESTER AMERICANS NO GO AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Lou Crawford MAINE MARINERS vs ROCHESTER AMERICANS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Vern Smith MAINE MARINERS vs SPRINGFIELD INDIANS AHL
Wade Campbell vs Mitch Wilson MONCTON FLAMES vs MAINE MARINERS AHL
Kelly Buchberger vs Mitch Wilson NOVA SCOTIA OILERS vs BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Colin Chisholm SKIPJACKS vs INDIANS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Jim Archibald SKIPJACKS vs INDIANS AHL
Craig Berube vs Mitch Wilson HERSHEY BEARS vs BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS AHL
Gerald Diduck vs Mitch Wilson BENCH SPRINGFIELD INDIANS vs BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Craig Berube BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS vs HERSHEY BEARS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Roger Kortko BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS vs SPRINGFIELD INDIANS AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Al Tuer BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS vs NOVA SCOTIA OILERS ROUND 1 AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Al Tuer BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS vs NOVA SCOTIA OILERS ROUND 2 AHL
Mitch Wilson vs Jim Hofford AMERICANS vs SKIPJACKS AHL
Ken Daneyko vs Mitch Wilson DEVILS vs PENGUINS NHL
Ed Olczyk vs Mitch Wilson BLACKHAWKS vs PENGUINS NHL
Mitch Wilson vs Frantisek Musil PENGUINS vs NORTH STARS NHL
Brian Curran vs Mitch Wilson ISLANDERS vs PENGUINS NHL
Mitch Wilson vs Steve Konroyd NO GO PENGUINS vs ISLANDERS NHL
Mitch Wilson vs Grant Jennings BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS vs BINGHAMPTON WHALERS1 AHL
Shawn Anderson vs Mitch Wilson ROCHESTER AMERICANS vs BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS AHL
Tony Kellan vs Mitch Wilson BINGHAMPTON WHALERS1 vs BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS AHL
Jeff Chychrun vs Mitch Wilson HERSHEY BEARS vs BALTIMORE SKIPJACKS AHL
Bill Watson vs Mitch Wilson HAWKS2 vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Byron Lowmow vs Mitch Wilson KOMETS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Dale Marquette vs Mitch Wilson ICE vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Jim Playfair vs Mitch Wilson HAWKS2 vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Kerry Clark vs Mitch Wilson ROADRUNNERS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Kevin MacDonald vs Mitch Wilson ROADRUNNERS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Kevin MacDonald vs Mitch Wilson ROADRUNNERS vs LUMBERJACKS NO GO IHL
Mike Peluso vs Mitch Wilson ICE vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Mitch Wilson Spears Rick Hayward LUMBERJACKS vs ROADRUNNERS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs 21 LUMBERJACKS vs KOMETS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs 6 LUMBERJACKS vs ICE IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Cam Brown LUMBERJACKS vs ADMIRALS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Chris Luongo LUMBERJACKS vs ROADRUNNERS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Derrick Smith LUMBERJACKS vs RIVERMEN IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Jerome Bechard LUMBERJACKS vs ROADRUNNERS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Kevin Evans LUMBERJACKS vs KWINGS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Kevin Evans LUMBERJACKS vs KWINGS ROUND2 IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Kevin Evans LUMBERJACKS vs KWINGS ROUND3 IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Link Gaetz LUMBERJACKS vs KWINGS IHL P1
Mitch Wilson vs Link Gaetz LUMBERJACKS vs KWINGS IHL P2 KEVIN EVANS
Mitch Wilson vs Scott Robinson LUMBERJACKS vs KWINGS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Somebody LUMBERJACKS vs KWINGS IHL
Mitch Wilson vs Stu Grimson LUMBERJACKS vs GOLDEN EAGLES IHL
Muskegan Lumberjacks vs Kalamazoo Kwings SCRUM MITCH WILSON IHL
Natyshak vs Mitch Wilson KOMETS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Neil Wilkinson Nails Mitch Wilson KWINGS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Neil Wilkinson vs Mitch Wilson KWINGS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Peter Fiorentino vs Mitch Wilson SPIRITS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Ronnie Stern vs Mitch Wilson ADMIRALS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Ronnie Stern vs Mitch Wilson ADMIRALS vs LUMBERJACKS NO GO IHL
Shaun Clouston vs Mitch Wilson ADMIRALS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Steven Fletcher vs Mitch Wilson KOMETS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Villeaux vs Mitch Wilson KWINGS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Warren Babe vs Mitch Wilson KWINGS vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Warren Rychel vs Mitch Wilson ICE vs LUMBERJACKS IHL
Wayne Van Dorp vs Mitch Wilson HAWKS2 vs LUMBERJACKS IHL

[staal4pm]

Originally Posted by darius

#40 with the Devils and #33 with the Penguins.

I am in the midst of making a Mitch Wilson DVD

Darius, that sounds like it's going to be a fantastic DVD! A very impressive collection of clips from someone who's very hard to get ahold of. Best of luck, and please let us know how it turns out.

[darius]

If you're still interested in, Seattle Breakers footage. I was watching some last night. Granted, it wasn't any of the aforementioned big names, fighting. It was however several fights, at least 6. I think 9 total. And it's funny, they did mention "Sangster's goons". They're on the Portland Winter Hawks 82-87 disc. The first of 5 fights was during a game, the Breakers were losing 14-4, LOFL!!!

[BENNETTWOLF]

Originally Posted by staal4pm

Darius, that sounds like it's going to be a fantastic DVD! A very impressive collection of clips from someone who's very hard to get ahold of. Best of luck, and please let us know how it turns out.

There's quite a bit of Mitch Wilson footage at NHLFightclub.com A ton of other assorted AHL and other minor league footage on legendary fighters.

[Scotland72]

My uncle was the owner of The Seattle Breakers. There were just as many fights in the stands as there was on the ice back then. Nearly everyone in the league was afraid of John Kordic back in 81-82.

[I like Boobs]

Not to be a dick, but Kordic didn't play in the WHL until the 1982-1983 season, and from what I remember it took a while for him to establish his reputation as a tough guy... Had a good win over another young rookie in Craig Berube at the time and supposedly had a barn burner with Lyndon Byers but I've never seen the fight. He played on that stacked Portland team that had guys like Neely, and Ferarro and FOUR guys that over 50 goals! Unreal.

[I like Boobs]

Here's a few fun facts/blurbs:

Junior hockey is being played in Seattle for the 30th consecutive season, but if it hadn't been for a team that bonded 25 years ago, the...

By Gary Dougherty
Seattle Times staff



PETE LIDDELL / THE SEATTLE TIMES
A Seattle Breakers player, left, gains control of the puck after a faceoff involving Portland's Rob Geale (18) during a Western Hockey League game in 1981. The following year, the Breakers survived bankruptcy in a tumultuous season that ultimately ensured their survival in Seattle.

Junior hockey is being played in Seattle for the 30th consecutive season, but if it hadn't been for a team that bonded 25 years ago, the franchise might have been long gone.

The Seattle Thunderbirds are struggling to stay alive in the Western Hockey League playoffs, trailing Vancouver 3-1 in a best-of-seven series that continues tonight in Vancouver, B.C.

But before they were the Thunderbirds, they were the Seattle Breakers, and in 1982 the team was struggling to stay alive, period. The Breakers declared bankruptcy during a tumultuous season that was nearly their last in Seattle.

The Breakers (the nickname was changed to Thunderbirds before the 1985-86 season) overcame numerous financial obstacles in 1982 to reach the West Division championships against the hated Portland Winter Hawks.

The Breakers lost that series to their archrivals, but won fans along the way. The season ended with a heartbreaking, overtime loss in Game 6 in front of a sellout crowd at Seattle Center Arena. After the game, Breakers owner John Hamilton announced he'd find a way to keep the team in Seattle.

The franchise, which had moved from Kamloops, B.C., before the 1977-78 season, was in bankruptcy court most of the 1982 season. But attendance doubled for the final half of the season, and three playoff games were sellouts.

"I'm going to keep this franchise here next year," Hamilton told The Times then. "As long as the city gives me a good lease, I'll find a way. The reason I will go another year is because of the heart these guys showed this year. With all the adversity, they never gave up, they always showed heart, class and guts."

The Breakers won only two of their first 10 games that season under new coach Jack Sangster. But the aggressive group known as "Sangster's Gangsters" started to come together behind goalie Dave Ross, forward Wayne Prestage and newly acquired defenseman Ken Daneyko.

Daneyko had been added in early December in a dispersal draft after the Spokane Flyers folded. Add to the mix tough guys Mitch Wilson (436 penalty minutes), Phil Stanger (349) and Brent Shaw (209) and you had a team that wouldn't back down to anyone, including the Winter Hawks.

Portland, which had beaten Seattle 14 of 15 games the previous season, was scheduled to play the Breakers 14 times in 1982. But because Spokane folded, seven games between the I-5 rivals were added.

The Breakers showed that this season would be different in a mid-December matchup at Memorial Coliseum in Portland. The Winter Hawks, coached by legendary Ken Hodge, had scored the final four goals to win 6-4 the previous night in Seattle. But in Portland, the Breakers exploded for a wild, 10-7 win. The game included a huge brawl that resulted in the ejections of 17 players, leaving Portland with six players and Seattle eight when the horn sounded.

The Breakers won the next two games against Portland in late December and finished the season 8-11-2 vs. Portland, including a respectable 4-6-1 in the Rose City.

Things weren't so good in the front office as Hamilton filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late December to give him 120 days to present a plan to repay creditors. This assured that the Breakers would at least finish the season.

Seattle finished the season 36-34-2, third in the four-team West Division, which was won by Portland.

The Breakers shocked the defending WHL champion Victoria Cougars with a four-game sweep in the first round of the playoffs. It was Seattle's first playoff series victory. (The team did win a round-robin series in 1980.)


And after 21 games in the regular season, it was Seattle vs. Portland again.

Seattle rallied from a 5-0 deficit to win the first game, 7-5, in Portland. The Winter Hawks won the next two, though. In Game 3, the first one of the series played in Seattle, Portland won in overtime. Three seconds after it started came the first of six fights in the game.

In another fight-filled game, the Breakers evened the series at 2-2.

But Portland took the next two games, and the series, and went on to win the WHL title.

"[Sangster] turned that whole organization around," Portland goalie Darrell May said after the series.

Seattle hockey fans during the past 25 years have watched Glen Goodall, Petr Nedved, Victor Gervais, Patrick Marleau, Brendan Witt, Turner Stevenson, Danny Lorenz and Aaron Gagnon, to name just a few.

They might not have had the chance if it hadn't been for the 1982 team that fought through a crazy season and kept junior hockey in Seattle.

Timeline from the 1981-1982 Season:

Breakers timeline

1981-82 season
Prior to the season: Owner John Hamilton names Jack Sangster coach after finishing the 1980-81 season with 20-year-old Mike Mesic behind the bench. Sangster is named WHL coach of the year. Breakers acquire goalie Dave Ross from Regina; Ross later named second-team WHL all-star.

Oct. 4: The Breakers, in a Sunday matinee, beat the Winter Hawks 8-4 in their season opener in front of 1,976 fans. Hamilton offers refunds to any fans who didn't enjoy the game.

Oct. 15: Seattle loses 3-2 at Winnipeg after traveling by bus for 31-½ hours.

Oct. 22: Breakers announce they'll honor unused Seahawks tickets at their next two games. "We don't want it to come across as a slam against the Seahawks," Breakers officer manager Sheila Owings says. "We want to expose more people to hockey."

Dec. 3: Spokane Flyers fold and Seattle gets defensemen Ken Daneyko in the dispersal draft. Daneyko played two seasons in Seattle, then 20 years for the NHL's New Jersey Devils, who retired his number last year.

Dec. 19: Terry Sargent scores five goals as Seattle beats the Winter Hawks 10-7 in Portland. A brawl results in 17 players being ejected.

Dec. 30: Breakers file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, getting 120 days to present a plan for repaying their creditors. "This takes a heavy burden off everybody," Hamilton says. "You can't function with people threatening to sue you every day." Seattle also gets a $30,000 loan from the owners of Victoria, Portland teams — with Breakers players serving as collateral.

March 28: Victoria GM and coach Jack Shupe resigns after his team loses Game 2 of what becomes a four-game playoff sweep by the Breakers.

April 10: "Seattle's fans are Neanderthals," Portland's Brian Shaw says during their second-round playoff series, which the Winter Hawks win in six games.

April 18: Beer sales banned for Game 6 against Portland to cut back on rowdyism. Hamilton nixes one fan's refund request, saying, "We're running a hockey team, not a tavern."