The Calgary Centennials of the Western Hockey League relocated to Billings, Montana in 1977, becoming the Billings Bighorns. The Bighorns remained in Billings for five seasons before relocating to Nanaimo, B.C., in 1982 to become the Nanaimo Islanders. They then moved to New Westminster and by 1988 mad their way to Kennewick, Washington where they are the Tri City Americans today.
Billings was the first US-based team to make the playoff finals of a Canadian major junior hockey league. Notable players included defenseman Randy Moller, Andy Moog, Bob Rouse, and Gord Kluzak. Kluzak was selected by the Boston Bruins first overall in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. In case you remember Doug Gilmour got drafted that year too but in the 7th round.
In 1977-78, they would go only 32-31-9 but had an amazing run in the playoffs. In the first round, which was a round robin, they finished second with a surprising 6-2 record. They would sweep Medicine Hat in the second round. Then, eventually advance to the Finals. They got swept by Stan Smyl and the New Westminster Bruins in the Finals, but it was the franchise’s best playoff run. Long-time pro Pat Conacher was a part of the ’78 playoff team.
In 1981, the Bighorns adopted them pathetic Cooperall uniforms, which were so ugly and hard to play in. The uniforms were popular in the 1980s among dorks and kids that still wet the bed, they should of never been allowed. Thankfully they were gone by the 1990s, in large part due to peoples feelings getting hurt for being called bad names for wearing them. Ironically, the Kamloops Blazers, previously the New Westminster Bruins that beat the Bighorns in the 1978 WCHL finals, wore similar long-pants uniforms for one game in 2016 by a different company (as hard as it to believe another company also made these pathetic things besides cooper and would allow it at that time). As if they didn’t have bad enough hair back then they had to wear the pants too🙂
In all reality the WHL will probably never even think about going back to Billings. At least I hope they don’t. Not saying Billings doesn’t deserve it or hockey wouldn’t work there. If ran properly I could see an ECHL team there in a situation like the Rapid City Rush. Same sort of market size. (Billings is a tad bigger too). If not relocate some of those sadly east coast NAHL teams and have tier 2 junior A back in Montana like the old AWFHL days.
Reference Links
