San Diego Skyhawks

Not to be confused with the San Diego Hawks who played in the Pacific Hockey League from 1978–79.

The San Diego Skyhawks were a professional ice hockey team based in San Diego, California. Founded in 1941 as members of the Southern California Hockey League (SCHL), the team joined the Pacific Coast Hockey League (PCHL) in 1944. They played at the professional level until 1950.^[1][2] The Skyhawks played their final season, 1950–51, in the Southern California Amateur Hockey Association.^[3][4][5] Glacier Gardens served as the team's home rink. They won the 1948–49 Phil Henderson Cup.^[6]

San Diego Skyhawks
City	San Diego, California
League	SCHL (1941–44) PCHL (1944–50)
Founded	1941
Folded	1950
Home arena	Glacier Gardens
Colours	Red, blue and white
Owner(s)	Jim Forsyth, Bret Forsyth and the Buffalo Bisons
Parent club(s)	Buffalo Bisons (AHL)

The Skyhawks were the farm team for the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League from 1947 to 1950.^[7][8] The Bisons owned half of the San Diego franchise along with brothers Jim and Bret Forsyth. Bret, who was an employee at Boeing, purchased an aircraft from the company to ferry his team to away games. Those travel accommodations were a rarity at the time, even at the highest level of sports, as most teams relied on bus and train transportation.^[9]

Al Chapman, general manager of the Buffalo Bisons, announced in May 1950 that Buffalo would not continue to finance the San Diego PCHL franchise for the upcoming 1950–51 season. Chapman stated that the Bisons had been taking losses for the last two season, in spite of the Skyhawks' Phil Henderson Cup victory in 1949. Buffalo searched for local investment to keep the team alive in the PCHL to no avail.^[10] The Skyhawks informed the PCHL they were withdrawing their membership on May 16, 1950.^[11] The rights of the players San Diego had on assignment from Buffalo were transferred to the Seattle Ironmen for the 1950–51 PCHL season.^[12]

Skyhawks who played in the NHL

• Hugh Currie
• Joffre Desilets
• Sam LoPresti
• Larry Thibeault
• Aud Tuten
• Don Webster
• Len Wharton

Season-by-season records

Season	League	GP	W	L	T	Win%	PTS	GF	GA	Coach	Playoffs
1941–42	SCHL	no info available
1942–43	SCHL	16	13	3	0	.813	no info available
1943–44	SCHL	18	12	5	1	.694	25	89	76	Larry Bots	lost in first round
1944–45	PCHL	18	11	7	0	.611	22	106	80	Al Papike	no info available
1945–46	PCHL	40	21	19	0	.525	42	145	139	Al McFadzen	lost in first round
1946–47	PCHL	60	33	26	1	.558	67	194	160	Paul Runge	lost in first round
1947–48	PCHL	66	32	31	3	.508	67	242	258	George Boothman	lost in championship
1948–49	PCHL	70	32	35	3	.479	67	249	275	Ducky Skinner	won Phil Henderson Cup
1949–50	PCHL	70	27	33	10	.457	64	211	236	Ducky Skinner	lost in second round

references^[1][2]

References

1. "San Diego Skyhawks Statistics and History [SCHL]". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
2. "San Diego Skyhawks Statistics and History [WHL]". hockeydb.com. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
3. Anderson, Claude (10 December 1950). "Short Slants". San Bernardino Sun. No. 4.35. San Bernardino, California. p. 45. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
4. "S.B. Shamrocks, San Diego Battle In Orange Show Hockey Tonight". San Bernardino Sun. San Bernardino, California. 20 January 1951. p. 9. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
5. Anderson, Claude (30 November 1950). "Sport Slants". The San Bernardino County Sun. San Bernardino, California. p. 43. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
6. Jon C. Stott (2008). Ice Warriors: The Pacific Coast/Western Hockey League, 1948-1974. Heritage House Publishing Co. p. 79. ISBN 978-1-894974-54-7.
7. "Hockey; Team Strengthened for New Season". San Pedro News Pilot. No. 91.179. 30 September 1947. p. 6. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
8. "Los Angeles, Fresno Invade Gardens to Battle 'Hawks'". National City Star-News. 20 January 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
9. "Obituaries; James Forsyth". Coronado Eagle and Journal. No. 91.38. Coronado, California. 19 September 2001. p. 26. Retrieved 5 October 2023.
10. "San Diego Skyhawks May Fold". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Associated Press. 3 May 1950. p. 12. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
11. "Skyhawks Quit Coast Ice Loop". The Oakland Post Enquirer. Oakland, California. United Press International. 17 May 1950. p. 20. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
12. Swangard, Erwin M. (10 August 1950). "PCHL South Division Expected to Operate". The Province. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. p. 24. Retrieved 9 October 2023.