Billings Bighorns
Encyclopedia
The Billings Bighorns were a junior ice hockey
team in the Western Hockey League
who played from 1977 to 1982. The team was originally the Calgary Centennials
. They played at the MetraPark Arena
in Billings, Montana
. The team wore uniforms based upon those then used by the Washington Capitals
. They moved to Nanaimo after the 1981–82 season.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
team in the Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
who played from 1977 to 1982. The team was originally the Calgary Centennials
Calgary Centennials
Calgary Buffaloes redirects here. For the former Alberta Junior Hockey League team of the same name, see Calgary Buffaloes The Calgary Centennials were a junior ice hockey team that played in the Western Canada Hockey League from 1966–1977...
. They played at the MetraPark Arena
MetraPark Arena
Rimrock Auto Arena is a multi-purpose arena in Billings, Montana, USA with capacity for an audience of 12,000 . The arena was completed in 1975 and named the METRA, an acronym that stood for Montana Entertainment Trade and Recreation Arena. Later the entire grounds surrounding the arena was named...
in Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
. The team wore uniforms based upon those then used by the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. They moved to Nanaimo after the 1981–82 season.
NHL alumni
|
Gord Kluzak Gordon Glen Kluzak is a retired NHL defenceman who played his entire abbreviated career for the Boston Bruins, and is now a broadcaster for the team.-Playing career:... Mark Lamb Mark W. Lamb is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League .-Playing career:... Jim McGeough James McGeough is a retired Canadian ice hockey player. He is the brother of former NHL referee Mick McGeough.Drafted in 1981 by the Washington Capitals, McGeough also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins.... Jim McTaggart James Robert McTaggart is a retired Canadian ice hockey player who played for the Washington Capitals. He was originally signed as a free agent by the Capitals in 1979 and played parts of two seasons with the club. He is currently an assistant coach for the Seattle Thunderbirds.-External links:... Randy Moller Randall W. Moller is a retired professional ice hockey player. He was drafted in the first round, eleventh overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1981 NHL entry draft. The majority of his career was spent with the Quebec Nordiques... Andy Moog Donald Andrew Moog is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey goaltender. He is currently the goaltending coach for the NHL's Dallas Stars.Moog was previously the Dallas Stars' assistant coach... Don Nachbaur Donald Kenneth Nachbaur is a retired professional ice hockey player... |
Harvie Pocza Harvie Dwight Pocza is a retired Canadian ice hockey player who briefly played in the National Hockey League with the Washington Capitals. Pocza was drafted by the Capitals in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft.... Pokey Reddick Eldon "Pokey" Wade Reddick is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender in the National Hockey League from 1986–87 to 1993–94.-Playing career:... Bob Rouse -Playing career:A prototypical stay-at-home defenceman, Rouse was drafted in 1982 by the Minnesota North Stars. After playing parts of six season with the North Stars, Rouse was traded to the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline of the 1988–89 NHL season in the deal that also sent Dino... Mike Toal Michael James Toal is a former professional ice hockey centre. Selected in the fifth round in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, he played three games for the Oilers in the 1979–80 season... Rocky Trottier Rocky Trottier is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 38 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the New Jersey Devils, who drafted him 8th overall in 1982... Leigh Verstraete Leigh Verstraete is a professional ice hockey player who played eight games in the National Hockey League. He played with the Toronto Maple Leafs.- References :... Mike Zanier Michael Zanier is a former professional ice hockey goaltender who played extensively in Europe and in North American minor leagues.... |
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against| Season | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Points | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1977–78 | 72 | 32 | 31 | 9 | 342 | 336 | 73 | 2nd Central | Lost final |
| 1978–79 | 72 | 38 | 23 | 11 | 378 | 302 | 87 | 1st Central | Eliminated in round robin |
| 1979–80 | 72 | 37 | 34 | 1 | 326 | 284 | 75 | 4th East | Lost in first round |
| 1980–81 | 72 | 30 | 40 | 2 | 334 | 334 | 62 | 5th East | Lost East Division quarter-final |
| 1981–82 | 72 | 27 | 44 | 1 | 369 | 432 | 55 | 6th East | Lost East Division quarter-final |