Oakland Skates
Encyclopedia
The Oakland Skates were a professional roller hockey team and were a member team in Roller Hockey International
(RHI
)
from 1993 through 1996. In 1993 the Skates were a finalist for the RHI
league championship, named the Murphy Cup, for one of the league founders, Dennis Murphy, losing to the Anaheim Bullfrogs
. After two mediocre seasons in 1994 and 1995 the Skates returned to the playoffs in 1996 losing to the Vancouver Voodoo
. The Skates played their home games in Oakland, California
at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena from 1993 until 1995, until having to move to the Henry J. Kaiser Arena in 1996 due to the remodeling of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum arena (now called Oracle Arena) for the Golden State Warriors
. Skates majority owner Murray Simkin was unwilling to keep the Skates in their temporary home (which opened in 1914) for another season, waiting for the arena remodeling to finish and went on league "hiatus" status after the 1996 season. The team never returned to play.
Roller Hockey International
Roller Hockey International was a professional inline hockey league that operated in North America from 1993 to 1999. It was the first major professional league for inline hockey....
(RHI
RHI
RHI may refer to:* Renewable Heat Incentive* RHI Entertainment* Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport, IATA code RHI* Rhiwbina railway station, Cardiff, Wales; National Rail station code RHI* Robert Half International* Roller Hockey International...
)
from 1993 through 1996. In 1993 the Skates were a finalist for the RHI
RHI
RHI may refer to:* Renewable Heat Incentive* RHI Entertainment* Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport, IATA code RHI* Rhiwbina railway station, Cardiff, Wales; National Rail station code RHI* Robert Half International* Roller Hockey International...
league championship, named the Murphy Cup, for one of the league founders, Dennis Murphy, losing to the Anaheim Bullfrogs
Anaheim Bullfrogs
The Anaheim Bullfrogs were a professional inline hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Bullfrogs played in Roller Hockey International and Major League Roller Hockey before returning to Roller Hockey international . The Bullfrogs played their home games in the Arrowhead Pond of...
. After two mediocre seasons in 1994 and 1995 the Skates returned to the playoffs in 1996 losing to the Vancouver Voodoo
Vancouver Voodoo
The Vancouver Voodoo were a roller hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada which played in the RHI league. The Voodoo were one of the original twelve teams to join the league in 1993. They played in the PNE Agrodome in 1993 and 1994, the Pacific Coliseum in 1994 and 1995, and in...
. The Skates played their home games in Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena from 1993 until 1995, until having to move to the Henry J. Kaiser Arena in 1996 due to the remodeling of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum arena (now called Oracle Arena) for the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
. Skates majority owner Murray Simkin was unwilling to keep the Skates in their temporary home (which opened in 1914) for another season, waiting for the arena remodeling to finish and went on league "hiatus" status after the 1996 season. The team never returned to play.