The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1987 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League (now ECHL) when the league was formed. The Chiefs lasted for 22 years in Johnstown, and were the last of the founding ECHL teams playing under its original name and in its original city. The Chiefs relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, following the completion of the 2010 season.
Franchise history The owners originally wanted to name the team the Jets in honor of a team that had played in Johnstown from 1950 to 1977, mostly in the Eastern Hockey League. However, the old Jets' former owners still held the trademark for the name and refused to allow the new team to use it. A contest was held by the owners, allowing the people of Johnstown to vote for the new team name. The cult hockey movie Slap Shot had been filmed in Johnstown, and featured a minor league team called the Charlestown Chiefs. The fans readily jumped on the tie-in, and the Johnstown Chiefs were born.
The Chiefs played their home games in the historic 3,745 seat Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, where most of the hockey scenes in the movie Slap Shot were filmed. Despite popular belief, the Chiefs uniforms colors (black, gold, and white) were not chosen because of the local fans' connection to the Steelers, Pirates, and Penguins. Shortly after the emergency lease had been approved by the Cambria County War Memorial, head coach Joe Selenski traveled to Canada to find the team uniforms and called War Memorial Marketing Director Dennis Grenell at 3:00 AM to tell him that the only uniforms he could find were black and gold (similar to the Boston Bruins' uniforms of the 1970s), but he did not have enough money to buy them. Grennell agreed to pay for the uniforms using his own credit card. Coincidentally, the Chiefs' first minor league affiliation would be with the Boston Bruins.
Steve Carlson became the Chiefs' coach for the 1989–90 season following a two-year stint as an assistant coach with the Baltimore Skipjacks. It marked a return to Johnstown for Carlson, who had appeared in the movie Slap Shot as one of the three Hanson Brothers.
The Chiefs along with the Wheeling Thunderbirds (now known as the Wheeling Nailers) played the role of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1995 film Sudden Death starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The premise was the Penguins playing the Chicago Blackhawks for the Stanley Cup when terrorists attempt to hold the Vice President hostage in the arena.
On August 17, 2007, the Chiefs announced that they entered into an affiliation agreement with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. During the 2007–08 season, the Chiefs served as the Avalanche's secondary minor league affiliate. On September 18, 2007, the Chiefs announced they had also entered an affiliation agreement with the Boston Bruins for the 2007–08 season.
Prior to the 2008–09 season the Chiefs re-signed their affiliation with the Avalanche and entered into an affiliation agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets, replacing the Bruins, on August 22, 2008.
For the 2009–10 season, the Chiefs were the secondary minor league affiliate to the Minnesota Wild. Jeff Flanagan took up the role of head coach to start the year. After leading the team to an ECHL cellar dwelling 9–19–7 record, Flanagan was fired, replaced for the remainder of the season by majority owner Neil Smith on January 10, 2010.
In February 2010, the Tribune-Democrat reported that television reports from Greenville, South Carolina, stated that the Chiefs would be relocated to Greenville following the season and compete at the BI-LO Center. Greenville had previously been home to the Greenville Grrrowl, who played in the ECHL from 1998 to 2006 when the ECHL revoked Greenville's franchise rights. On February 17, 2010, the league announced that the Chiefs would be relocating to Greenville after the league's Board of Governors voted unanimously in favor of the move. News of the relocation also made the press in New York City, including the New York Times, due to Smith being the former president and governor of the New York Rangers and former general manager of the New York Islanders. The team, renamed the Greenville Road Warriors, then became affiliated with the Rangers.
The team played their final game as the Johnstown Chiefs on Saturday April 3, 2010. The result was a 5–3 loss to the Elmira Jackals. According to a pre-game address by minority owner Ned Nakles to the fans in attendance, the Chiefs name, logo, team records and history would not follow the franchise to Greenville, but would remain in Johnstown under ownership by a non-profit group to possibly be used again should a new team enter the ECHL in the city.
The Wheeling Nailers, the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins, announced prior to the Chiefs season finale that they would play 10 of their 36 regular season home games and one preseason game at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena during the 2010–11 ECHL season.
Active players
At the conclusion of the 2025–26 season, sixteen seasons after their final season in Johnstown, there were five former Chiefs players still active in professional and semi-professional hockey.
PlayerYear(s) with Chiefs2025-26 teamLeagueStatsNotesSebastian Dahm2008-09EC KACICEHL35 GP, 21-13-0, 2.32 GAA, .916, 5 SOsigned with team through 2026-27Ian MacLean2006-07Sydney Ice DogsAIHL6 GP, 0G-2A-2PPetr Pohl2008-09ERV Schweinfurt Regionalliga22 GP, 26G-28A-54PBill Ruggiero2001-02Michigan ShadowMIHL8 GP, 1-0-0, 8.20 GAA, .840Ryan Tocher1999-2001St. Catharines Saints Allan Cup13 GP, 0G-6A-6P
Season results Records as of 2009–10 season. Season League Division GP W L T OTL SOL Pts PCT GF GA PIM Coach(es) Playoffs1987–88 AAHL 26 13 13 0 —— 26 .500 157 115 Joe Selenski 1988–89 ECHL 60 32 22 — 6 — 70 .583 295 251 Steve Carlson Lost in Finals1989–90 ECHL 60 23 31 — 6 — 52 .433 233 291 2047 Steve Carlson Did not qualify1990–91 ECHL East 64 32 29 — 3 — 67 .523 324 287 1646 Steve Carlson Lost in round 21991–92 ECHL West 64 36 23 — 5 — 77 .601 294 248 1750 Steve Carlson Lost in round 21992–93 ECHL East 64 34 23 — 7 — 75 .585 281 264 1647 Ed Johnstone Lost in round 21993–94 ECHL North 68 37 27 — 4 — 78 .573 323 308 1978 Ed Johnstone Lost in round 11994–95 ECHL North 68 31 32 — 5 — 67 .492 256 297 1656 Ed Johnstone Lost in round 11995–96 ECHL North 70 21 38 — 11 — 53 .378 249 322 2481 Nick Fotiu Did not qualify1996–97 ECHL North 70 24 39 7 —— 55 .392 253 354 2287 Nick Fotiu Did not qualify1997–98 ECHL Northeast 70 23 41 6 —— 52 .371 219 297 2118 Nick Fotiu Scott Allen Did not qualify1998–99 ECHL Northeast 70 27 34 9 —— 63 .450 218 265 1734 Scott Allen Did not qualify1999–00 ECHL Northwest 70 33 28 — 9 — 75 .535 235 234 1959 Scott Allen Lost in round 32000–01 ECHL Northwest 72 28 36 8 —— 64 .444 207 238 1865 Scott Allen Lost in round 22001–02 ECHL Northwest 72 39 31 2 —— 80 .555 220 232 1688 Scott Allen Lost in round 32002–03 ECHL Northwest 72 28 33 11 —— 67 .465 214 243 1700 Toby O'Brien Did not qualify2003–04 ECHL Northern 72 45 20 7 —— 97 .673 223 195 1491 Toby O'Brien Lost in Qualifier2004–05 ECHL North 72 22 36 14 —— 58 .402 191 258 1421 Toby O'Brien Did not qualify2005–06 ECHL North 72 30 26 16 —— 76 .527 223 243 1119 Frank Anzalone Lost in round 22006–07 ECHL North 72 33 33 — 3 3 72 .500 216 232 1179 Frank Anzalone Lost in round 12007–08 ECHL North 72 36 30 — 3 3 78 .541 235 234 1568 Ian Herbers Lost in round 2 2008–09 ECHL North 72 37 30 — 5 0 79 .549 228 232 1472 Ian Herbers Did not qualify2009–10 ECHL East 72 18 43 — 7 4 47 .326 215 307 1385 Jeff FlanaganNeil Smith Did not qualify Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, PCT = Winning percentage, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes
Playoffs 1988–89: Defeated Knoxville 4–0 in semifinals; lost to Carolina 4–3 in finals. 1989–90: Did not qualify. 1990–91: Defeated Erie 3–2 in quarterfinals; lost to Hampton Roads 4–1 in semifinals. 1991–92: Defeated Erie 3–1 in first round; lost to Cincinnati 2–0 in quarterfinals. 1992–93: Defeated Richmond 1–0 in first round; lost to Wheeling 3–1 in quarterfinals. 1993–94: Lost to Columbus 2–1 in first round. 1994–95: Lost to South Carolina 3–1 in first round. 1995–96: Did not qualify. 1996–97: Did not qualify. 1997–98: Did not qualify. 1998–99: Did not qualify. 1999–00: Defeated Roanoke 3–1 in first round; lost to Peoria 3–0 in quarterfinals. 2000–01: Lost to Trenton 3–1 in first round. 2001–02: Defeated Peoria 3–2 in first round; lost to Dayton 3–0 in quarterfinals. 2002–03: Did not qualify. 2003–04: Lost to Reading 1–0 in qualifying round. 2004–05: Did not qualify. 2005–06: Defeated Trenton 2–0 in qualifying round; lost to Toledo 3–0 in first round. 2006–07: Lost to Trenton 2–0 in qualifying round. 2007–08: Defeated Dayton 2–0 in qualifying round; lost to Cincinnati 4–0 in first round. 2008–09: Did not qualify. 2009–10: Did not qualify.
Chiefs alumni who have played in the NHL #PlayerPositionYear(s) with ChiefsNHL teamYear(s) in NHL31Scott BaileyG1992–93Boston Bruins1995–9755Garrett BurnettLW1997–98Mighty Ducks of Anaheim2003–04—Shawn ByramLW1989–90Chicago BlackhawksNew York Islanders1990–911991–92—John CraigheadRW1992–93Toronto Maple Leafs1996–97—Andre DeveauxC2005–07Toronto Maple LeafsNew York Rangers2008–092011–12—Benoit DusablonC2000–01New York Rangers2003–04—Brian EklundG2005–06New York Rangers2005–0623Matt GlennonLW1991–92Boston Bruins1991–9230Scott GordonG1988–89Quebec NordiquesNew York Islanders (head coach)Philadelphia Flyers (head coach)1989–912008–102018–1930David GoveC2001–02Carolina Hurricanes2005–071Arturs IrbeG2003–2004San Jose SharksDallas StarsVancouver CanucksCarolina Hurricanes1991–961996–971997–981998-200431Neil LittleG1994–95Philadelphia Flyers2001–022003–04—Raymond MaciasD2007–09Colorado Avalanche2008–09—Marquis MathieuD1995–96Boston Bruins1998–2001—Brett McLeanC1999–2000Chicago BlackhawksColorado AvalancheFlorida Panthers2002–042005–072007–0917Mitch MolloyLW1989–90Buffalo Sabres1989–9026Chris MuellerC2008–09Nashville PredatorsDallas StarsNew York Rangers2010–132013–142014–15—Doug O'BrienD2004–05Tampa Bay Lightning2005–06—Wes O'NeillD2007–09Colorado Avalanche2008–1017Greg ParksRW1989–90New York Islanders1990–93—Dimitri PatzoldG2003–04San Jose Sharks2007–0844Jay RosehillD2005–07Toronto Maple LeafsPhiladelphia Flyers2009–122012–1430Dany SabourinG2000–02Calgary FlamesPittsburgh PenguinsVancouver Canucks2003–042005–06, 2007–092006–078Ryan SavoiaC1996–98Pittsburgh Penguins1998–9915Jody ShelleyLW1998–2000Columbus Blue JacketsSan Jose SharksNew York RangersPhiladelphia Flyers2000–082008–1020102010–13—Jason SimonLW1990–91New York IslandersPhoenix Coyotes1993–941996–971Peter SkudraG1995–97Pittsburgh PenguinsBuffalo SabresBoston BruinsVancouver Canucks1997–20002000–012000–012001–03—Radek SmolenakLW2006–07Tampa Bay LightningChicago Blackhawks2008–092009–10—Grant StevensonRW2004–05San Jose Sharks2005–0610Billy TibbettsRW1995–96Pittsburgh PenguinsPhiladelphia FlyersNew York Rangers2000–022001–022002–03—John TrippRW1998–2000New York RangersLos Angeles Kings2002–032003–044Derrick WalserD1998–2000Columbus Blue Jackets2001–04, 2006–07
Affiliations The Chiefs had several NHL and AHL affiliations while in the ECHL. They were first affiliated with the Boston Bruins in 1991 and held affiliations with eight NHL teams.