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 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.
{| width=100%
!colspan=6 |
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
|width=15%|Player
!width=2%|
!width=15%|Year(s) with Chiefs
!width=17%|2025-26 team
!width=5%|League
!width=2%|
!width=28%|Stats
!width=30%|Notes
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|Sebastian Dahm
|align=center|
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|EC KAC
|align=center|ICEHL
|
|align=center|35 GP, 21-13-0, 2.32 GAA, .916, 5 SO
|signed with team through 2026-27
|-
|Ian MacLean
|align=center|
|align=center|2006-07
|align=center|Sydney Ice Dogs
|align=center|AIHL
|
|align=center|6 GP, 0G-2A-2P
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|Petr Pohl
|align=center|
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|ERV Schweinfurt
|align=center|Regionalliga
|
|align=center|22 GP, 26G-28A-54P
|
|-
|Bill Ruggiero
|align=center|
|align=center|2001-02
|align=center|Michigan Shadow
|align=center|MIHL
|
|align=center|8 GP, 1-0-0, 8.20 GAA, .840
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|Ryan Tocher
|align=center|
|align=center|1999-2001
|align=center|St. Catharines Saints
|align=center|Allan Cup
|
|align=center|13 GP, 0G-6A-6P
|
|}
Season results
<small>Records as of 2009–10 season.</small>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!Season || League || Division || GP || W || L || T || OTL || SOL || Pts || PCT || GF || GA || PIM || Coach(es) || Playoffs
|-
|1987–88 || 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 Finals
|-
|1989–90 || ECHL || || 60 || 23 || 31 ||—|| 6 ||—|| 52 || .433 || 233 || 291 || 2047 || Steve Carlson || Did not qualify
|-
|1990–91 || ECHL || East || 64 || 32 || 29 ||—|| 3 ||—|| 67 || .523 || 324 || 287 || 1646 || Steve Carlson || Lost in round 2
|-
|1991–92 || ECHL || West || 64 || 36 || 23 ||—|| 5 ||—|| 77 || .601 || 294 || 248 || 1750 || Steve Carlson || Lost in round 2
|-
|1992–93 || ECHL || East || 64 || 34 || 23 ||—|| 7 ||—|| 75 || .585 || 281 || 264 || 1647 || Ed Johnstone || Lost in round 2
|-
|1993–94 || ECHL || North || 68 || 37 || 27 ||—|| 4 ||—|| 78 || .573 || 323 || 308 || 1978 || Ed Johnstone || Lost in round 1
|-
|1994–95 || ECHL || North || 68 || 31 || 32 ||—|| 5 ||—|| 67 || .492 || 256 || 297 || 1656 || Ed Johnstone || Lost in round 1
|-
|1995–96 || ECHL || North || 70 || 21 || 38 ||—|| 11 ||—|| 53 || .378 || 249 || 322 || 2481 || Nick Fotiu || Did not qualify
|-
|1996–97 || ECHL || North || 70 || 24 || 39 || 7 ||—||—|| 55 || .392 || 253 || 354 || 2287 || Nick Fotiu || Did not qualify
|-
|1997–98 || ECHL || Northeast || 70 || 23 || 41 || 6 ||—||—|| 52 || .371 || 219 || 297 || 2118 || Nick Fotiu <br /> Scott Allen || Did not qualify
|-
|1998–99 || ECHL || Northeast || 70 || 27 || 34 || 9 ||—||—|| 63 || .450 || 218 || 265 || 1734 || Scott Allen || Did not qualify
|-
|1999–00 || ECHL || Northwest || 70 || 33 || 28 ||—|| 9 ||—|| 75 || .535 || 235 || 234 || 1959 || Scott Allen || Lost in round 3
|-
|2000–01 || ECHL || Northwest || 72 || 28 || 36 || 8 ||—||—|| 64 || .444 || 207 || 238 || 1865 || Scott Allen || Lost in round 2
|-
|2001–02 || ECHL || Northwest || 72 || 39 || 31 || 2 ||—||—|| 80 || .555 || 220 || 232 || 1688 || Scott Allen || Lost in round 3
|-
|2002–03 || ECHL || Northwest || 72 || 28 || 33 || 11 ||—||—|| 67 || .465 || 214 || 243 || 1700 || Toby O'Brien || Did not qualify
|-
|2003–04 || ECHL || Northern || 72 || 45 || 20 || 7 ||—||—|| 97 || .673 || 223 || 195 || 1491 || Toby O'Brien || Lost in Qualifier
|-
|2004–05 || ECHL || North || 72 || 22 || 36 || 14 ||—||—|| 58 || .402 || 191 || 258 || 1421 || Toby O'Brien || Did not qualify
|-
|2005–06 || ECHL || North || 72 || 30 || 26 || 16 ||—||—|| 76 || .527 || 223 || 243 || 1119 || Frank Anzalone || Lost in round 2
|-
|2006–07 || ECHL || North || 72 || 33 || 33 ||—|| 3 || 3 || 72 || .500 || 216 || 232 || 1179 || Frank Anzalone || Lost in round 1
|-
|2007–08 || 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 qualify
|-
|2009–10 || ECHL || East || 72 || 18 || 43 ||—|| 7 || 4 || 47 || .326 || 215 || 307 || 1385 || Jeff Flanagan<br />Neil 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
{| width=65%
!colspan=6 |
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
!width=5%|#
!width=5%|
|width=13%|Player
!width=2%|Position
!width=9%|Year(s) with Chiefs
!width=25%|NHL team
!width=13%|Year(s) in NHL
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|31
|align=center|
|Scott Bailey
|align=center|G
|align=center|1992–93
|Boston Bruins
|1995–97
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|55
|align=center|
|Garrett Burnett
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1997–98
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|2003–04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Shawn Byram
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1989–90
|Chicago Blackhawks<br />New York Islanders
|1990–91<br />1991–92
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|John Craighead
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1992–93
|Toronto Maple Leafs
|1996–97
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Andre Deveaux
|align=center|C
|align=center|2005–07
|Toronto Maple Leafs<br />New York Rangers
|2008–09<br />2011–12
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Benoit Dusablon
|align=center|C
|align=center|2000–01
|New York Rangers
|2003–04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Brian Eklund
|align=center|G
|align=center|2005–06
|New York Rangers
|2005–06
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|23
|align=center|
|Matt Glennon
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1991–92
|Boston Bruins
|1991–92
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|30
|align=center|
|Scott Gordon
|align=center|G
|align=center|1988–89
|Quebec Nordiques<br />New York Islanders (head coach)<br />Philadelphia Flyers (head coach)
|1989–91<br />2008–10<br />2018–19
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|30
|align=center|
|David Gove
|align=center|C
|align=center|2001–02
|Carolina Hurricanes
|2005–07
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1
|align=center|
|Arturs Irbe
|align=center|G
|align=center|2003–2004
|San Jose Sharks<br />Dallas Stars<br />Vancouver Canucks<br />Carolina Hurricanes
|1991–96<br />1996–97<br />1997–98<br />1998-2004
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|31
|align=center|
|Neil Little
|align=center|G
|align=center|1994–95
|Philadelphia Flyers
|2001–02<br />2003–04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Raymond Macias
|align=center|D
|align=center|2007–09
|Colorado Avalanche
|2008–09
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Marquis Mathieu
|align=center|D
|align=center|1995–96
|Boston Bruins
|1998–2001
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Brett McLean
|align=center|C
|align=center|1999–2000
|Chicago Blackhawks<br />Colorado Avalanche<br />Florida Panthers
|2002–04<br />2005–07<br />2007–09
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|17
|align=center|
|Mitch Molloy
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1989–90
|Buffalo Sabres
|1989–90
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|26
|align=center|
|Chris Mueller
|align=center|C
|align=center|2008–09
|Nashville Predators<br />Dallas Stars<br />New York Rangers
|2010–13<br />2013–14<br />2014–15
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Doug O'Brien
|align=center|D
|align=center|2004–05
|Tampa Bay Lightning
|2005–06
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Wes O'Neill
|align=center|D
|align=center|2007–09
|Colorado Avalanche
|2008–10
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|17
|align=center|
|Greg Parks
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1989–90
|New York Islanders
|1990–93
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Dimitri Patzold
|align=center|G
|align=center|2003–04
|San Jose Sharks
|2007–08
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|44
|align=center|
|Jay Rosehill
|align=center|D
|align=center|2005–07
|Toronto Maple Leafs<br />Philadelphia Flyers
|2009–12<br />2012–14
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|30
|align=center|
|Dany Sabourin
|align=center|G
|align=center|2000–02
|Calgary Flames<br />Pittsburgh Penguins<br />Vancouver Canucks<br />
|2003–04<br />2005–06, 2007–09<br />2006–07
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|8
|align=center|
|Ryan Savoia
|align=center|C
|align=center|1996–98
|Pittsburgh Penguins
|1998–99
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|15
|align=center|
|Jody Shelley
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1998–2000
|Columbus Blue Jackets<br />San Jose Sharks<br />New York Rangers<br />Philadelphia Flyers
|2000–08<br />2008–10<br />2010<br />2010–13
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Jason Simon
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1990–91
|New York Islanders<br />Phoenix Coyotes
|1993–94<br />1996–97
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1
|align=center|
|Peter Skudra
|align=center|G
|align=center|1995–97
|Pittsburgh Penguins<br />Buffalo Sabres<br />Boston Bruins<br />Vancouver Canucks<br />
|1997–2000<br />2000–01<br />2000–01<br />2001–03
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Radek Smolenak
|align=center|LW
|align=center|2006–07
|Tampa Bay Lightning<br />Chicago Blackhawks
|2008–09<br />2009–10
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|Grant Stevenson
|align=center|RW
|align=center|2004–05
|San Jose Sharks
|2005–06
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|10
|align=center|
|Billy Tibbetts
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1995–96
|Pittsburgh Penguins<br />Philadelphia Flyers<br />New York Rangers
|2000–02<br />2001–02<br />2002–03
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|—
|align=center|
|John Tripp
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1998–2000
|New York Rangers<br />Los Angeles Kings
|2002–03<br />2003–04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|4
|align=center|
|Derrick Walser
|align=center|D
|align=center|1998–2000
|Columbus Blue Jackets
|2001–04, 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.
{| width=90%
!colspan=3 |
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
!width=10%|Season
!width=20%|NHL Affiliate (Primary)
!width=20%|NHL Affiliate (Secondary)
!width=20%|AHL Affiliate (Primary)
!width=20%|AHL Affiliate (Secondary)
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1987-88
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1988-89
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1989-90
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1990-91
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1991-92
|align=center|Boston Bruins
|
|align=center|Maine Mariners
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1992-93
|align=center|Boston Bruins
|
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1993-94
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|align=center|Hershey Bears
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1994-95
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|align=center|Hershey Bears
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1995-96
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|align=center|
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1996-97
|align=center|Pittsburgh Penguins
|
|align=center|No affiliations
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1997-98
|align=center|Pittsburgh Penguins
|align=center|Philadelphia Flyers
|align=center|Philadelphia Phantoms
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1998-99
|align=center|Calgary Flames
|align=center|
|align=center|Saint John Flames
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1999-2000
|align=center|Calgary Flames
|align=center|
|align=center|Saint John Flames
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2000-01
|align=center|Calgary Flames
|align=center|Tampa Bay Lightning
|align=center|Saint John Flames
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2001-02
|align=center|Calgary Flames
|align=center|
|align=center|Saint John Flames
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2002-03
|align=center|Calgary Flames
|align=center|
|align=center|Saint John Flames
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2003-04
|align=center|San Jose Sharks
|align=center|
|align=center|Cleveland Barons
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2004-05
|align=center|San Jose Sharks
|align=center|Tampa Bay Lightning
|align=center|Cleveland Barons
|align=center|Springfield Falcons
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2005-06
|align=center|Tampa Bay Lightning
|align=center|
|align=center|Springfield Falcons
|align=center|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2006-07
|align=center|Tampa Bay Lightning
|align=center|
|align=center|Springfield Falcons
|align=center|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2007-08
|align=center|Colorado Avalanche
|align=center|Boston Bruins
|align=center|Cleveland Monsters
|align=center|Providence Bruins
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2008-09
|align=center|Colorado Avalanche
|align=center|Columbus Blue Jackets
|align=center|Cleveland Monsters
|align=center|Syracuse Crunch
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2009-10
|align=center|Minnesota Wild
|align=center|
|align=center|Houston Aeros
|align=center|
|}
Retired numbers
The Chiefs retired four numbers: the numbers of Don Hall, Dick Roberge, Galen Head and Reg Kent, all of whom had played for the Johnstown Jets.
- 7 – Reg Kent, number retired on February 15, 2009, during a pregame ceremony prior to a game against the Wheeling Nailers.
- 8 – Galen Head, number retired by the Chiefs on October 18, 2003, during a pregame ceremony prior to a game against the Long Beach Ice Dogs
- 9 – Don Hall, Hall's #9 was originally retired by the Johnstown Jets on April 6, 1962. A separate ceremony involving a banner raising was held by the Johnstown Chiefs during the Chiefs' 1989–90 season.
- 11 – Dick Roberge, Roberge's #11 was originally retired by the Johnstown Jets without a ceremony after the completion of the 1971–72 season.
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1993-94
|Rob Leask
|align=center|East All-Stars
|align=center|D
| 0 points
|
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2008-09
|Kris Mayotte
|align=center|American Conference
|align=center|G
|Saved 10 of 13 shots in the first period (ND)
|
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|2007-08
|Jon Landry
|align=center|American Conference
|align=center|D
|Was voted as a starter, but was recalled to Syracuse (AHL) during the All-Star break.
|
- 1988–89, Scott Gordon, First Team, Goaltender
- 1988–89, Rob Hyrtsak, First Team, Center
- 1991–92, Mark Green, First Team, Left Wing
Additional Awards
The following players received individual awards from the ECHL, announced at the end of the season.