Buffalo Bisons (1928-36)

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The Buffalo Bisons were a professional ice hockey team representing Buffalo, New York, although they played home games in nearby Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada at the 5,000-seat Peace Bridge Arena. The Bisons were founded in the Canadian Professional Hockey League for the 1928-29 season.

The Bisons transfered to the International Hockey League for the next season. Buffalo were IHL league champions in 1931-32 and 1932-33, winning the F.G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy.

On March 17, 1936, the Bisons lost their home arena due to damage caused by thirteen inches of wet snow deposited by an early Spring storm. The arena which was only eight years old at the time, was designed with a "Lamella Trussless" roof to improve indoor sightlines, and reduce support frames obstructing the view. The structure proved to be to weak and collapsed under the weight of the snow. The Bisons played the remainder of the 1935-36 season on the road.

The Bisons joined the International-American Hockey League for the 1936-37 season. The team started the season playing out of an arena in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It soon became clear that they wouldn't be able to make a profit and pay players' salaries from ticket sales in the smaller facility. The club permanently ceased operations on December 6, 1936, after playing just eleven games with a record of 3-8-0.

The original Bisons were replaced in 1940 when the Syracuse Stars relocated to Buffalo, becoming the new Bisons team. The new Bisons would play from 1940 and 1970.

[edit] Season-by-season results

Season   GP   W   L   T  PTS   GF   GA     Standing
1928-29  42  17  18   7   41   89   72  5th overall
1929-30  42  26  12   4   56  102   67  2nd overall
1930-31  48  30  13   5   65  115   76  1st overall
1931-32  48  25  14   9   59  106   80  1st overall
1932-33  44  26  12   6   58  128   70  2nd overall
1933-34  44  20  13  11   51   90   66  2nd overall
1934-35  44  20  18   6   40  113  100  3rd place (tie)
1935-36  48  22  20   6   50  109  101  2nd West
1936-37  11   3   8   0    6   23   30  disbanded