Ice hockey has always been quite popular in the American state of Ohio in cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Toledo have hosted professional franchises for close to 100 years.
There’s only one NHL team based in Ohio and that’s the Columbus Blue Jackets, who play in the city of Columbus. There is also an AHL team in Ohio, the Cleveland Monsters.
What NHL Team is in Ohio?
The lone NHL team in Ohio is the Columbus Blue Jackets who play in the league’s Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The Cleveland Barons formerly played in the NHL from 1976 to 1978 after the California Golden Seals franchise was relocated to Cleveland.
However, after just two seasons in Cleveland, the club merged with the Minnesota North Stars and eventually became the Dallas Stars.
When Did the Columbus Blue Jackets Become A Team?
In 1997 the NHL awarded the city of Columbus, with an NHL franchise and the Columbus Blue Jackets began playing in the 2000/01 season.
Have the Columbus Blue Jackets Ever Won a Stanley Cup?
As of 2023 the Columbus Blue Jackets have yet to win a Stanley Cup. In addition, the club has never won a Divisional Championship, a Conference Championship or the Presidents’ Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s top regular-season team based on points.
Where Do the Columbus Blue Jackets Play?
The Blue Jackets currently play their home games at the Nationwide Arena. The rink, which opened in September, 2000 is located at 200 West Nationwide Boulevard and has a capacity of 18,500 for ice hockey.
What Is The Columbus Blue Jackets Logo?
The current logo for the Blue Jackets is a customized version of the flag of Ohio. This features the letter C which is wrapped around a five-point star. The logo is meant to represent the city of Columbus’ status as the state capital of Ohio as well as patriotism as the logo is coloured red, white and blue and features some of the elements of the star-spangled banner. This design was introduced in 2007-08 as the club’s primary logo.
The team’s original logo, which was also inspired by the state of Ohio’s American Civil War history, featured a red ribbon along with 13 stars which represented America’s original 13 Colonies. It also had the team’s initials and a gold hockey stick through the centre.
An additional star was included above the stick to represent the stature of state capital. In addition, between 2003 and 2015, the club’s jerseys had an alternate logo which featured a Civil War cap along with crossed hockey sticks on the jersey’s shoulders.
Why Are they Called the Columbus Blue Jackets?
In August, 1997 the Columbus franchise operated a Name the Team Contest in central Ohio in association with the Wendy’s restaurant chain. A total of 14,000 entries were received and with help from the NHL a list of 10 possible names were then submitted to the fans.
The city of Columbus and the state of Ohio’s history were considered and the names were then narrowed down to two; The Columbus Blue Jackets and the Columbus Justice. The Blue Jackets referenced the state’s contributions and history in the American Civil War and the name was chosen in November, 1997.
The state of Ohio contributed more of its population to the nation’s northern Union Army than any other American state. The Union Army was known for their blue coats (blue jackets) which were manufactured in the city Columbus.
Does Ohio Have an AHL Team?
The state of Ohio also has an American Hockey League (AHL) team as the Cleveland Monsters play in the league’s North Division in the Eastern Conference. The franchise is an affiliate of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets and began play in 2007/08 as the Lake Erie Monsters before being renamed the Cleveland Monsters in 2016.
The club originated as the Utah Grizzlies and was bought by an ownership group in Cleveland in 2006. The city of Cleveland was granted a new AHL club after the Cleveland Barons AHL franchise left for Worcester, Massachusetts in 2006.
The Monsters play their home games at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse which has a capacity of close to 19,000 for hockey and was formerly known as the Gund Arena and Quickens Loan Arena. The Monsters have won the won the Calder Cup Championship once, which was achieved in 2015/16.
Former Cleveland-Based Pro Teams
| Team Name | League | Years Active | Home Arena(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Indians (Hockey) | IHL | 1929-1934 | Elysium Arena | |
| Cleveland Falcons | International-American Hockey League | 1934-1937 | Renamed to Cleveland Barons in 1937 | |
| Cleveland Barons (1st edition) | AHL | 1937-1973 | Cleveland Arena | Moved to Jacksonville in 1973; renamed Jacksonville Barons |
| Cleveland Crusaders | WHA | 1972-1976 | Cleveland Arena (1972-1974), Richfield Coliseum (1974-1976) | Moved to St. Paul, MN in 1976; became Minnesota Fighting Saints |
| Cleveland Lumberjacks | IHL | 1992-2001 | Formed in Muskegon, MI in 1960; various name changes before becoming Cleveland Lumberjacks | |
| Cleveland Barons (2nd edition) | AHL | 2001-2006 | Gund Arena | Affiliate of NHL’s San Jose Sharks; relocated to Worcester, MA in 2006; renamed Worcester Sharks |
The original Barons franchise played in the AHL out of the Cleveland Arena between 1937 and 1973. The club then moved to Jacksonville, Florida in 1973 and became the Jacksonville Barons. However, they played just one season there before folding in 1974.
The Barons franchise actually started out as the Cleveland Indians in 1929 and played its home games at the Elysium Arena. That club played in the International Hockey League (IHL) for five seasons and was renamed the Cleveland Falcons in 1934. The team then joined the International-American Hockey League in 1936 and was renamed the Cleveland Barons in 1937.
Between 1972 and 1976, the Cleveland Crusaders played in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The team played its home games at the Cleveland Arena from 1972 to 1974 before moving to the Richfield Coliseum between 1974 and 1976.
The Crusaders left Cleveland in 1976 when the NHL Cleveland Barons moved to town from California, where they played as the California Golden Seals. After leaving Cleveland, the Crusaders ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota and became the the second incarnation of the WHA’s Minnesota Fighting Saints franchise.
The city of Cleveland also hosted the Cleveland Lumberjacks IHL franchise from 1992 until 2001 when the club and the IHL both folded. The club was formed originally in Muskegon, Michigan in 1960 as the Muskegon Zephyrs. It was renamed in 1965 as the Muskegon Mohawks and changed its name again in 1984 to the Muskegon Lumberjacks.
A second edition of the Cleveland Barons AHL team arrived in the city in 2001 as an affiliate of the NHL’s San Jose Sharks when the Sharks moved the Kentucky Thoroughblades to Cleveland. The team played its home games at the Gund Arena and before relocating to Worcester, Massachusetts in 2006 where they were renamed the Worcester Sharks.
Does Ohio Have an ECHL Team?
There are currently two ECHL teams based in the state of Ohio: the Cincinnati Cyclones and the Toledo Walleye.
The Cyclones are affiliated with the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL and were established in 1990. The team played its home games at the Cincinnati Gardens until 1997 and now play out of the the Heritage Bank Center, which was formerly known as the Riverfront Coliseum, the Crown, the Firstar Center, and the U.S. Bank Arena and renamed the Heritage Bank center in 2019.
The rink has a capacity of 14,453 for ice hockey. The first Cincinnati Cyclones franchise played in the ECHL from 1990 to 1992 and then competed in the IHL from 1992 to 2001 when the league folded. A second version of the club played in the ECHL between 2001 and 2004 and then ceased operating. The team rejoined the ECHL in 2006/07 and play in the Central Division in the Western Conference.
The Toledo Walleye also play in the Western Conference’s Central Division with their home games being held at the 8,000-seat Huntington Center, which was formerly named the Lucas County Arena. The club is affiliated with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings and was founded as the Toledo Storm in 1991/92.
The team played its home games at the Toledo Sports Arena in downtown Toledo until 2009 and changed its name to the Walleye in 2008. The franchise suspended its operations after the 2006/07 season and returned to action in 2009/10.
Former Cincinnati-based Pro Teams
| Team Name | League | Years Active | Home Arena(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Mohawks | AHL (1949-1952), IHL (1952-1958) | 1949-1958 | Cincinnati Gardens | Originated as Washington Lions; Relocated to Cincinnati in 1949 |
| Indianapolis Capitals/Cincinnati Wings | CPHL | 1963-1964 | Fairgrounds Coliseum (Indianapolis), Cincinnati | Relocated to Cincinnati due to home rink damage; Moved to Memphis in 1964 and became Memphis Wings |
| Cincinnati Swords | AHL | 1971-1974 | Cincinnati Gardens | Folded in 1974 |
| Cincinnati Stingers | WHA (1975-1979), CHL (1979/80) | 1975-1980 | Riverfront Coliseum | Joined CHL after NHL-WHA merger |
| Cincinnati Tigers | CHL | 1981-1982 | Riverfront Coliseum | Owned by NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs; Dissolved after one season |
| Cincinnati Mighty Ducks | AHL | 1997-2005 | Cincinnati Gardens | Originated as Baltimore Bandits; Suspended operations in 2005/06 |
| Cincinnati RailRaiders | 2005 | Renamed from Mighty Ducks; Sold and moved to Rockford in 2007 to become Rockford IceHogs |
The Cincinnati Mohawks played their home games at the Cincinnati Gardens and were members of the AHL from 1949 to 1952. They left the league at this point and then joined the IHL from 1952 to 1958. The Mohawks originated as the Washington Lions and relocated to Cincinnati in 1949, becoming the city’s first pro hockey team.
The Indianapolis Capitals/Cincinnati Wings played just one season in the Central Professional Hockey League (CPHL) in 1963/64. The franchise originated as the Indianapolis Capitals and played its home games at the Fairgrounds Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
However, the club relocated to Cincinnati early in the season after its home rink was damaged in an explosion and became the Cincinnati Wings. The team then moved to Memphis, Tennessee for the 1964-65 and became the Memphis Wings.
The city was home to the Cincinnati Swords of the AHL from 1971 to 1974 with the Cincinnati Gardens acting as their home rink. The Swords folded in 1974 when Cincinnati was granted an expansion team in the WHA known as the Cincinnati Stingers.
The Stingers franchise played in the WHA from 1975 to 1979 and then in the CHL in 1979/80 after the NHL merged with several WHA clubs. The former Riverfront Coliseum was used for their home games. When the Stingers disbanded, the Cincinnati Tigers took over as the city’s CHL team for the 1981/82 season with their home games also at the Riverfront Coliseum. The club was was owned and operated by the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and was dissolved after one season.
Between 1997 and 2005, the city was home to the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks AHL franchise which played out of the Cincinnati Gardens. The team originated as the Baltimore Bandits and in 2005/06 it suspended operations when it lost its NHL affiliation with the NHL’s Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
The club was renamed the Cincinnati RailRaiders in October, 2005 and was sold in 2007 when it moved to Rockford, Illinois and became the Rockford IceHogs.
Former Ohio-Based Pro Hockey Teams
| Team Name | League | Years Active | Home Arena(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toledo Mercurys/Buckeyes | IHL, Eastern Amateur Hockey League | 1947-1962 | Toledo Sports Arena | Various names and home locations during its tenure |
| Toledo Blades and Hornets | IHL | 1963-1974 | Toledo Sports Arena | Renamed to Hornets in 1970; Moved to Lansing in 1974 |
| Toledo Goaldiggers | IHL | 1974-1986 | Toledo Sports Arena | Moved to Kansas City in 1990 |
| Columbus Chill | ECHL | 1991-1999 | Ohio Expo Center Coliseum | Moved to Reading in 1999 |
| Dayton Bombers | ECHL | 1991-2009 | Hara Arena, Ervin J. Nutter Center | |
| Dayton Gems | IHL, CHL | 2009-2012 | Hara Arena | |
| Dayton Demonz | FHL | 2012-2015 | Hara Arena | Originally to be named Dayton Devils |
| Dayton Demolition | FHL | 2015- | Hara Arena | Previously Berkshire Battalion |
| Mentor Ice Breakers | FPHL | 2018-2020 | Mentor Civic Arena | Ceased operations due to COVID-19 |
The Toledo Mercurys played in the IHL between 1947 and 1962 with the Toledo sports arena as its home rink. In 1949/50 the team was named the Toledo Buckeyes as it competed in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League and returned to the IHL as the Mercurys the following season.
In 1955/56 the club played some of its home games in Marion, Ohio and was known as the Toledo-Marion Mercurys and in 1959/60 played some home games in St. Louis Missouri and were known as the Toledo-St. Louis Mercurys. The franchise folded after the 1961/62 campaign.
Replacing the Mercurys in the IHL at the Toledo Sports Arena from 1963 to 1974 were the Toledo Blades and Hornets. The franchise spent its first four years in Omaha, Nebraska as the Omaha Knights, was renamed the Toledo Blades for the 1963/64 season and renamed the Hornets in 1970. The team departed Toledo following the 1973/74 campaign and moved to Lansing, Michigan, becoming the Lansing Lancers.
After the Hornets left the Toledo Goaldiggers were based in Toledo from 1974 to 1986 as an IHL franchise with their home games also being held at the Toledo Sports Arena. The club suspended operations after the 1985/86 campaign due to financial difficulties. The team was sold and moved to Kansas City, Missouri in 1990 where it was renamed the Kansas City Blades.
The Columbus Chill competed in the ECHL between October 1991 until the end of the 1998/99 season and played their home games at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum in the city of Columbus. The franchise left the city 1999 and moved to Reading, Pennsylvania where they became the Reading Royals.
The Dayton Bombers played in the ECHL in the city of Dayton, Ohio. The club played its home games at the Hara Arena in nearby Trotwood between 1991 and 1996 and then moved its home arena to the Ervin J. Nutter Center, which was located on Wright State University campus in Fairborn, Ohio. The club ceased to operate before the 2009/10 season faced off.
The Dayton Gems played in the city of Dayton as a member of the IHL in 2009/10 and as a member of the CHL in 2010/11 and 2011/12 before folding. The club played its home games at the Hara Arena. When the Gems folded they were replaced in city of Dayton by the Dayton Demonz in 2012, who were an expansion team in the Federal Hockey League (FHL).
The club was originally going to be named the Dayton Devils but changed its inaugural season. The team also played its home games at the Hara Arena. The club folded in 2015 and was replaced in the FHL and at the Hara Arena by the the Dayton Demolition. The Demolition were formerly the Berkshire Battalion based in North Adams, Massachusetts and relocated to Dayton in 2015.
In addition, the Mentor Ice Breakers were based in the city of Mentor, Ohio and played in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) with their home games being held at the Mentor Civic Arena. The club played the 2018/19 season and part of the 2019/20 campaign before ceasing to operate on November 16, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Other Hockey Teams Play in Ohio?
- USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III:
- Dayton Falcons
- NCAA College Hockey:
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Miami University RedHawks
- Lake Erie Storm
- Youngstown State Penguins
- Cleveland State Vikings
- Kent State Golden Flashes
- Bowling Green Falcons
- Toledo Rockets
- Ohio Bobcats
- Dayton Flyers
- Cincinnati Bearcats.
There have been several other well-known hockey teams in Ohio, such as the USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Dayton Falcons. NCAA college hockey is also popular in the state with teams such as the Ohio State Buckeyes, Miami University RedHawks, Lake Erie Storm, Youngstown State Penguins, Cleveland State Vikings, Kent State Golden Flashes, Bowling Green Falcons, Toledo Rockets, Ohio Bobcats, Dayton Flyers and the Cincinnati Bearcats.
Is Hockey Popular in Ohio?
As we can see from the wealth of information above, hockey has always been very popular in the state of Ohio from the 1930s until present day with numerous pro and amateur franchises being located there.
Final Thoughts
Although Ohio fans have been treated to some excellent hockey over the past several decades and numerous championships have been hoisted, they’re still waiting to see their team win the Stanley Cup. The Columbus Blue Jackets are currently their only hope and it looks like they’ll need to be patient as the team had made the playoffs just six times as of January 1st, 2023.
Check out my related articles:
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- What Hockey Teams are in Alberta? (Battle of Alberta)
- How Many NHL Hockey Teams are in Florida?
- How Many NHL Teams are in Canada? (Every Team Listed)
- What Hockey Team Is In New York?
Jamie is the founder of Hockey Response and he is the chief writer/ lead editor. Jamie has been playing hockey for over 20 years. He was the defenseman of the year in NL and has played Jr A level hockey. Jamie has coached several kids hockey camps and he was the assistant coach of the Western Kings.