Fort Worth Texans
| Company type | Professional ice hockey franchise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports |
| Founded | 1967 |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth, Texas , United States |
| Products | Ice hockey team |
The Fort Worth Texans were a professional ice hockey franchise located in Fort Worth, Texas. Established in 1967 under the name Fort Worth Wings, they operated as a minor league affiliate for the Detroit Red Wings within the Central Professional Hockey League. Their home venue was the Will Rogers Coliseum, and the team captured their only Adams Cup title in 1978 by edging out the Dallas Black Hawks 5–4 in overtime during the decisive seventh game.
History
The Fort Worth Wings launched their competitive journey in 1967, with standout player Rick McCann tallying 71 points and guiding the team into the postseason, where they ultimately fell short in the championship round. From 1968 through 1974, they qualified for the playoffs every year except one. Financial difficulties led to a shared roster arrangement with the St. Louis Blues in 1972, followed by the team's dissolution in 1973. Subsequently, new ownership took over franchise rights, and between 1973 and 1978, the squad functioned as a developmental affiliate for the New York Islanders, while also nurturing talent for the Minnesota North Stars and Los Angeles Kings. The 1978 Adams Cup victory was propelled by significant performances from players like Richie Hansen and future NHL athlete Gary Smith.
In 1979, ownership shifted to Dick Andersen, aligning the Texans with the Colorado Rockies (NHL). After completing the 1981–82 season, the Texans departed from the Central Hockey League alongside prominent teams such as the Dallas Black Hawks and Oklahoma City Stars. Their exit contributed to a downturn in league attendance and was a factor leading to the CHL's cessation after the 1983–84 campaign. Remarkably, the Texans were the sole professional team to defeat the 1980 USA Olympic hockey squad twice during their pre-Olympic tour—first at home on January 16, 1980, and again nine days later in Bloomington, Minnesota. These matches were counted within CHL standings; despite intense competition, Fort Worth concluded with a positive record of 37–34–3 and advanced to the finals of the 1979–80 Adams Cup, narrowly losing in seven games to the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles.
In popular culture
During late 1970s games, as players entered the ice at each period's start, the Texans played "Rock and Roll Part 2," also known as "The Hey Song," by British glam rock artist Gary Glitter, originally released on his 1972 album Glitter. This song was also adopted as a theme by the Colorado Rockies and later gained broader recognition across national audiences.
A memorable event featured an intermission exhibition match between female performers from Dallas’s Playboy club and airmen stationed at Fort Worth’s Carswell Air Force Base. The airmen trained alongside Texans players ahead of this event, which was promoted locally under the tagline "War on Ice."
Head coaches
Throughout its history, head coaching duties were held by individuals such as Fern Flaman, Doug Barkley, Bob Lemieux, Johnny Choyce, Ed Chadwick, Terry Gray, Billy MacMillan, Ron Ullyot, and Andy Laing.