Baltimore skipjacks binghamton whalers 1984 85 season
The Baltimore Skipjacks were a minor professional ice hockey team originally beginning play in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in 1981 and the American Hockey League, the following season of 1982. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the old Baltimore Civic Center (later the Baltimore Arena, then renamed the 1st Mariner Arena, now the Royal Farms Arena in downtown Baltimore's central business district adjacent to the 1950s-'60s-era redevelopment project of Charles Center, on the city block between West Baltimore, South Howard, West Lombard Streets and Hopkins Place/South Sharp and North Liberty Streets. The Skipjacks team was moved to Portland, Maine in 1993, and became the Portland Pirates. They also were the successors of the long-time Baltimore professional ice hockey team, the Baltimore Clippers, from 1962 to 1976, who earlier played in the American Hockey League at the same location and shared the same team fight song with minor name revisions.
The original Skipjacks team played one season (1981–1982) in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League. From the 1982-1983 season to 1992-1993, the Skipjacks played in the American Hockey League. The 1987-88 season, they played as an independent team (no affiliation).
This city and franchise/team market area was previously home to the Orioles, Cutters, Blades, long-time Clippers and Bandits:
Baltimore Orioles (1932–1933 / Tri-State Hockey League)
Keith Jones, played 9 seasons with Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, and Philadelphia Flyers, and is currently an analyst for NBC Sports Network on cable television.
Troy Loney, two-time Stanley Cup champion: 1991, 1992
Bob Errey, two-time Stanley Cup champion: 1991, 1992, current FSN Pittsburgh analyst
