1981 Offseason Highlights

- 4 Expansion Teams

- 16 Identity Changes

- 3 New Arenas
        - La Crosse: After over 30 years outdoors at Pettibone Lagoon, the Brewers are finally heading indoors to brand new, 1,500 seat, Green Island Ice Arena
        - Lake Elmo: The Bluejays will now have their own arena to call home, leaving Polar Arena for 800 seat Lake Elmo Ice Arena
        - Plymouth: The Militia become the final NMHL team to make the move indoors playing their home games at Plymouth Arena which seats 750 specatators

- 2 New Mascots

- 6 New Rivalry Trophies

- 3 Numbers Retired

- Mandatory Helmets in Southwest Hockey Association (Now all MAHL leagues require helmets)

Retired Numbers


The Edina Cake Eaters have decided that no player will ever don the number 9 for the Gold Domes again. Ben Hankinson was the heart and soul of the Cake Eaters for over a decade, playing from 1967 until his career ending car crash a year ago, and captaining them for the majority of those years. Hankinson will go down as one of the all time greats in MAHL history, winning the Tschida Trophy for MAHL MVP 3 times over the span of his career (only one player has won it more)


Brainerd has decided to retire the two other big names from the "Brainerd Boys" days which saw the Lumberjacks completely dominate the Granite Hockey League for years on end. Dallas Duffy was a great all around defenseman for the Jacks and has the distinction of being the only Defenseman in MAHL history to win the Tschida Trophy, winning it back in 1961. Centerman Eli Koemans was the brunt of the offensive firepower for the Lumberjacks for nearly 2 decades, holding the current record for goals in a career among GHL players. Duffy's 2 and Koemans 7 will join teammate Dand Polley in the rafters at Brainerd Civic Arena

Mascots


We also lost a mascot this year

Identity Changes

The Defending Champs decided to embrace what seems to have become a tradition of sort by adding two stars to the back of their collars to signify their two Kellogg Cups. No other changes are made.

The Rubber Kings introduced a new script "Eau Claire" logo


The overall look of the new uniforms is not very different than what they have worn since their inception, leaving the striping completely untouched. The only changes come with the logos and numbers. The new Eau Claire script replaces their logo on the front of the jerseys with the primary logo moving to the shoulders. All numbers now have outlines, and the number on the front is moved to the sleeves.