Congratulations to the Thunder Bay Giants on capturing the Cup and creating a magical moment 45 years in the making!  If the last three years are any indicator, it's understood which league reigns SUPERIOR!

With that said, on to THIS YEAR IN MAJOR HOCKEY for 1982-83!

NHL
For the fourth straight year, the New York Islanders captured the Stanley Cup, picking up a four-game sweep over the Edmonton Oilers and withstanding four-time Hart Trophy winner Wayne Gretzky. 

Your Minnesota North Stars made the playoffs for the fourth straight season, finishing in second place in the Norris Division at 96 points, eight behind the first-place Chicago Black Hawks.  The Stars defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-1 in the division semifinals before being losing 4-1 to the Black Hawks in the division finals.  

With the former Colorado Rockies' relocation to North Jersey (where they are now the New Jersey Devils), your Winnipeg Jets reluctantly abandoned their place in the Norris Division, assuming the Rockies' former place in the Smythe Division.  Once again the Jets would reach the playoffs, finishing in fourth place in the division with 74 points, 32 behind the first-place Edmonton Oilers.  However, the Jets would end up getting swept by said Oilers in the Division Semifinals, 3-0.

Because of player safety concerns, the NHL banned Cooperalls following this season (they had been worn by the Philadelphia Flyers and Hartford Whalers prior to said ban).  In addition, overtime has been re-introduced to the NHL for this coming season, allowing for a five-minute overtime period following the third period of a tied regulation game (if neither team scores within that period, the game ends in a tie).

International/Olympics
After the Miracle on Ice of 1980, the defending gold medalists in the USA named Herb Brooks' former advance scout Lou Vairo their new head coach, who said he had taken the job "because nobody else wanted it."  Despite the long shadow Brooks cast, Vairo has led the young Americans to success thus far, finishing in first place in Group B of the 1983 Ice Hockey World Championships in West Germany.  Time will tell if he is able to carry that success over to the 1984 Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

And this has been This Year in Major Hockey for 1982-83 here...this is Michael Burmy, wishing you all the best in these times, and speaking for us all when he says "Bring on the offseason!"

1983 Offseason Highlights

- 5 Expansion Teams

- 22 Identity Changes

- 5 New Arenas
       - Brooklyn Park: Both the Panthers and Catamounts will be moving out of the Northland Community Arena in favor of the new Brooklyn Park Ice Arena which seats 1,200
       - Columbia Heights: The Hussars are getting an arena to call their own, leaving Roseville for the brand new Columbia Heights Civic Center which seats 1,100.
       - Little Canada: After 12 years outdoors at Mapleview Park, the Canucks are joining the rest of the EMHL indoors at 800 seat Little Canada Arena.
       - Wabasha: The Eagles will play their home games at the new Wabasha Ice Center, right on the shores of the Mississippi. It can seat 750 spectators.
       - Waseca: The Bluegills arena has been completed and the Gills will now play their home games at 500 seat Waseca Arena.

- 5 New Mascots

- 6 New Rivalry Trophies

- St. Croix Hockey League changes to dark uniforms at home to match the other leagues in the South Region

New Arenas


And because the Hussars moved out, the Rockets adjusted their ice as well.

Rivalry Trophies

Columbia Heights made the first major uniform change in team history, adopting a new double stripe pattern and changing the logo on the front from the CH monogram to their primary logo. The home jersey has red shoulders outlined in silver. The away uniform introduces white and moves silver to an accent role.