Friday Flashback: Hartford Hellions

Memphis Americans History - Memphis Americans
Team: Hartford Hellions
Location: Hartford, Connecticut
Sport: Indoor Soccer
League: Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL)
Years Active: 1979-1981
Home Arena(s): New Haven Coliseum, Hartford Civic Center
Head Coaches: Hank Liotart (1979-80), Charlie McCully (1980-81)
Best Players: Eduardo Marasco, Yilmaz Orhan, Paul Toomey and Roy Messing.

Hellions was an interesting team name and it was used by the Hartford franchise in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL).  The Hellions were an expansion team for the MISL's second season.  They played their first season in the New Haven Coliseum before moving to the Hartford Civic Center in their second season.

The Hellions played their first game on December 1, 1979 losing 6-1 against the Philadelphia Fever.  They played their last game on March 8, 1981 losing to the Buffalo Stallions 5-4.  The Hellions finished in last place during their two seasons in Hartford and had a combined record of 19-53.  The team averaged about 4,000 fans during their existence.

After the 1980-81 season, the franchise was sold and moved to Memphis, Tennessee to become the Memphis Americans.

Hartford Hellions Review
1979-1980
Record:  6-26
Playoffs:  None

1980-1981
Record:  13-27
Playoffs:  None

Fun Facts:
  • A "hellion" is a rowdy or mischievous person.
  • The team had originally scheduled to play their first season at the Hartford Civic Center but a snowstorm caused the roof to collapse.
  • A religious sports group purchased the Hellions and changed their name/logo to Americans when they moved the team to Memphis.
  • Hartford never won back-to-back games during their two seasons

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