Toledo Mercurys
1911535
217152834
2008-06-04T20:52:32Z
69.217.237.160
{{Pro hockey team
| text_color =
| bg_color =
| team = Toledo Mercurys
| logo =
| logosize =
| city = [[Toledo, Ohio]]
| league = [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]]
| operated = 1947–62
| arena = [[Toledo Sports Arena]]
| colors =
| owner =
| media =
| affiliates =
<!---Franchise history--->
| name1 = '''Toledo Mercurys'''
| dates1 = 1947–49
| name2 = Toledo Buckeyes (EAHL)
| dates2 = 1949–50
| name3 = '''Toledo Mercurys'''
| dates3 = 1950–55
| name4 = Toledo-Marion Mercurys
| dates4 = 1955–56
| name5 = '''Toledo Mercurys'''
| dates5 = 1956–59
| name6 = Toledo-St. Louis Mercurys
| dates6 = 1959–60
| name7 = '''Toledo Mercurys'''
| dates7 = 1960–62
<!---Championships--->
| reg_season_titles =
| division_titles =
| turner_cups = '''3''' - 1948, 1951, 1952
}}
The '''Toledo Mercurys''' are a defunct [[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|International Hockey League]] franchise from [[Toledo, Ohio]]. The Toledo Franchise was the first IHL franchise to be granted outside of the [[Windsor-Detroit]] area, for the cost of $1000.00 to Virgil Gladeaux of Toledo. The Mercurys existed 15 seasons in total from [[1947]] to [[1962]] with some minor naming variations. Toledo was successful on the ice, being the first IHL team to win multiple [[Turner Cup]] championships, and the first to do so consecutively.
==History==
The Mercurys won the Turner during their first year of operation in the 1947–48 season. Toledo defeated the [[Detroit Hettche|Windsor Hettche Spitfires]] four games to one in the IHL championship series. Team coach and manager [[Andy Mulligan (ice hockey)|Andy Mulligan]] had signed nine players from his native [[Manitoba]] to build the team, including team captain and right-winger [[Max Labovitch]], center Barney O'Connell and left wing Jake Kernahan . The Mercurys later won the United States Amateur hockey title, defeating the Elveth Rangers in two games, and the New York Rovers in three games.
In the 1948–49 season, the team played in both the north and south division of the IHL, because the team owners wanted to play more games. The Mercurys of the north division won the [[Fred A. Huber Trophy|J. P. McGuire Trophy]] that year by capturing the IHL North title. In a rematch of the previous season's IHL championship, Windsor defeated Toledo four games to three.
The following year for 1949–50 season, the team was known as the '''Toledo Buckeyes''' while playing in the [[Eastern Hockey League|Eastern Amateur Hockey League]]. The team returned to the IHL in 1950 known again as the Mercurys. Toledo won consecutive Turner Cups in 1950–51 and 1951–52 defeating the [[Grand Rapids Rockets]] in the finals both seasons.
In the 1955–56 season, the Mercurys played some home games in [[Marion, Ohio]] at the [[Veterans Memorial Coliseum (Marion)|Veterans Memorial Coliseum]], hence being known as the '''Toledo-Marion Mercurys'''. The Mercurys split home games between arenas again for the 1959–60 season. The '''Toledo-St. Louis Mercurys''' played some home games in [[St. Louis, Missouri]] at the [[St. Louis Arena]].
The Mercurys franchise folded after the 1961–62 season. The International Hockey League returned to Toledo in 1963, with the [[Toledo Blades]] franchise.
==References==
*[http://www.kolumbus.fi/tyrvaa/Hockey/Theihlhistory.htm International Hockey League history]
*[http://www.mbhockeyhalloffame.ca/asset_library/history/1948_ToledoMercurys.pdf Manitoba connection with the Toledo, Ohio Mercurys in 1948]
==External links==
*[http://www.geocities.com/prosportshistory/ihlhistory.html IHL franchise and championship information]
*[http://www.azhockey.com/To.htm A to Z encyclopedia of ice hockey]
{{IHL (1945–2001)}}
[[Category:International Hockey League (1945–2001) teams]]
[[Category:Sports in Toledo, Ohio]]