Cincinnati Swords

In 1971, Buffalo was granted an expansion franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed the Sabres, the league???s newest member needed a farm team that would play in the American Hockey League (AHL). The AHL also needed to replace the Buffalo Bison what with the Sabres about to take the ice. Cincinnati was chosen as the location for the Sabres' farm team. Nicknamed the Swords, they were immediately competitive, winning the Calder Cup in their second year. When the rival major league World Hockey Association (WHA) announced an expansion franchise for Cincinnati, the Sabres pulled the plug on the Swords.