Flash back to the 1970s

In 1970, the Utica Observer-Dispatch ran a series of photographs and biographies on the Clinton Comets. (Missing images 3 & 14) (To see a clearer image–>Right Click on Image; Select Open Image in a New Tab; Click on tab.)         

Many stories from selling programs for a few cents and watching the Comets play hockey, to public skating and meeting my wife of 48 years while skating in the arena. The arena was my second home. Several years ago, a few friends who played hockey in their youth returned to the arena…

Joe Hameline posed with a teammate in this 1970s-era Williams College photo…

Many Clinton families had the great tradition and privilege of skating on outdoor rinks, whether they were homemade or on frozen ponds. We were very fortunate growing up in the Bristol Road/Norton Ave. neighborhood. We had the advantage of geography and topography favorable to forming many small ponds…

I got to play for some great coaches: Mr. Hameline and Mr. Doyle in Clinton, Paul Swancott in New Hartford, and played on Jack Kanes’ line on Sunday night…

The program for the Clinton Comets vs. Johnstown Jets game during the 1970-71 season.

Joe Hameline, along with standout teammates, was featured in a number of articles during his career, including his selection as All East – All New England MVP…

I was a younger sibling/Rink Rat. I attended with my parents, and tore around every square inch of the Clinton arena and Sage Rink. My experience as a young hockey fan carried on to today…

I have many great memories of coaching Clinton Youth Hockey throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. I was proud to be one of the coaches of the Clinton Squirt Travel Team that went on to win the New York State Championship at the Syracuse Fairground Coliseum…

Winning New York State Squirt championship in 1972 in the 1932 Olympic Rink in Lake Placid, with coaches Jack Kane, Red Foley and David Iles.

On or about Jan-Feb. 1972, in a clash at the Duluth Arena in front of 5,400 screaming fans, the Duluth East Greyhounds were pitted vs. the Virginia Blue Devils. I was a center, and faced off opposite the Carlson brothers, Steve, Jeff and Jack…

So many memories of hockey in Clinton, so many lessons learned, but the one that shaped me most was my first hockey experience. My father had signed me up to begin Pee Wee hockey, knowing it would be good for me. I must have been about 7 years old, and I was excited…

Coached (along with co-coaches Jack Kane and Don Foley) the Clinton Squirt travel team to a NYS championship and to the first-ever Squirt national tournament in Grosse Point, MI. Placed 4th to teams from much larger areas. We played what we thought was a huge number of games…

The program for the Clinton Comets vs. Syracuse Blazers game during the 1972-73 season.

Peter, John, and Tom Hameline received press during their high school and college days…

1973 Sectional Champions…

I was a coach, and Vice President of the house leagues for Clinton Youth Hockey, from 1974 thru 1982. In the late 70s with the forming 2 new youth hockey groups and 2 new rinks being built…

An article on Wilfred Goering from 1974 mentions a number of Clinton hockey family dynasties, including 6 Hamelines spanning 3 generations: Bill Hameline Jr. (father); Bill Hameline III, Defenseman who graduated from Ohio University…

Rob Hameline (#4) can be seen in this 1974 Section III semi-final game photo…

Three of my Hamilton friends (Dan Luker ‘77, Reed Bergwall ‘77, and Billy Kahl ‘77) who, like me, did not make Hamilton’s varsity that year, opted to play for the Clinton Flyers junior team – run by Archie Burton and Jack Kane – rather than play Hamilton JV hockey. I had loyalty for the Hamilton JV hockey…

The best Clinton Warriors memory of my playing years was the Section III Championship game vs. Rome Free Academy, our arch-rival, in 1974. I was a junior defenseman, and played with a broken hand in a cast. I was less effective, but received a perfect pass in the slot from…

Just the intensity of the RFA vs. Clinton High School games from the mid-to-late ‘70s. Crowds were large, and games were very intense. I remember one game in Clinton Arena when I shot the puck after a whistle that I didn’t hear because of the noise. Clinton players were not too happy with me shooting at their goalie after the whistle!…

A collage with some of the press coverage for Tom Hameline (celebrating a Clinton win) and Rob Hameline, receiving attention for league-leading scoring, an All-Star selection, and a scholarship to Lowell College…

Joe Hameline received press for his play Williams College; Tom Hameline was recognized for his accomplishments through his time in the NYC Adult Leagues…

Rob Hameline was a key part of Coach Burns’ team, and was mentioned and pictured in this article and photo with the coach and John Hullar…

Having the privilege of growing up in such a great little town with such a huge hockey presence. The memories are so numerous that it would take a week of Sundays to express them. Therefore, I will summarize by saying it has been an honor to be a player and coach at every level of hockey, from mites through high school in Clinton, NY…

Got to play against my best friend, Ben Heintz. He played for Williams College, and we both got a penalty at the same time. And we both wore jersey number 22. I remember looking over in the penalty box and laughing…

Beating Merrimack College in the Division II NCAA Semifinals. Being a Boston kid, it was great going back home and beating the overwhelming favorite to win the Division II crown.

Coach Batt and the no-look pass. Coach would often scrimmage with the team. He was always open for a pass, and if you “broke up ice”, coach would look the other way and his pass would land perfectly on your stick…

I was the first real women’s ice hockey coach. Zemo and Shawn had girls on the ice informally, but the Women’s AD Channing Richardson asked me to start the program formally and begin intercollegiate play. I was the coach for two years…

After playing Clinton Youth Hockey and CCS Warrior hockey, Bill Owens discovered his true passion for the sport was in coaching, which he began in the 1977-78 season. Benefiting from positive relationships with fellow coaches and mentors…

The Hamilton vs. Oswego rivalry was particularly intense in the late seventies. My “welcome to the rivalry” moment came early my freshman year at Oswego. With things not going well for the Continentals in the third period, Oswego scored a goal likely to put the game out of reach…

Delivering hardship on Oswego is always a good thing—a lesson taught to me by Bill Hutchinson and another senior in the Williams field house during their holiday tournament my freshman year. All four teams stayed in the field house, on provided…

Some of the fondest memories I have of my time growing up and playing hockey in Clinton was playing street hockey with my best friends on the weekends. We would often play our game at the arena, and would meet shortly after and organize and play against each other…

CYH’s Squirt Travel Team coached by Pete and Jim Burns traveled to Ottawa…

I remember the 1978 season when we won an important game, and the place erupted with “we are the champions”. Great song, great win!…

My senior year, we got Bernie Burns his 100th win! The most in New York State history at the time…

Highlights: Learning to skate as a toddler (at the Clinton Arena) with mother Liz Buckley Hullar, who learned to skate on the outdoor village rink in the 1930s…

My CCS Hockey memory is of the game the Clinton Courier queried in covering of the events that unfolded. Was it the greatest hockey game ever seen at the Clinton Arena?” March 3rd, 1978, needless to say a Friday night, the NYS Section III Championship, Clinton Warriors vs. Ithaca Little Red…

As a player in 1979, helped lead Clinton High school to its last Division I Sectional Title…

My very first day of tryouts as a Freshman, we had a scrimmage towards the end of practice. I recall vividly picking up the puck at my own blue line along the boards, carrying it up the boards in front of the penalty box…