Blue Jackets Traditional Geocache

The year is 1966 and Professional Hockey arrives in Columbus Ohio. The Columbus Checkers (1966-70) are the first team and are in the now defunct International Hockey League (IHL). They competed in the city's first professional hockey game at the Ohio Expo Fairgrounds Coliseum on October 12, 1966 when the Chicago Blackhawks, of the National Hockey League, came to town for an exhibition game versus the expansion Checkers.
In their first year they finish last with a record of 23-48-1. Year two see’s them finish in third place (32-30-10). Season three they end in sixth place (26-37-9) and season four again in sixth (24-36-12). Sadly this is their last and in the spring of 1970 they fold up. The only real highlight of the short lived Checkers were the Forwards Bert Fizzell and Moe Bartoli who combined to be one of the IHL’s most lethal combinations. Fizzell would rack up 153 goals, 245 assists for 398 points! He was the IHL’s second most productive player.

In 1971 with the IHL still wanting a team in Columbus, Charlie Finley (Baseball Hall of Famer) brought to life the “Columbus Golden Seals”. Finley at the time was the owner of both the Oakland A’s and the California Golden Seals of the NHL. The Columbus Golden Seals only lasted two seasons mainly due to poor talent. Finley sold the team to Al Savill and the team was renamed the Columbus Owls. Savill an investment broker brought new talent into the organization. Bartoli returned as coach and immediately made changes.
The 73-74 team, led the league in Penalty Minutes at 2,437. They also became affiliated with the St Louis Blues. The next few seasons saw ups and downs, making the playoffs twice, but having to play the games elsewhere despite having home ice advantage due to the facilities not being available. Savill frustrated by the city’s lack of facilities, moved the team to Dayton after the 1976-77 season.

1991 the long dry spell ends and the Columbus Chill arrive and resurrect hockey at the Fairgrounds Coliseum. This new team is part of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) expansion. Through a masterful marketing campaign and having good talent and leadership the Chill take the chill out of Columbus and set an ECHL sellout streak record of 83 sellout games that still stands! Lack of a permanent playing facility still nags the team. However, the city has taken notice and the groundwork is laid to find a location and build a dedicated hockey facility. Over the next several years the Chill continues to build both a fan base an a reputation of being a force to be reckoned with and building to division championships in 1996-97 and the 1998-99 seasons. There is no question that each of the former pro hockey teams helped to lay the ground work for what was to come – the Columbus Blue Jackets. After 30 years, most of the city and surrounding areas hockey fans will tell your. “it was worth the wait”.

The Columbus Blue Jackets
November 1996, five investors submit an application to the NHL for an expansion team.
May 1997, Nationwide Insurance announces plans to privately finance an arena in downtown Columbus.
June 1997, The NHL awards Columbus an expansion team.
November 1997, Officials announce the expansion team will be called the Blue Jackets, celebrating patriotism, pride, and the rich Civil War history in the state of Ohio and, the city of Columbus.
May 1998 Ground is broken in downtown Columbus on the site of Nationwide Arena.
October 1999 The Home and Road Jerseys are unveiled.
May 2000 The NHL determines the team meets all requirement for admission into the league.
June 2000 The Blue Jackets participate in the 2000 Expansion Draft.
September 2000 The Blue Jackets open their first training camp at the CoeComm Ice Haus, the only practice facility in the NHL housed where the team plays its games.
October 2000 Welcome to the NHL, the Jackets jump out to an early 3-0 lead but lose to Chicago 5-3.
October 2002 Columbus' home sellout streak of 58 consecutive games is snapped.
April 2009 The Blue Jackets make the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time.

Now, on to the Cache;
From the parking area you can take the “longer” way around and enjoy the peace and solitude of this seldom visited section of the park (while visiting the other caches in this series) or take the “short” route by heading past the flying field and then picking up the trail. You cannot access this trail/cache from the Denbigh Road side so don’t even try! As with all caches in this series, Ground Zero will only put you in the general area. Use your GeoSense!
The cache is a large well camouflaged sized container with room for swag, large Travel Bugs and Geocoins.

This cache has been approved by and registered with
the Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation &
Tourism. Registration # 0177

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