United States Coast Guard Cutters

{{distinguish|text=United States Coast Guard Cutter, the larger boats of United States Coast Guard}}

{{Infobox Pro hockey team

|team = United States Coast Guard Cutters

|logo = File:United States Coast Guard Cutters hockey logo.png

|logosize = 180px

|city = Baltimore, Maryland

|league = Eastern Amateur Hockey League

|operated = 1942–1943

|arena = Carlin's Iceland

|colors = Red, white, and blue
{{colorbox|red}} {{colorbox|white}} {{colorbox|blue}}

|coach = Mel Harwood

|reg_season_titles = 1 (1942–43)

|championships = 1 (1942–43)

}}

File:1943-44 U.S. Coast Guard Cutters.jpg

The United States Coast Guard Cutters were a senior amateur ice hockey team operated by the United States Coast Guard Yard on Curtis Bay, Baltimore. The team played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League for parts of two seasons, using Carlin's Iceland for home games.{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/stte/u.s.-coast-guard-cutters-8687.html|title=U.S. Coast Guard Cutters hockey team statistics|website=hockeydb.com|access-date=2018-02-25}} The Cutters were a separate team from the established Coast Guard Bears of the United States Coast Guard Academy.

History

The team was founded in 1942 by personnel officer Lieutenant Commander C.R. MacLean, of the Coast Guard in Curtis Bay, and replaced the void in the EAHL when the Baltimore Orioles folded.{{cite web|url=http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2013/05/making-waves-on-the-ice/|title=Making Waves on the Ice|last=Fischler|first=Stan|date=2013-04-04|website=Coast Guard Compass|publisher=The Hockey News|access-date=2018-02-25}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeycentral.co.uk/nhl/sign/nhl-coastguard.php|title=The Coast Guard Cutters|website=Hockey Central|access-date=2018-02-25}} The Cutters were coached by Mel Harwood, a former goaltender for the Orioles,{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=38403|title=Mel Harwood hockey statistics and profile|website=hockeydb.com|access-date=2018-02-25}} and a former NHL referee known for officiating game four of the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals. Players were required to complete daytime military duties, in addition to playing on the team. The team was accompanied by their own version of the United States Coast Guard Band, that played the “Semper Paratus march," whenever the Cutters scored a goal.

In the 1942–43 season, Joe Kucler led the league in goals (40), assists (41), and points (81).{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/top_league.php?lid=ehl1934&sid=1943&leaguenm=EHL|title=EHL 1942-43 League Leaders|website=hockeydb.com|access-date=2018-02-25}} The Cutters played the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings in an exhibition game on January 6, 1943 in Baltimore, losing 8–3. The Cutters finished first place in the EAHL, winning the Walker Cup. In addition to the EAHL title, the Cutters won two championships of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States, in 1943 and 1944. Eleven games into the second season, the Cutters withdrew from league play on November 28, 1943, but still played exhibition games.{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/ehl19341944.html|title=1943-44 Eastern Hockey League [EHL] standings|website=hockeydb.com|access-date=2018-02-25}} The Cutters team disbanded early in 1944, when the World War II effort needed reinforcements.

Players

The Cutters team featured eight National Hockey League players.{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/display_players.php?tmi=8687|title=U.S. Coast Guard Cutters all-time player list|website=hockeydb.com|access-date=2018-02-25}}

Three Cutters players were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame: Frank Brimsek,{{cite web|url=http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?type=Player&mem=P196604&list=ByName|title=Brimsek, Frank — Honoured Player|website=Legends of Hockey|publisher=HHOF|access-date=2018-02-25}} Art Coulter,{{cite web|url=http://www.hhof.com/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?type=Player&mem=P197402&list=ByName|title=Coulter, Art — Honoured Player|website=Legends of Hockey|publisher=HHOF|access-date=2018-02-25}} and John Mariucci.{{cite web|url=http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/LegendsMember.jsp?type=Builder&mem=B198501&list=ByName|title=Mariucci, John — Honoured Builder|website=Legends of Hockey|publisher=HHOF|access-date=2018-02-25}}

Five Cutters players were inducted into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame: Frank Brimsek,{{cite web|url=http://www.ushockeyhall.com/page/show/3003315-frank-brimsek|title=FRANK BRIMSEK|website=US Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-02-25}} Bob Dill,{{cite web|url=http://www.ushockeyhall.com/page/show/3003286-robert-e-bob-dill|title=ROBERT E. "BOB" DILL|website=US Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-02-25}} John Mariucci,{{cite web|url=http://www.ushockeyhall.com/page/show/3003334-john-mariucci|title=JOHN MARIUCCI|website=US Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-02-25}} Hub Nelson,{{cite web|url=http://www.ushockeyhall.com/page/show/3003290-hubert-hub-nelson|title=HUBERT "HUB" NELSON|website=US Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-02-25}} and Eddie Olson.{{cite web|url=http://www.ushockeyhall.com/page/show/3003292-edward-eddie-olson|title=EDWARD "EDDIE" OLSON|website=US Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-02-25}}

;Other notable players

Results

Season-by-season results:{{cite web|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/ehl19341943.html|title=1942-43 Eastern Hockey League [EHL] standings|website=hockeydb.com|access-date=2018-02-25}}

class="wikitable" !Season!!GP!!W!!L!!T!!Pts!!Pct!!GF!!GA!!Standing
align="center" \|1942–43	46	32	13	1	65	0.707	223	138	1st, EAHL
align="center" \|1943–44	11	7	4	0	14	0.636	66	30	withdrew
TOTALS	57	39	17	1	79	0.693	289	168	1 Walker Cup

class="wikitable"

!Season!!GP!!W!!L!!T!!Pts!!Pct!!GF!!GA!!Standing

align="center"

|1942–43

0.707

223

138

1st, EAHL

align="center"

|1943–44

0.636

withdrew