Virginia Lancers

The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people. Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1983–1987) The Virginia Lancers were founded as the result of the Nashville South Stars relocating in December 1983, halfway into the 1982–83 season of the ACHL. They continued to play in the ACHL from 1983 until 1987. John Tortorella, a former Lancer forward, stepped behind the bench in the 1986–87 season, leading the team to the league's best record and the Bob Payne Trophy, which is given to the team who wins the league championship. All-American Hockey League (1987–1988) The Lancers transferred to the All-American Hockey League (AAHL) for the 1987-88 season. Coach Tortorella led the team to a 37-5-0-1 record and the best record in the league, but they lost the league championship to Carolina Thunderbirds. After the season, both Virginia and Carolina left the league to form the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), along with the newly-formed Johnstown Chiefs and the AAHL folded a season later. East Coast Hockey League (1988–1990) With a new coach and a new league, the Lancers found themselves outside of the postseason in their initial ECHL season. Finishing 22-30-8 put them in fifth place out of five teams. The Lancers found a replacement coach in Dave Allison for the 1989 season, and the team responded by finishing 36-18-6 with 76 points. The Lancers finished in third place out of four teams and faced fourth place Greensboro Monarchs in the playoffs. The Lancers lost the best-of-five series three games to one, which included back to back losses at Greensboro in Games 3 and 4.