The Portland Eagles & The Portland Penguins - Hockey Returns to Portland After WWII
e Portland Eagles were inaugural members of the new Pacific Coast Hockey League (PCHL) in 1944-45 and were coached by Jimmy Ward. Ward piloted the team through the 1949-50 season. The Eagles finished in second place in the Northern Division with a 19-7-1 record in 1944-45. In the postseason, Portland defeated the Seattle Stars in the division semifinal four games to three. The northern division finals series between Portland and the Seattle Ironmen suddenly turned into the PCHL championship finals midway in the series when San Francisco (winners of the central and southern division playoffs) announced that they were not going to compete in the PCHL finals. The Ironmen prevailed over the Eagles four games to two.
In 1945-46, Portland had a 29-29-0 record with a second place divisional finish. The Eagles defeated the Seattle Ironmen two games to one in the division semifinals that season before losing in the division finals to Vancouver three games to two. The Eagles won the PCHL's Northern division title in 1946-47 with a 39-21-0 record. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, Portland defeated Vancouver three games to one and then the Seattle Ironmen four games to two to make it to the PCHL finals. In the finals, Los Angeles swept the Eagles in four games and captured the Philip Henderson Cup.
The next three seasons were not as fruitful for Portland. In 1947-48, the Eagles had their first losing season (17-46-3), finished in last place in their division, and missed the playoffs for the first time. The PCHL owners decided to make the circuit a professional League in 1948-49. The Eagles, who managed a winning record in 1948-49 (32-31-7, fourth place), were swept in the first round of the postseason in three games against New Westminster. The Portland club changes it's name to the Portland Penguins in 1949-50 and finished with a 32-30-9 record (fifth place and out of the playoffs).
In 1950-51, the name Eagles was brought back, and Portland named Tony Hemmerling coach. The club garnered a 30-32-8 record (fourth place) and lost in the opening playoff round in seven against Victoria. The Eagles folded after the 1950-51 season because of financial problems and an arena that was falling apart.
In 1945-46, Portland had a 29-29-0 record with a second place divisional finish. The Eagles defeated the Seattle Ironmen two games to one in the division semifinals that season before losing in the division finals to Vancouver three games to two. The Eagles won the PCHL's Northern division title in 1946-47 with a 39-21-0 record. In the first two rounds of the playoffs, Portland defeated Vancouver three games to one and then the Seattle Ironmen four games to two to make it to the PCHL finals. In the finals, Los Angeles swept the Eagles in four games and captured the Philip Henderson Cup.
The next three seasons were not as fruitful for Portland. In 1947-48, the Eagles had their first losing season (17-46-3), finished in last place in their division, and missed the playoffs for the first time. The PCHL owners decided to make the circuit a professional League in 1948-49. The Eagles, who managed a winning record in 1948-49 (32-31-7, fourth place), were swept in the first round of the postseason in three games against New Westminster. The Portland club changes it's name to the Portland Penguins in 1949-50 and finished with a 32-30-9 record (fifth place and out of the playoffs).
In 1950-51, the name Eagles was brought back, and Portland named Tony Hemmerling coach. The club garnered a 30-32-8 record (fourth place) and lost in the opening playoff round in seven against Victoria. The Eagles folded after the 1950-51 season because of financial problems and an arena that was falling apart.