1946–47 Tri-Cities Blackhawks season

The 1946–47 season was the only season under the Buffalo Bisons name, as well as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks' inaugural season in the National Basketball League (NBL). The team originally began play as the Buffalo Bisons, based in Buffalo, New York, but moved during the middle of the season (after only 13 games played in 1946[1]) to Moline, Illinois on Christmas Day, becoming the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.[2] Due to the sudden nature of their move from Buffalo to Moline, the Blackhawks (now known as the Atlanta Hawks) inherited the original 5-8 record of the Bisons, as well as their brief history of existence there.

1946–47 Tri-Cities Blackhawks season
Head coachNat Hickey
ArenaBuffalo Memorial Auditorium
Wharton Field House
Results
Record19–25 (.432)
PlaceDivision: 5th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Roster
Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks 1946-47 roster
Players
Pos.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
C - FAnthony, Paul6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg)1924-01-23Washington & Jefferson
F - GGates, William6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)205 lb (93 kg)1917-08-30Franklin HS (NY)
GGauchat, Leon6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)180 lb (82 kg)1921-03-05Canisius
F - GGrenert, Albert6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)190 lb (86 kg)1919-07-08NYU
F - CGrunzweig, Nicholas6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)215 lb (98 kg)1918-07-21Niagara
GHassett, Billy5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)185 lb (84 kg)1921-10-21Notre Dame
G - FHickey, Nat5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)180 lb (82 kg)1902-01-30Hoboken HS (NJ)
F - CLewinski , Edmund6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)210 lb (95 kg)1918-09-10Bowen HS (IL)
GMoeller, Edward6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg)1919-01-08Ohio State
COtten, Don6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg)1921-04-18Bowling Green
G - FRader, Howie6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)190 lb (86 kg)1921-03-29LIU Brooklyn
G - FRader, Leonard6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)185 lb (84 kg)1921-03-29LIU Brooklyn
F - GRooney, Pat6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)--Erasmus Hall HS (NY)
F - GSchu, Wilbur6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)1922-12-18Kentucky
GSiegel, Victor5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)160 lb (73 kg)1920-08-24Iowa
C - FSims, Bob6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)220 lb (100 kg)1915-07-03Western Michigan
GStarzyk, Richard5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)180 lb (82 kg)1921-03-21DePaul
GThurston, Mel6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)175 lb (79 kg)1919-01-16Canisius
GWaxman, Stanley5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)180 lb (82 kg)1922-05-20LIU Brooklyn

Regular season

The Buffalo Bisons won its first game 50–39 over the Syracuse Nationals on November 8, 1946.[3] The team's last Buffalo appearance was a 50–38 loss to the Sheboygan Red Skins on December 16. The Bisons left town for a December road trip with their future in doubt; the team struggled to draw crowds in Buffalo, and two of their scheduled home games were canceled. On December 25, it was announced that the franchise was moving to Moline, where they finished the season as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. The Blackhawks missed the postseason with a 19–25 record (5–8 in Buffalo and 14–17 in Moline).[4]

Eastern Division standings
Pos.Eastern DivisionWinsLossesWin %
1Rochester Royals3113.705
2Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons2519.568
T–3Syracuse Nationals2123.477
Toledo Jeeps2123.477
5Buffalo Bisons /
Tri-Cities Blackhawks‡		1925.432
6Youngstown Bears1232.273
‡ After 13 games the franchise moved from New York to Illinois.

Playoffs

Did not qualify

Awards and records

None

References
  1. Buffalo Bisons HISTORY
  2. 1946–47 NBL season
  3. Team that's now Atlanta Hawks bailed on Buffalo 70 years ago
  4. 1946-47 Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks
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