The Philadelphia Firebirds were a minor league professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1974 to 1979, and later the franchise moved to Syracuse, New York, and played one final season as the Syracuse Firebirds. From 1974 to 1977 the Firebirds were a member club of the North American Hockey League. The Firebirds won the Lockhart Cup as NAHL playoff champions in 1976. When the NAHL folded in 1977, the Firebirds then played the American Hockey League from 1977 to 1980. History NAHL, 1974–1977 1974–75 The Firebirds were established for the 1974–75 NAHL season hoping to capitalize on hockey's popularity in Philadelphia. The NHL's Philadelphia Flyers had just won their first Stanley Cup in 1974, and the Philadelphia Civic Center was recently vacated by the WHA's Philadelphia Blazers, making room for a minor league team. Gregg Pilling was named head coach of the Firebirds, and led the team for three seasons. Bob Collyard emerged as the team's scoring leader with 42 goals, 61 assists, and 103 points. The team finished the season second place in the NAHL with a 40–31–3 record and 83 points. The Firebirds faced the seventh place Long Island Cougars in the first round of the playoffs. Philadelphia won the first game 4–2, but lost the next three games in the best-of-five series by scores of 2–3, 2–5 and, 2–8 to finish the season. 1975–76 In the 1975–76 NAHL season, Bob Collyard led the team again in scoring with 45 goals, 84 assists, and 129 points. Michel Plante nearly doubled his previous best season, and scored 52 goals, 66 assists and 118 points. Gord Brooks completed the top line with 39 goals, 54 assists and 93 points. Eleven different Firebirds had double-digit goal totals in the season, including Denis Patry with 37 goals, Pierre Henry with 30 goals, and Randy Osburn with 29 goals. The defence was led by Rychard Campeau with 17 goals, 64 assists, and 81 points; and Mike Penasse with 21 goals, 37 assists and 58 points. The Firebirds scored the second most goals in the league with 373, and earned second place in the west division, and third overall in the NAHL with a 45–29–0 record. The Firebirds faced the west division's third place team, the Erie Blades in the first round of the playoffs. Philadelphia won the first game 10–5, but lost the next two games by scores of