Broome Dusters

Broome Dusters

Founded	1973
Home ice	Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
Based in	Binghamton, New York
Colors	Gold and brown
League	North American Hockey League

The Broome Dusters were an ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, United States at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The team logo was designed by Johnny Hart, artist of the comic strip B.C. and a Binghamton native.

History

The Dusters played in the NAHL, which served as the inspiration for the movie Slap Shot, which includes a "Broome County" team. One scene in the film was specifically drawn from events that occurred in Binghamton. In the movie, the Hanson brothers wear black-rimmed, Coke-bottle eyeglasses, and in one game, get into a fight immediately after the opening faceoff. In reality, both Jeff and Steve Carlson of the Johnstown Jets wore similar glasses, and did get into a long fight right after an opening faceoff. Johnstown Coach Dick Roberge told the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, "We got into Binghamton about two or three weeks before the playoffs. In the team warmup, we're out there and all the Binghamton players came out with the plastic glasses and big noses, every one of them, poking fun at the Carlson brothers. We went back in the dressing room and the boys said, 'Coach, as soon as that puck is dropped, we're pairing up.' We had one heckuva fight. They went about 30 minutes until everyone got tired. We met them again in the finals (1974–75) and beat them four straight."

When the NAHL folded in 1977, the team was replaced by the Binghamton Dusters of the American Hockey League who previously operated as the Providence Reds.