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Remembering the Houston Luckies
by Debi Smith (Osborne)
They were the Houston Luckies, but luck alone had nothing to do with it.. For twelve years these non-pro players, aged 15 to 26 , packed arenas around the Pacific Northwest, competing in some of the greatest hockey ever witnessed.

They were so good, so fast, that the Pacific Northwest Hockey League (PNHL) quickly grew from a few teams to ten teams; everyone wanting a try at the guys who were taking the north by storm.
The Houston Luckies, many-time Fowler Cup Champs (here in 75-76)
One newspaper article stated that "the Montreal Canadians would lose seven out of ten in Houston," such was the faith. But let the record speak for itself. In 1966, the Fowler Cup was inaugurated in memory of A.C. (Fred) Fowler of Smithers as the highest trophy awarded to the winner of the PNHL Championship.

As prestigious as the award was, the PNHL found itself with only two teams in the league by 1968. Executives asked if Houston would be interested in forming a team and as "luck" would have it, the booming logging industry in the area had attracted more than a few interested hockey enthusiasts.
Hockey Night in Houston
The Lucky Lager beer company as well as a great many locals helped to sponsor the new team. At first the Luckies had to borrow equipment and uniforms plus drive to Smithers at least three times a week to practise on artificial ice, but when the 1969-70 season started, they were ready to face-off. They earned second place in the Championship play-offs and a year later took the Fowler Cup home to Houston for the first of many times.

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