There have been many bad teams in hockey history, but this 2010 archived story profiled a team so bad, all 17 games of their history were stripped from the standings.

There have been many terrible teams in hockey history. But this season marks the 40th anniversary of one that was so bad that it was struck from the record.

In this feature story from The Hockey News’ Jan. 25, 2010, edition, longtime THN editor Brian Costello wrote about what’s considered the worst hockey team ever – the Plattsburgh Pioneers.

(And here’s our friendly reminder to you: to access The Hockey News Archive, visit THN.com/Free and subscribe to our magazine.)

The Pioneers lived up to their name as the first American team in the QMJHL in 1984-85. But what happened next was so bad, the tireless coach-GM-owner of the team preferred not to talk about it in 2010. 

Longtime NHL assistant coach John Torchetti was a Pioneers player, however, and he said he felt sorry for the owner who did pretty much everything.

“Things were completely dysfunctional,” Torchetti told Costello.

Here's the full story. - Adam Proteau

THE WORST TEAM EVER

Vol. 65, No. 15, Jan. 25, 2010

By Brian Costello

They were quite literally the worst team in the history of organized hockey. They were disorganized, they were dysfunctional. Before they even won a single game in the Quebec League in 1984-85, they were taken out behind the barn and put down.

It’s the 25-year anniversary of the miserable Plattsburgh Pioneers, but you won’t find anyone raising a glass to make a toast. Not the fans, not the New York state community, not the players, not the team founder.

“That was a bad situation, I’d rather not talk about it,” said team coach-GM-owner Denis Methot, now 65, when asked to reminisce. “I’ve got nothing to say.”

The trailblazing Pioneers were the QMJHL’s first foray into the United States. Dr. Methot, a former university sports science teacher from Trois-Rivieres, Que., saw potential in the city of 35,000, a one-hour drive south of Montreal. He helped finance $500,000 in the project and was sure it would be a hit.

“Problem was, major junior wasn’t as big in the U.S.,” said Chicago Blackhawks assistant coach John Torchetti, who played eight games with the miserable Pioneers team. “Hockey fans there followed the Plattsburgh Cardinals (Div. 3 of NCAA). There wasn’t interest in the Pioneers.”

The biggest flaw with the Pioneers was their mandate to ice a team made up exclusively of U.S.-born players. Methot recruited prep schools in the eight northeastern states and jury-rigged a roster of 17 willing young Americans. It was a disaster waiting to happen.

The high point was Game 1 at home. A 7-6 overtime loss to Hull was witnessed by 1,500 fans. It was the only point the Pioneers would earn when the plug was pulled after 17 games. Before the team was even two weeks old, it had lost 13-0 to Laval, 15-2 to St-Jean and 15-2 to Verdun.

“Things were completely dysfunctional,” Torchetti said. “It was a horrible environment to be a part of.”

Not only was Methot the coach-GM-owner, he handled the recruiting and did all the marketing and administrative duties as well. Plagued with financial troubles and owing money to the city for rental agreements, he hoped solid attendance figures would allow the team to grow organically.

After seven games, the QMJHL’s board gave Methot a list of things to shore up and a one-week deadline. “The problem is the structure of his organization,” QMJHL president Gus Morissette told The Hockey News in 1984. “He’s doing too much himself. He’s a one-man show. You can’t run practice and look for players at the same time. (We) gave him a week to get a secretary, coach and more players.”

Methot complained the league wasn’t offering guidance. “They could have given us direction on how to operate,” Methot told THN in October of 1984. “It’s hard to find a secretary (in Plattsburgh) who speaks and reads French. All communications from the league are in French.”

Things continued to spiral downward – losses of 17-1 to Granby, 11-1 to Hull. The next five games were lost by a margin of 73-9. Average attendance slipped to 500 after nine home games. Methot was ejected from one game when he sent out the backup goalie to serve a penalty given to the starting goaltender.

“I had to leave,” Torchetti said. “It was a bad situation getting worse. Going there was the first big decision I made in life and my parents let me make it on my own. It was Plattsburgh or West Point (U.S. military academy) and become a pilot. I gave up my college (playing) eligibility to go there.”

The Pioneers soon flamed out. An Oct. 27 game versus St-Jean was postponed when a compressor broke at Plattsburgh’s Crete Center. A 9-3 loss in Drummondville the next day was the 17th straight and mercifully final loss when the league disbanded the team due to financial considerations. The Pioneers were outscored 185-56 in those 17 games. Goalie Frank Currie had a 13.86 goals-against average and .718 save percentage in seven games.

So disgusted was the QMJHL, it stripped every Plattsburgh game from the standings. Scoring stats in games against the Pioneers were purged as well. It was as though the team never existed. (The stats you see in this story came from THN’s archives.)

“I felt so sorry for Mr. Methot, it wasn’t his fault,” Torchetti said. “He did everything to make it work. He was a nice person. This whole thing just drained him.”

Methot returned to Trois-Rivieres, while 12 players went to other teams in major junior, four turned pro in the low minors and six never again played at the junior level or higher. Torchetti had the most notable career, playing seven years in the low minors.

“I wouldn’t say it was all bad,” Torchetti said. “I learned about extremes and dealing with the emotional swings of extremes. Being in that situation got me thinking like a coach. It got me thinking in a detail-oriented way.

“And I still keep in touch with some guys from that team, guys like Louis Finocchiaro, Scott Rettew and Ed Considine. We don’t talk about Plattsburgh, but we talk.”

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