Manhattan has the Rangers, and Brooklyn has the Islanders (for now). But did you know there was another Brooklyn team that took the ice in years past?

For one night at the Brooklyn Historical Society, Brooklyn hockey fans can enjoy a glide down memory lane at the premiere of “Only the Dead Know the Brooklyn Americans.” The documentary film by Dale Morrissey explores the history of New York’s “other” hockey club, the Brooklyn Americans.

brooklyn americans historical society documentary film eagle
1941 team members. Image via Brooklyn Eagle

The team played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League, 16 of them as the New York Americans and only one season as the Brooklyn Americans. During the 1941-42 season, the team moved their practices to Brooklyn, and adopted Brooklyn into their official name.

They had plans to build an arena in Brooklyn (they played their games at Madison Square Garden), but World War II decimated their roster. They folded after the 1942 campaign, and faded away into obscurity over the years.

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Brooklyn was left without the highest level of professional hockey for the next 73 years, until the Islanders marked the return of the NHL in 2015.

The documentary and a talk after with MSG sportscaster Stan Fischler and New York Times hockey writer Allan Kreda will explore the team that was, and what could have been for the squad that preceded even the 90-year-old New York Rangers.

The screening will take place Monday April 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Historical Society. It is free. To RSVP and save your spot for the event, click here.

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