Today in history: November 10

Today in Indianapolis hockey history, November 10

1939: The Coliseum opens and Indianapolis sees hockey played for the first time. A packed house of 9,193 -- including 797 in standing-room seats -- shows up to see this new arena and this new sport. The rink is a bit slow from sawdust from the construction, and Capitals coach Herb Lewis is complaining to rink management that the outer wall that surrounds the rink floor was painted maroon -- therefore making it difficult for goaltenders to see the puck in the air (today, it is painted white, just as Lewis requested 72 years ago). The Capitals defeat the Syracuse Stars 5-1. Jimmy Franks posts the win in net, Ron Hudson scores twice, Joe Carveth has a goal and an assist. Don Deacon scord the first goal in the Coliseum on an assist from Eddie Bush at 9:35 of the first period. Capitals defenseman Alex Motter took the first penalty. Today, the Coliseum -- renamed the Pepsi Coliseum in 1990 -- is one of the oldest buildings still in use by an active hockey team in the United States, as the home of the USHL Indiana Ice.