The Seattle Totems were a minor league professional ice hockey team in Seattle from 1944 to 1975, playing at the Civic Ice Arena and later the Seattle Center Coliseum. The team had several names in its first years – the Seattle Ironmen (1944-52), the Seattle Bombers (1952-54), and the Seattle Americans (1955-58) – before settling on the name Seattle Totems in 1958. The team collapsed in 1975 amid financial difficulties and a failed attempt to join the major league National Hockey League.

This image shows a moment from the game between the Totems and the Victoria Cougars on April 2, 1961, which the Totems won 8-5. Seattle player Guyle Fielder (center, white jersey) is seen passing to teammate Tommy McVie (far left), who scored immediately after the photo was taken. Fielder assisted with another Seattle goal and scored himself 10 seconds before the game ended. Fielder was one of the Totems’ most popular players, and before the game’s third period, he was honored for his accomplishments and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Caption information source: “Totes trim Victoria, 8-5” by Harold Torbergson, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, April 3, 1961, page 22.