The Syracuse Braves were a minor professional team. They played in the Eastern Professional Hockey League in 1962-63. The Braves had been the Sault Ste. Marie Thunderbirds and were a farm team of the Chicago Blackhawks of the NHL. They were drawing less than 700 fans per game when, on Jan. 1, 1963, they were transferred to St. Louis to become the St. Louis Braves.