The Cougars were a member of the North American Hockey League, and were runners up for the Lockhart Trophy to the Syracuse Blazers in the 1973–74 season.

The Cougars replaced the long-running Long Island Ducks, who had folded earlier in 1973, along with the rest of the Eastern Hockey League (EHL).

[citation needed] Several refugees from the defunct EHL formed the North American Hockey League during the summer of 1973.

Long Island was offered a new franchise to stand in for the Ducks, and took both the nickname and green and gold color scheme from their parent club, the Chicago Cougars of the WHA.

[citation needed] The Cougars played one final year on Long Island during the 1974–75 season, making the playoffs again despite a 29–40–5 record under new coach Ron Racette.