Billings Bulls
Encyclopedia
The Billings Bulls are a Tier III Junior A
ice hockey
team currently playing in the American West Hockey League
. The Bulls are based in Billings, Montana
and play home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena, due to the size, the Bulls frequently sell out games and broadcast their games on internet radio. They previously played their home games in the Metrapark which had a max capacity of 9,000 for hockey games. However, a negotiating dispute with arena officials and local county commissioners resulted in the team losing its lease.
in 2003 when the AWHL merged with the NAHL. The team played in the NAHL from 2003-2006 when they and rivals Bozeman Icedogs
left to join the Northern Pacific Hockey League
. When they joined the NORPAC, the league was Tier III Jr. B but has since been sanctioned as a Tier III Jr A league by USA Hockey
.
While in Junior A the Bulls have compiled a 459-216-54 record (as of October 8, 2007). They amassed a 16-28 record while in Junior B.
The Bulls pro affiliate is the Battle Creek Revolution
of the AAHA
.
players.
Junior ice hockey
Junior hockey is a catch-all term used to describe various levels of ice hockey competition for players generally between 16 and 20 years of age...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team currently playing in the American West Hockey League
American West Hockey League
The American West Hockey League is an American Tier III junior ice hockey league based in Montana and Wyoming. The league is a member of USA Hockey and was founded in 2011.-History:...
. The Bulls are based in Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
and play home games at the 550-seat Centennial Ice Arena, due to the size, the Bulls frequently sell out games and broadcast their games on internet radio. They previously played their home games in the Metrapark which had a max capacity of 9,000 for hockey games. However, a negotiating dispute with arena officials and local county commissioners resulted in the team losing its lease.
Franchise History
The Bulls joined the American Frontier Hockey League in 1993, the league changed names in 1998 to the America West Hockey League. The Bulls joined the Tier II Jr. A North American Hockey LeagueNorth American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...
in 2003 when the AWHL merged with the NAHL. The team played in the NAHL from 2003-2006 when they and rivals Bozeman Icedogs
Bozeman Icedogs
The Bozeman Icedogs are a Tier III Junior A ice hockey team located in Bozeman, Montana. The team is a member of the American West Hockey League . The Icedogs play home games at the Haynes Pavilion located at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds....
left to join the Northern Pacific Hockey League
Northern Pacific Hockey League
The Northern Pacific Hockey League is an American Tier III Junior A ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. Its championship trophy is the Cascade Cup.-Current teams:-Suspended teams:...
. When they joined the NORPAC, the league was Tier III Jr. B but has since been sanctioned as a Tier III Jr A league by USA Hockey
USA Hockey
USA Hockey is recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the United States Olympic Committee as the governing body for amateur ice hockey in the United States and is a member of the International Ice Hockey Federation. The organization is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and has...
.
While in Junior A the Bulls have compiled a 459-216-54 record (as of October 8, 2007). They amassed a 16-28 record while in Junior B.
The Bulls pro affiliate is the Battle Creek Revolution
Battle Creek Revolution
The Battle Creek Revolution are a professional ice hockey team which plays in the All American Hockey League. The team plays its home games at Revolution Arena in Battle Creek, Michigan.-2010-2011 Roster:-Regular season:-External links:***...
of the AAHA
All American Hockey Association
The All American Hockey League was a lower level professional ice hockey league with teams in the Midwestern United States. After finishing the 2010-2011 season with only two remaining teams after starting with five, on June 16, 2011 the league announced it will suspend its operations for the...
.
Notable alumni
The franchise has developed a number of collegiate and professionalProfessional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
players.
- Brandon Polich F (Colorado CollegeColorado CollegeThe Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell...
) - Chris HoltChris Holt (hockey)Chris Holt is an American professional hockey goaltender currently with Dinamo Riga in the Kontinental Hockey League. He has played for the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League....
, G (University of Nebraska-Omaha, currently with Dinamo RigaDinamo RigaDinamo Riga was an ice hockey club, based in Riga, Latvia. It was founded in 1946 and disestablished in 1995 as Pārdaugava Rīga.-History of Dinamo Riga:...
) - Kevin Ulanski, C (University of DenverUniversity of DenverThe University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings....
, currently with Colorado EaglesColorado EaglesThe Colorado Eagles are a professional ice hockey team based in Loveland, Colorado. The Eagles play in the Mountain Division of the ECHL's Western Conference, where they serve as the "Double-A" affiliate of the National Hockey League's Winnipeg Jets and the American Hockey League's St. John's IceCaps...
) - Tom Reimann, D (University of MaineUniversity of MaineThe University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
, last with Rocky Mountain RageRocky Mountain RageThe Rocky Mountain Rage are an inactive professional ice hockey team in the Central Hockey League. Their first season was in 2006-07. They played their home games at the Broomfield Event Center in Broomfield, Colorado...
) - Dan Knapp, D (University of Nebraska-OmahaUniversity of Nebraska at OmahaThe University of Nebraska at Omaha is a four-year state university located in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Founded in 1908 as Omaha University, the institution became the public Municipal University of Omaha in 1931. It assumed its current name in 1968 following a merger into the University...
, currently with Ontario ReignOntario ReignThe Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
) - Trevor Hammer, D (University of North DakotaUniversity of North DakotaThe University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, last with the Florida SealsFlorida SealsThe Florida Seals was a minor league ice hockey franchise, a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League . Originally based in Orlando, Florida, they later moved to Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb thirty miles south of Orlando in Osceola County...
) - Jon Booras, F (Lake Superior State UniversityLake Superior State UniversityLake Superior State University is a small public university in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. It is Michigan's smallest public university with an enrollment around 3,000 students. Due to its proximity to the border, notably the twin city of Sault Ste...
, currently with Bloomington Prairie ThunderBloomington Prairie ThunderThe Bloomington PrairieThunder was a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Bloomington, Illinois. They were a member of the Central Hockey League in the Turner Conference. The team was originally a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010. They...
) - John Sullivan, F (Clarkson UniversityClarkson University-The Clarkson School:The Clarkson School, a special division of Clarkson University, was founded in 1978 as a unique educational opportunity. The School offers students an early entrance opportunity into college, replacing the typical senior year of high school with a year of college...
) - Matt Charbonneau, D (currently with Air ForceUnited States Air Force AcademyThe United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
) - Martin Husicka, D/F (University of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
) - Dusty Jackson, F (Denver University)
- Jon Cook, D (Denver University)
- Matt Becker, F (Air Force AcademyAir force academyAn air force academy or air academy is a national institution that provides initial officer training, possibly including undergraduate level education, to air force officer cadets who air preparting to be commissioned officers in a national air force...
) - Sean Bertsch, F (Air Force AcademyAir force academyAn air force academy or air academy is a national institution that provides initial officer training, possibly including undergraduate level education, to air force officer cadets who air preparting to be commissioned officers in a national air force...
)