Capital District Islanders
Encyclopedia
The Capital District Islanders were a team in the American Hockey League
based in Troy, New York
, which is located within a region popularly called the Capital District
. The Islanders were the principal minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League
's New York Islanders
during the 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons.
When the International Hockey League expanded eastward out of its Great Lakes stronghold to move the Fort Wayne Komets
to Albany, New York
(the Albany Choppers
), despite the AHL already having an established team in the Hudson Valley — the Adirondack Red Wings
in Glens Falls, New York
— AHL management attempted to sabotage the move by locating another team in the Albany area. The Islanders switched its affiliation from the then-Calder Cup
champion Springfield Indians
, to the expansion Capital District Islanders franchise to play out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
's Houston Field House
on its Troy campus. In the ensuing price and attendance wars, the Choppers folded midseason.
The Islanders' best record was in the 1993 season, when the team finished 34-34-12 for 3rd place in its division and a playoff berth. Among the team's notable players were Greg Parks
, its leading career scorer in only one and a half seasons; forwards Richard Kromm
and Brent Grieve
, defensemen Dennis Vaske
, Jeff Finley
and Dean Chynoweth
and goaltender Danny Lorenz
.
In 1993, the owner of the Islanders, Capital District automobile dealer Michael Cantanucci, sold the franchise to local insurance magnate Albert Lawrence. Lawrence renamed the team the Albany River Rats
, changed its affiliation to the New Jersey Devils
, and moved the team to Albany's Knickerbocker Arena, the same arena in which the Albany Choppers played in 1990. The current AHL
affiliation of the New York Islanders
is the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
.
Playoffs
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
based in Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, which is located within a region popularly called the Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
. The Islanders were the principal minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
's New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
during the 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 seasons.
When the International Hockey League expanded eastward out of its Great Lakes stronghold to move the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
to Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
(the Albany Choppers
Albany Choppers
The Albany Choppers was an independent professional ice hockey team competing in the International Hockey League during the 1990–1991 season. The franchise originally existed as the Fort Wayne Komets, whose owner, David Welker, opted to move his franchise to Albany, New York and its brand-new...
), despite the AHL already having an established team in the Hudson Valley — the Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
in Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
— AHL management attempted to sabotage the move by locating another team in the Albany area. The Islanders switched its affiliation from the then-Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
champion Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
, to the expansion Capital District Islanders franchise to play out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Stephen Van Rensselaer established the Rensselaer School on November 5, 1824 with a letter to the Rev. Dr. Samuel Blatchford, in which van Rensselaer asked Blatchford to serve as the first president. Within the letter he set down several orders of business. He appointed Amos Eaton as the school's...
's Houston Field House
Houston Field House
Houston Field House is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. It is the second oldest arena in the ECAC Hockey League behind Princeton University's Hobey Baker Memorial Rink.It is also the nations third oldest hockey rink behind Northeasterns...
on its Troy campus. In the ensuing price and attendance wars, the Choppers folded midseason.
The Islanders' best record was in the 1993 season, when the team finished 34-34-12 for 3rd place in its division and a playoff berth. Among the team's notable players were Greg Parks
Greg Parks
Gregory Roy Parks is a former Canadian ice hockey player. He won a silver medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics. He would also play 23 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders-External links:...
, its leading career scorer in only one and a half seasons; forwards Richard Kromm
Richard Kromm
Richard Gordon "Rich" Kromm was a Canadian American ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames and the New York Islanders....
and Brent Grieve
Brent Grieve
Brent J. Grieve is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left wing and coach. He was selected in the 4th round of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, 65th overall, by the New York Islanders and played 97 NHL games with the Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings, as well as...
, defensemen Dennis Vaske
Dennis Vaske
Dennis James Vaske is a retired American ice hockey defenseman.Vaske started his National Hockey League career with the New York Islanders in 1991. He also played for the Boston Bruins. He retired after the 1999 season. He is currently the head coach of the Chicago Fury's midget major...
, Jeff Finley
Jeff Finley
John Jeffrey Finley is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and current assistant coach for the WHL Kelowna Rockets.-Career:...
and Dean Chynoweth
Dean Chynoweth
Dean Chynoweth is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the New York Islanders and the Boston Bruins. Drafted 13th overall by the Islanders in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, Chynoweth played 241 regular season games in 10 NHL seasons, scoring 4 goals and...
and goaltender Danny Lorenz
Danny Lorenz
Danny Lorenz is a retired ice hockey goaltender. He played in eight NHL games for the New York Islanders. He is now a youth hockey director of the Kent Valley Hockey Association in Kent, Washington....
.
In 1993, the owner of the Islanders, Capital District automobile dealer Michael Cantanucci, sold the franchise to local insurance magnate Albert Lawrence. Lawrence renamed the team the Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
, changed its affiliation to the New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and moved the team to Albany's Knickerbocker Arena, the same arena in which the Albany Choppers played in 1990. The current AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
affiliation of the New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
is the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League. It has been the AHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's New York Islanders, who also own the franchise, since its inception, and use the same team colors as the parent Islanders do. The team is based in...
.
Season-by-season results
Regular season| Season Season (sports) In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an... | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–91 1990–91 AHL season The 1990–91 AHL season was the 55th season of the American Hockey League. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
80 | 28 | 43 | 9 | 65 | 284 | 323 | 7th, South |
| 1991–92 1991–92 AHL season The 1991–92 AHL season was the 56th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns from divisions into three divisions, creating the new Atlantic division. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Fredericton Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season... |
80 | 32 | 37 | 11 | 75 | 261 | 289 | 4th, North |
| 1992–93 1992–93 AHL season The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... |
80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 80 | 280 | 285 | 3rd, North |
Playoffs
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–91 1990–91 AHL season The 1990–91 AHL season was the 55th season of the American Hockey League. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season... |
Out of playoffs | |||
| 1991–92 1991–92 AHL season The 1991–92 AHL season was the 56th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns from divisions into three divisions, creating the new Atlantic division. Fifteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Fredericton Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season... |
L, 3-4, Springfield Springfield Indians The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with... |
— | — | — |
| 1992–93 1992–93 AHL season The 1992–93 AHL season was the 57th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Binghamton Rangers finished first overall in the regular season with 124 points, a which holds to this day... |
L, 0-4, Adirondack Adirondack Red Wings The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — |