Johnstown Riverhawks
Encyclopedia
| Johnstown Riverhawks | |
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| Founded | 1999 |
| Arena | Cambria County War Memorial Arena Cambria County War Memorial Arena The Cambria County War Memorial Arena is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that is managed by SMG Entertainment. It was built in 1950, for the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League. The film Slap Shot, based on the Jets, was filmed in this arena... |
| Based in | Johnstown, Pennsylvania Johnstown, Pennsylvania Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County... |
| Colors | blue, black, silver |
| League | American Indoor Football Association |
| Head Coach | Tony Penna Jr. |
| President of Football Operations | James Wallace and Mike Dawson |
The Johnstown Riverhawks was a professional indoor football team based out of Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States, west-southwest of Altoona, Pennsylvania and east of Pittsburgh. The population was 20,978 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Cambria County...
. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football Association. They played their home games at Cambria County War Memorial Arena
Cambria County War Memorial Arena
The Cambria County War Memorial Arena is a 4,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that is managed by SMG Entertainment. It was built in 1950, for the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League. The film Slap Shot, based on the Jets, was filmed in this arena...
.
They began play in 1999 as the Topeka Knights of the Indoor Football League
Indoor Football League
The Indoor Football League began in 1999 as an offshoot of the troubled Professional Indoor Football League. Keary Ecklund, the owner of the Green Bay Bombers and Madison Mad Dogs, left the PIFL after its first, financially-troubled, season to start his own league. Unlike the PIFL, the IFL was an...
. They missed the playoffs in their inaugural season, finishing third in the Northern Division at 6-6. During the second season, the team changed ownership and became the Topeka Kings. The team finished with a much better record, going 10-4 and winning the Western Conference, Southern Division championship. In the playoffs, they defeated the Black Hills Machine
Rapid City Flying Aces
The Rapid City Flying Aces is a professional indoor American football team in Rapid City, South Dakota. Like their predecessors, the Black Hills Red Dogs, they play their home games at the Don Barnett Arena in Rapid City. As of April 2007 The Flying Aces did not belong to any football league...
in the quarterfinal round before losing to the Bismarck Blaze
Bismarck Blaze
The Bismarck Blaze are a now-defunct indoor football team from Bismarck, North Dakota. They were a 2000 expansion member of the Indoor Football League. During their only year of existence, the Blaze won their division and made it all the way to the Gold Cup, yet fell to the Pirates of Peoria...
in the semifinals.
After the season, they moved to Knoxville
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
became the Tennessee ThunderCats, and moved to the Indoor Professional Football League
Indoor Professional Football League
The Indoor Professional Football League was the new incarnation of the Professional Indoor Football League , which started in 1998. Two of its teams left the league and their owner, Kerry Ecklund, founded the Indoor Football League in 1999...
. They would impressively win the league championship in their first year. After the IPFL folded, the ThunderCats moved to the NIFL
National Indoor Football League
National Indoor Football League was a professional indoor football league in the United States. For their first six years, the league had teams in markets not covered by either the Arena Football League or its developmental league, af2, however, that changed briefly with their expansion into AFL...
. During their tenure in the league, they had decent success in 2002, not-so decent success as the Tennessee Riverhawks in 2003.
In 2004, when they were the Greenville Riverhawks, their ownership folded after three games. They moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
and played their remaining games. Then, they were founded by Andrew Haines, owner of the American Indoor Football league the team was purchased by Brian Schwelling of Atlanta, Georgia in February 2005. Schwelling operated the team successfully until September of that same year when the team was sold to Michael Dawson. Schwelling was successful in bringing the Riverhawks to the semifinal game in the team's inaugural season.
On March 4, 2006, the Riverhawks won their first game of their second season on the road 21-14 against the Steubenville Stampede
Steubenville Stampede
The Steubenville Stampede was an indoor football franchise, most recently a member of the Continental Indoor Football League. They played their home games at the St. John Arena in Steubenville, Ohio.-2006 season:...
, which made AIFL history by becoming the lowest scoring game in the league's 2-year existence.
On March 26, 2006, the Riverhawks lost the AIFL's very first overtime game 41-38 against the Reading Express
Reading Express
The Reading Express are a professional indoor football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Indoor Football League, having begun play as a member of the American Indoor Football League 2006...
at home.
In the 2008 season, the Riverhawks ended their contract with the Johnstown War Memorial.
AIFL owner Andrew Haines announced he was relaunching the defunct AIFL as the Ultimate Indoor Football League
Ultimate Indoor Football League
The Ultimate Indoor Football League is a regional professional indoor football league that began its inaugural season on February 18, 2011.-History:...
in the 2011 season (the AIFA is technically a separate league with different owners founded to avoid Haines's legal troubles), and would be bringing back Johnstown in the process. The revived team will bear the name "Johnstown Generals."
2001 Tennessee ThunderCats IPFL Schedule
Week 1 – Tennessee ThunderCats 52, Trenton LightningTrenton Lightning
The Trenton Lightning were an indoor professional football team founded in 2000 by owner/general manager, Phillip J. Subhan and local businessman, Kenneth Samu...
25
Week 2 – Tennessee ThunderCats 34, St. Louis Renegades 28
Week 3 – Tennessee ThunderCats 42, Boise Stallions
Boise Stallions
The Boise Stallions are a now-defunct indoor football team from Boise, Idaho. They were a charter member of the Indoor Professional Football League. They originally began as the Idaho Stallions. Throughout their three seasons, the Stallions had very little success. When the league folded, the...
29
Week 4 - bye
Week 5 – Tennessee ThunderCats 39, Trenton Lightning
Trenton Lightning
The Trenton Lightning were an indoor professional football team founded in 2000 by owner/general manager, Phillip J. Subhan and local businessman, Kenneth Samu...
26
Week 6 – Tennessee ThunderCats 41, Trenton Lightning
Trenton Lightning
The Trenton Lightning were an indoor professional football team founded in 2000 by owner/general manager, Phillip J. Subhan and local businessman, Kenneth Samu...
24
Week 7 – Tennessee ThunderCats 40, St. Louis Renegades 23
Week 8 – Omaha Beef
Omaha Beef
The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . They play their home games at Omaha Civic Auditorium, which was also once the home of the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and is now the home of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey...
72, Tennessee ThunderCats 50
Week 9 – Tennessee ThunderCats 47, St. Louis Renegades 44
Week 10 – Omaha Beef
Omaha Beef
The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . They play their home games at Omaha Civic Auditorium, which was also once the home of the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and is now the home of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey...
56, Tennessee ThunderCats 29
Week 11 – Omaha Beef
Omaha Beef
The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . They play their home games at Omaha Civic Auditorium, which was also once the home of the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and is now the home of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey...
54, Tennessee ThunderCats 32
Week 12 – Boise Stallions
Boise Stallions
The Boise Stallions are a now-defunct indoor football team from Boise, Idaho. They were a charter member of the Indoor Professional Football League. They originally began as the Idaho Stallions. Throughout their three seasons, the Stallions had very little success. When the league folded, the...
40, Tennessee ThunderCats 38
Week 13 – Tennessee ThunderCats 61, Omaha Beef
Omaha Beef
The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . They play their home games at Omaha Civic Auditorium, which was also once the home of the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and is now the home of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey...
34
Week 14 – Tennessee ThunderCats 35, St. Louis Renegades 10
Week 15 - bye
Week 16 – Tennessee ThunderCats 53, Boise Stallions
Boise Stallions
The Boise Stallions are a now-defunct indoor football team from Boise, Idaho. They were a charter member of the Indoor Professional Football League. They originally began as the Idaho Stallions. Throughout their three seasons, the Stallions had very little success. When the league folded, the...
9
Week 17 – bye
Week 18 – Tennessee ThunderCats vs. Boise Stallions
Boise Stallions
The Boise Stallions are a now-defunct indoor football team from Boise, Idaho. They were a charter member of the Indoor Professional Football League. They originally began as the Idaho Stallions. Throughout their three seasons, the Stallions had very little success. When the league folded, the...
– Cancelled
Week 19 – Tennessee ThunderCats 43, St. Louis Renegades 27
IPFL Championship - Tennessee ThunderCats 47, Omaha Beef
Omaha Beef
The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . They play their home games at Omaha Civic Auditorium, which was also once the home of the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and is now the home of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey...
38
Season-By-Season
|-| colspan="6" align="center" | Topeka Knights (IFL)
|-
|1999 || 6 || 6 || 0 || 3rd Northern || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Topeka Knights/Kings (IFL)
|-
|2000 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 1st WC Southern || Won Quarterfinal (B.H. Machine
Rapid City Flying Aces
The Rapid City Flying Aces is a professional indoor American football team in Rapid City, South Dakota. Like their predecessors, the Black Hills Red Dogs, they play their home games at the Don Barnett Arena in Rapid City. As of April 2007 The Flying Aces did not belong to any football league...
)
Lost Semifinal (Bismarck
Bismarck Blaze
The Bismarck Blaze are a now-defunct indoor football team from Bismarck, North Dakota. They were a 2000 expansion member of the Indoor Football League. During their only year of existence, the Blaze won their division and made it all the way to the Gold Cup, yet fell to the Pirates of Peoria...
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Tennessee ThunderCats (IPFL)
|-
|2001 || 11 || 4 || 0 || 2nd League || Won IPFL Championship (Omaha
Omaha Beef
The Omaha Beef are a professional indoor football team. They are a member of the Indoor Football League . They play their home games at Omaha Civic Auditorium, which was also once the home of the AHL's Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights and is now the home of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey...
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Tennessee ThunderCats (NIFL)
|-
|2002 || 10 || 4 || 0 || 2nd AC Northern || Won Round 1 (Lake Charles
Lake Charles Land Sharks
The Lake Charles Land Sharks were an indoor football team. They were a charter member of the National Indoor Football League. They played their home games at the Sudduth Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana...
)
Lost AC Quarterfinal (Ohio Valley
Ohio Valley Greyhounds
The Ohio Valley Greyhounds were a professional indoor football team. They began play in 1999 as the Steel Valley Smash, a charter member of the IFL. After the league folded, they moved to the NIFL, became a charter member, and renamed themselves as the Ohio Valley Greyhounds...
)
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Tennessee Riverhawks (NIFL)
|-
|2003 || 6 || 8 || 0 || 5th AC Eastern || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Greenville Riverhawks (NIFL)
|-
|2004 || 0 || 4 || 0 || 5th AC Eastern || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Johnstown Riverhawks (AIFL)
|-
|2005 || 6 || 4 || 0 || 3rd League || Lost League Semifinals (Richmond
Richmond Bandits
The Richmond Bandits were an indoor football team. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football League. In 2005, the Bandits defeated the Erie Freeze to win the AIFL's first-ever American Bowl, completing the year with a combined record of 11-1...
)
|-
|2006 || 8 || 5 || 0 || 5th Northern || --
|-
| colspan="6" align="center" | Johnstown Riverhawks (AIFA)
|-
|2007 || 6 || 9 || 0 || 5th Northern || --
|-
|2008 || rowspan="1" colspan="5" style="text-align: center;" valign="middle" |Did Not Play
|-
!Totals || 66 || 51 || 0
|colspan="2"| (including playoffs)
2007 Season Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Home Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... /Away Home team In team sports, the term home advantage describes the advantage–usually a psychological advantage–that the home team is said to have over the visiting team as a result of playing in familiar facilities and in front of supportive fans... |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 2 | Canton Legends Canton Legends The Canton Legends was a professional indoor football team based out of Canton, Ohio. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football Association, which played their first season under the name Atlantic Indoor Football League, and their second season as the American Indoor Football... |
Home | Lost 46-60 |
| February 9 | Huntington Heroes Huntington Heroes The Huntington Heroes were a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. The Heroes played their home games during their inaugural 2006 season at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia before moving to the larger Big Sandy... |
Home | Lost 24-35 |
| February 23 | Danville Demolition Danville Demolition The Danville Demolition were an American Indoor Football Association team played in 2007. The team played their home games at the David S. Palmer Arena.- History :... |
Away | Won 39-16 |
| March 4 | Erie Freeze Erie Freeze The Erie Freeze was an American indoor football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania.They were an original member of the American Indoor Football League in 2005, and advanced to the first AIFL Championship Game. When the league was reorganized into the American Indoor Football Association in 2007, they... |
Away | Won 44-42 |
| March 17 | Pittsburgh RiverRats Pittsburgh RiverRats The Erie Explosion is a professional indoor football team. It is a member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, and plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.-History:... |
Home | Won 43-13 |
| March 24 | Huntington Heroes Huntington Heroes The Huntington Heroes were a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. The Heroes played their home games during their inaugural 2006 season at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia before moving to the larger Big Sandy... |
Away | Lost 22-47 |
| March 30 | Pittsburgh RiverRats Pittsburgh RiverRats The Erie Explosion is a professional indoor football team. It is a member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League, and plays its home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena in Erie, Pennsylvania.-History:... |
Away | Lost 42-47 |
| April 7 | Reading Express Reading Express The Reading Express are a professional indoor football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Indoor Football League, having begun play as a member of the American Indoor Football League 2006... |
Home | Lost 33-55 |
| April 14 | Danville Demolition Danville Demolition The Danville Demolition were an American Indoor Football Association team played in 2007. The team played their home games at the David S. Palmer Arena.- History :... |
Home | Won 40-8 |
| April 28 | Erie Freeze Erie Freeze The Erie Freeze was an American indoor football team based in Erie, Pennsylvania.They were an original member of the American Indoor Football League in 2005, and advanced to the first AIFL Championship Game. When the league was reorganized into the American Indoor Football Association in 2007, they... |
Home | Won 63-21 |
| May 5 | Tallahassee Titans Tallahassee Titans The Tallahassee Titans were an American Indoor Football Association team that began play as a 2007 member. The team played its home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida.-History:... |
Home | Lost 60-67 |
| May 12 | Reading Express Reading Express The Reading Express are a professional indoor football team based out of Reading, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the Indoor Football League, having begun play as a member of the American Indoor Football League 2006... |
Away | Lost 16-76 |
| May 18 | Canton Legends Canton Legends The Canton Legends was a professional indoor football team based out of Canton, Ohio. They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football Association, which played their first season under the name Atlantic Indoor Football League, and their second season as the American Indoor Football... |
Away | Lost 16-38 |
| May 25 | Montgomery Bears Montgomery Bears The Montgomery Bears were a professional indoor football team that played their home games at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, Alabama. They are a member of the American Indoor Football Association. The team began play as the Montgomery Maulers of the National Indoor Football League and won the... |
Away | Lost 9-32 |
| June 1 | Baltimore Blackbirds Baltimore Blackbirds The Baltimore Blackbirds were an indoor football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They played the 2007 season as an expansion member of the American Indoor Football Association, at the 1st Mariner Arena.-History:... |
Away | Won 19-17 |