Minnesota Ripknees
Encyclopedia
The Minnesota Ripknees were an American basketball
team of the American Basketball Association
, which briefly joined the Premier Basketball League
after starting play as a member of the ABA in 2006. The team gets its unusual name after "Ripknee", a character in stories (with a hole in the knee of his blue jeans) which former co-owner John Jurewicz used to tell his son, William (also a former co-owner) on long car trips. The team ceased operations after 2008.
They finished their inaugural season 24-8 playing their home games at the Gangelhoff Center
, good for first place in their division. However, a financial dispute prevented the team from participating in the playoffs.
After the season, the team announced they would switch their affiliation to the Premier Basketball League
and they would now be playing at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium
(which previously served as the alternate home of the Minneapolis Lakers, and is right next to the Xcel Energy Center
).
Before the Ripknees could ever take a shot in the PBL, they were sold to Jam Entertainment (owners of the Rochester Fire
, Peoria Kings
, and Rome Legions
). The Ripknees returned to the ABA to play there for the 2007-08 season.
According to a report on Our Sports Central, the Ripknees ceased playing in the ABA before the end of the 2007-2008 season.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association (21st century)
The American Basketball Association, often abbreviated as ABA, is a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976...
, which briefly joined the Premier Basketball League
Premier Basketball League
The Premier Basketball League, often abbreviated to the PBL, is a men's professional basketball minor league in the United States that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season and thirteen teams for the 2009 season. Nine teams from Canada and the United States...
after starting play as a member of the ABA in 2006. The team gets its unusual name after "Ripknee", a character in stories (with a hole in the knee of his blue jeans) which former co-owner John Jurewicz used to tell his son, William (also a former co-owner) on long car trips. The team ceased operations after 2008.
They finished their inaugural season 24-8 playing their home games at the Gangelhoff Center
Gangelhoff Center
Gangelhoff Center is a 3,200-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Concordia University in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was open in 1993. It is the home to Concordia University Golden Bears volleyball and basketball teams and was home to the Minnesota Ripknees during their one season in the...
, good for first place in their division. However, a financial dispute prevented the team from participating in the playoffs.
After the season, the team announced they would switch their affiliation to the Premier Basketball League
Premier Basketball League
The Premier Basketball League, often abbreviated to the PBL, is a men's professional basketball minor league in the United States that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season and thirteen teams for the 2009 season. Nine teams from Canada and the United States...
and they would now be playing at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Roy Wilkins Auditorium
The Roy Wilkins Auditorium is a 5,000-seat multi-purpose arena in St. Paul, Minnesota. Designed by renowned African American municipal architect Clarence W. Wigington, it was built in 1932 as the St. Paul Auditorium, and was renamed for Roy Wilkins in 1985...
(which previously served as the alternate home of the Minneapolis Lakers, and is right next to the Xcel Energy Center
Xcel Energy Center
The Xcel Energy Center is a multi-purpose arena located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is named for its locally-based corporate sponsor Xcel Energy. With an official capacity of 18,064, the arena has four spectator levels: one suite level and three general seating levels. The arena is owned by the...
).
Before the Ripknees could ever take a shot in the PBL, they were sold to Jam Entertainment (owners of the Rochester Fire
Rochester Fire
The Rochester Fire are a team of the American Basketball Association scheduled to begin play in 2007-08. However, as of November 2, 2007, the status of the franchise was in question when it was announced that the majority owner was trying to sell the team just days from the start of the season....
, Peoria Kings
Peoria Kings
The Peoria Kings was an expansion team of the American Basketball Association who began play in 2006 and ended play in 2007. They played at The Riverplex....
, and Rome Legions
Rome Legions
The Rome Legions are a team of the American Basketball Association scheduled to begin play in 2008.The team was initially named the Rome Knights in honor of Medieval Times, which is very popular in Rome, and is also one of their sponsors. In early 2007, the team's owners purchased the World...
). The Ripknees returned to the ABA to play there for the 2007-08 season.
According to a report on Our Sports Central, the Ripknees ceased playing in the ABA before the end of the 2007-2008 season.