Port Huron Icehawks
Encyclopedia
The Port Huron Icehawks were a minor league
professional ice hockey
team based in Port Huron, Michigan
. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at McMorran Arena
. The franchise was announced on June 20, 2007 as part of the new IHL. The Icehawks are owned by Larry Kinney, owner and CEO of Datapak Services Corporation of Howell, MI. On June 16, 2010, the Port Huron Icehawks of the International Hockey League will discontinue its hockey operation in Port Huron after three seasons.
The Icehawks were coached by Stan Drulia
, a right winger whose professional career spanned 13 years from 1989 to 2001, and included three seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Drulia is entering his third year with the Icehawks, and fourth in the city of Port Huron. After one year directing the hockey operations and head coaching duties with the now defunct Port Huron Flags, he returned to the Blue Water area as both the head coach and general manager of the Icehawks. During their inaugural season, Drulia led the Icehawks to the Turner Cup Finals and a dramatic triple overtime loss to the Fort Wayne Komets
in game 7. The Icehawks went 41-29-2-4 in the 2007-08 regular season and 7-5 in the playoffs, easily defeating the Flint Generals in the first round in just five games.
In the 2008-09 season, Drulia directed the Icehawks to another second place regular season finish in the IHL with a record of 44-21-6-5 and 99 points. For his efforts he was named IHL Coach of the Year. Despite their strong season, the Icehawks struggled in the playoffs and were eliminated by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the first round in six games. The Icehawks were also named IHL Franchise of the Year in the 2008-09 campaign, based on efforts both on and off the ice.
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
professional 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 based in Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at McMorran Arena
McMorran Place
McMorran Place is an entertainment complex in Port Huron, Michigan consisting of a 4,800-seat multi-purpose arena, a pavilion and a theater. It was designed by Alden Dow and built in 1960 for $3.5 million .- Sports :...
. The franchise was announced on June 20, 2007 as part of the new IHL. The Icehawks are owned by Larry Kinney, owner and CEO of Datapak Services Corporation of Howell, MI. On June 16, 2010, the Port Huron Icehawks of the International Hockey League will discontinue its hockey operation in Port Huron after three seasons.
The Icehawks were coached by Stan Drulia
Stan Drulia
Stanley W. Drulia is the coach of the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and a former professional right winger. He was drafted in the eleventh round, 214th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. He played 126 games in the National Hockey League, all with the Tampa Bay Lightning...
, a right winger whose professional career spanned 13 years from 1989 to 2001, and included three seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Drulia is entering his third year with the Icehawks, and fourth in the city of Port Huron. After one year directing the hockey operations and head coaching duties with the now defunct Port Huron Flags, he returned to the Blue Water area as both the head coach and general manager of the Icehawks. During their inaugural season, Drulia led the Icehawks to the Turner Cup Finals and a dramatic triple overtime loss to 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...
in game 7. The Icehawks went 41-29-2-4 in the 2007-08 regular season and 7-5 in the playoffs, easily defeating the Flint Generals in the first round in just five games.
In the 2008-09 season, Drulia directed the Icehawks to another second place regular season finish in the IHL with a record of 44-21-6-5 and 99 points. For his efforts he was named IHL Coach of the Year. Despite their strong season, the Icehawks struggled in the playoffs and were eliminated by the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the first round in six games. The Icehawks were also named IHL Franchise of the Year in the 2008-09 campaign, based on efforts both on and off the ice.
Season-by-season results
Legend: OTL=Overtime loss, SOL=Shootout loss| Season | League | Games | Won | Lost | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing | Playoffs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-08 | IHL | 76 | 41 | 29 | 2 | 4 | 88 | 242 | 230 | Second, League | Lost in Finals | |
| 2008-09 | IHL | 76 | 44 | 21 | 6 | 5 | 99 | 262 | 201 | Second, League | Lost in Round 1 | |
| 2009-10 | IHL | 76 | 47 | 25 | 0 | 4 | 98 | 259 | 223 | Third, League | Lost in Round 1 | |
| TOTALS | 228 | 132 | 75 | 8 | 13 | 285 | 763 | 654 |