Rockford IceHogs
Encyclopedia
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League
franchise, see Rockford IceHogs
.
The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey
team in Rockford, Illinois
USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League
from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home games at the MetroCentre
. In 2007, the name and logo were purchased and applied to the current American Hockey League franchise
. After the transfer of the name and logo to the AHL franchise was complete, the UHL IceHogs then ceased operations.
The IceHogs began play in October 1999. The team name, IceHogs, was selected during a "name the team" contest. The IceHogs were owned by Tri Vision Sports, LLC prior to acquisition by the Rockford MetroCentre. The team came into existence when United Sports Ventures (USV) bought out the rights of the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
franchise. The team originally joined the Colonial Hockey League in 1991 as the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks. On Oct. 23, 2002, Tri Vision Sports purchased the franchise from USV.
During the 2006–07 season, the IceHogs played in the UHL's Western Division with the Quad City Mallards, Chicago Hounds, Bloomington Prairie Thunder, and Fort Wayne Komets. The IceHogs were coached by one of the winningest coaches in professional hockey, Steve Martinson. Martinson helped lead the IceHogs to their best season in franchise history in 2005–06, his first behind the bench for the IceHogs. The IceHogs have also been named the 2004–05 and 2005–06 UHL Member Franchise of the Year for the club's success on and off the ice. The Icehogs won their first division championship in the 2005–06 season. The Ice Hogs won their first (and last) Colonial Cup in a hard fought game 7 at home on Thursday, May 24, 2007, by a score of 3 to 1 against the Kalamazoo Wings.
The IceHogs and Nashville Predators
of the National Hockey League
signed an affiliation agreement on December 13, 2005. The IceHogs supplied players to Nashville's primary affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
of the American Hockey League
.
Every year the team holds a "Jersey Night" during which the team wears a special, one-off alternate jersey and auctions them off for charity. In the past, the alternate jerseys have related to cultural icons such as Elvis Presley
and St. Patrick's Day, or were autographed by Rockford-area celebrities such as Rick Nielsen
.
The UHL IceHogs were replaced by an American Hockey League version
for the 2007–08 season
. The MetroCentre purchased the IceHogs name and logo from the prior ownership group and applied them to the new AHL franchise. http://www.theahl.com/news/league/index.html?article_id=7559 The team has also signed a 10-year player development contract with the Chicago Blackhawks
.
The current Rockford IceHogs
were founded in 1995 as the Baltimore Bandits
and then relocated in 1997 to Cincinnati, Ohio
to become the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
. The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks suspended operations for the 2005–06 AHL season
. The franchise was later renamed Cincinnati RailRaiders, but failed to reach a goal of 2,000 season tickets to re-enter the AHL for the 2006–07 season. On March 19, 2007, the AHL announced that the team had been purchased, and relocated them to Rockford to become the current Rockford IceHogs.
Season results were compiled from hockeydb.com and Pointstreak.com.
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...
franchise, see Rockford IceHogs
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
.
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 in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home games at the MetroCentre
Rockford MetroCentre
The BMO Harris Bank Center is a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Rockford, Illinois. It is currently home to the AHL's Rockford IceHogs hockey team...
. In 2007, the name and logo were purchased and applied to the current American Hockey League franchise
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
. After the transfer of the name and logo to the AHL franchise was complete, the UHL IceHogs then ceased operations.
The IceHogs began play in October 1999. The team name, IceHogs, was selected during a "name the team" contest. The IceHogs were owned by Tri Vision Sports, LLC prior to acquisition by the Rockford MetroCentre. The team came into existence when United Sports Ventures (USV) bought out the rights of the Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats
The Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
franchise. The team originally joined the Colonial Hockey League in 1991 as the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks. On Oct. 23, 2002, Tri Vision Sports purchased the franchise from USV.
During the 2006–07 season, the IceHogs played in the UHL's Western Division with the Quad City Mallards, Chicago Hounds, Bloomington Prairie Thunder, and Fort Wayne Komets. The IceHogs were coached by one of the winningest coaches in professional hockey, Steve Martinson. Martinson helped lead the IceHogs to their best season in franchise history in 2005–06, his first behind the bench for the IceHogs. The IceHogs have also been named the 2004–05 and 2005–06 UHL Member Franchise of the Year for the club's success on and off the ice. The Icehogs won their first division championship in the 2005–06 season. The Ice Hogs won their first (and last) Colonial Cup in a hard fought game 7 at home on Thursday, May 24, 2007, by a score of 3 to 1 against the Kalamazoo Wings.
The IceHogs and Nashville Predators
Nashville Predators
The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
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...
signed an affiliation agreement on December 13, 2005. The IceHogs supplied players to Nashville's primary affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals
Milwaukee Admirals
The Milwaukee Admirals are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA at the Bradley Center.-History:...
of the American Hockey League
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...
.
Every year the team holds a "Jersey Night" during which the team wears a special, one-off alternate jersey and auctions them off for charity. In the past, the alternate jerseys have related to cultural icons such as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and St. Patrick's Day, or were autographed by Rockford-area celebrities such as Rick Nielsen
Rick Nielsen
-External links:* * *...
.
The UHL IceHogs were replaced by an American Hockey League version
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
for the 2007–08 season
2007–08 AHL season
The 2007–08 AHL season is the 72nd season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Chicago Wolves won their second Calder Cup, defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the Calder Cup Final.-Team changes:...
. The MetroCentre purchased the IceHogs name and logo from the prior ownership group and applied them to the new AHL franchise. http://www.theahl.com/news/league/index.html?article_id=7559 The team has also signed a 10-year player development contract with the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
.
The current Rockford IceHogs
Rockford IceHogs
This article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home...
were founded in 1995 as the Baltimore Bandits
Baltimore Bandits
The Baltimore Bandits were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons. They played in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Arena...
and then relocated in 1997 to Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
to become the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, at the Cincinnati Gardens.-History:...
. The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks suspended operations for the 2005–06 AHL season
2005–06 AHL season
The 2005–06 AHL season was the 70th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hershey Bears won the Calder Cup, defeating the Milwaukee Admirals in the finals....
. The franchise was later renamed Cincinnati RailRaiders, but failed to reach a goal of 2,000 season tickets to re-enter the AHL for the 2006–07 season. On March 19, 2007, the AHL announced that the team had been purchased, and relocated them to Rockford to become the current Rockford IceHogs.
United Hockey League season-by-season results
United Hockey League (1999–2007)| Year | GP | W | L | SOL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Playoffs |
| 1999–00 | 74 | 32 | 34 | 8 | 72 | 238 | 268 | 1712 | Lost in 1st Round |
| 2000–01 | 74 | 30 | 38 | 6 | 66 | 207 | 256 | 1596 | Did not qualify |
| 2001–02 | 74 | 27 | 41 | 6 | 60 | 234 | 278 | 1631 | Did not qualify |
| 2002–03 | 76 | 35 | 34 | 7 | 77 | 233 | 271 | 1698 | Lost in 1st Round |
| 2003–04 | 76 | 28 | 43 | 5 | 61 | 215 | 294 | 1821 | Did not qualify |
| 2004–05 | 80 | 46 | 25 | 9 | 101 | 246 | 203 | 2243 | Lost in 2nd round |
| 2005–06 | 76 | 49 | 19 | 9 | 105 | 292 | 213 | 2592 | Lost in 2nd round |
| 2006–07 | 76 | 48 | 21 | 7 | 103 | 266 | 193 | 2132 | Won the Colonial Cup 4 games to 3, beating the Kalamazoo Wings |
Season results were compiled from hockeydb.com and Pointstreak.com.