Peoria Rivermen

Peoria Rivermen
City Peoria, Illinois
League American Hockey League
Conference Western Conference
Division Midwest Division
Founded 2005
Home arena Carver Arena
Colors

Royal blue, dark blue, gold, white

                   
Owner(s) Sports Capital Partners Worldwide
General manager Kevin McDonald
Head coach Jared Bednar
Media WZPN (96.5 FM)
Peoria Journal Star
Affiliates St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Franchise history
1926–1951 Springfield Indians
1951–1954 Syracuse Warriors
1954–1967 Springfield Indians
1967–1974 Springfield Kings
1974–1994 Springfield Indians
1994–2005 Worcester IceCats
2005–present Peoria Rivermen

The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.

Contents

History

The Peoria Rivermen franchise was born in 1982-83 in the old International Hockey League, operating under owner Ken Wilson as the Peoria Prancers. The franchise was taken over by the Peoria Civic Center in 1984, which held a contest with the Peoria Journal Star newspaper to re-name the team. Rivermen was the winner. The Peoria Rivermen operated in the 1984-85 season and won the IHL's Turner Cup. They were bought by Bruce Saurs in the summer of 1989, and he owned the club for 18 seasons. The franchise dropped down to the ECHL for the 1996-97 season, playing nine seasons there before moving to the American Hockey League for the 2005-06 season, where it presently operates; the current franchise, however, follows the history of the Worcester IceCats. The Peoria franchise is the ninth oldest continuously operating minor-league pro hockey franchise in history. The 2010-11 season marks Peoria's 29th franchise season in that run. It was announced by Dave Checketts that the St. Louis Blues, Scottrade Center and the Peoria Rivermen are all up for sale.

This market was previously served by:

Their main rivals are the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the Blues' top rivals the Chicago Blackhawks, and the Chicago Wolves.

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points Goals
for
Goals
against
Standing
2005–06 80 46 26 3 5 100 253 226 3rd, West
2006–07 80 37 33 2 8 84 221 242 5th, West
2007–08 80 38 33 4 5 85 247 242 7th, West
2008–09 80 43 31 2 4 92 215 211 2nd, West
2009–10 80 38 33 2 7 85 233 248 5th, West
2010–11 80 42 30 3 5 92 223 218 4th, West

Playoffs

Season 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
2005–06 L, 0–4, Houston
2006–07 Out of playoffs.
2007–08 Out of playoffs.
2008–09 L, 3-4, Houston
2009–10 Out of playoffs.
2010-11 L, 0-4, Houston

Team captains

Coaches

Current roster

Updated January 4, 2012.[1][2]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Contract
35 Allen, JakeJake Allen G L 21 2010 Fredericton, New Brunswick Blues
30 Bishop, BenBen Bishop G L 25 2008 Denver, Colorado Blues
20 Barriball, JayJay Barriball RW R 24 2011 Burnsville, Minnesota Blues
2 Bruton, ChrisChris Bruton RW R 25 2011 Calgary, Alberta PTO~Alaska
14 Cheechoo, JonathanJonathan Cheechoo (A) RW R 31 2011 Moose Factory, Ontario Blues
19 Cracknell, AdamAdam Cracknell (C) RW R 26 2009 Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Blues
15 Cundari, MarkMark Cundari D L 21 2010 Toronto, Ontario Blues
18 Della Rovere, StefanStefan Della Rovere LW L 21 2010 Richmond Hill, Ontario Blues
33 Edwards, MauryMaury Edwards D R 24 2011 Rocky Rapids, Alberta PTO~Cincinnati
44 Evans, BrennanBrennan Evans (A) D L 30 2010 Camrose, Alberta Blues
3 Gannon, JakeJake Gannon D R 24 2011 Roselle, Illinois Rivermen
16 Hagel, KyleKyle Hagel  LW L 27 2011 Hamilton, Ontario Blues
7 Hensick, T. J.T. J. Hensick (A) C R 26 2010 Howell, Michigan Blues
37 Heshka, ShaunShaun Heshka D R 26 2011 Melville, Saskatchewan Rivermen
8 McRae, PhilipPhilip McRae C L 21 2010 Minneapolis, Minnesota Blues
17 Nesbitt, DerekDerek Nesbitt RW L 29 2010 Egmondville, Ontario Rivermen
24 Nigro, AnthonyAnthony Nigro LW L 22 2010 Woodbridge, Ontario Blues
23 Peluso, AnthonyAnthony Peluso RW R 22 2010 North York, Ontario Blues
10 Polacek, ChaseChase Polacek RW R 22 2011 Edina, Minnesota Rivermen
4 Ponich, BrettBrett Ponich D L 21 2011 Beaumont, Alberta Blues
26 Shattock, TylerTyler Shattock RW R 22 2010 Camrose, Alberta Blues
5 Shields, DavidDavid Shields D R 21 2011 Rochester, New York Blues
12 Sonne, BrettBrett Sonne C L 22 2009 Chilliwack, British Columbia Blues
29 Sterling, BrettBrett Sterling (A) LW L 27 2011 Los Angeles, California Blues
25 Syvret, DannyDanny Syvret D L 26 2011 Millgrove, Ontario Blues
Staff
Title Staff Member
Head Coach Jared Bednar
Assistant Coach Drake Berehowsky

References

External links