| St. John's IceCaps | |
|---|---|
| 2011–12 AHL season | |
| City | St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Division | Atlantic Division |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Home arena | Mile One Centre |
| Colors |
Polar Night Blue, White, Aviator Blue, Silver |
| Owner(s) | True North Sports & Entertainment (operated by Danny Willliams under lease agreement) |
| General manager | Craig Heisinger |
| Head coach | Keith McCambridge |
| Captain | Jason Jaffray |
| Affiliates | Winnipeg Jets (NHL) Colorado Eagles (ECHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1994–1996 IHL | Minnesota Moose |
| 1996–2001 | Manitoba Moose |
| 2001–2011 AHL | Manitoba Moose |
| 2011-present | St. John's IceCaps |
The St. John's IceCaps are a professional ice hockey team based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League (AHL) and are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets of the National Hockey League (NHL).
From 1996 to 2011, the team was known as the Manitoba Moose and played in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, but with the purchase and relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg by parent company True North Sports & Entertainment, the team has been leased to former Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams and relocated to St. John's, returning the AHL to Atlantic Canada after a six-year absence.[1][2][3]
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The franchise was founded in 1994 as the Minnesota Moose of the International Hockey League. The team played two seasons in St. Paul, Minnesota before relocating to Winnipeg in 1996 following the departure of the original Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix, Arizona. The renamed Manitoba Moose continued in the IHL until the league folded in 2001, at which time they joined the AHL and became the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks. During their 15-year run in Winnipeg, the Moose made it to the Calder Cup Finals once, in 2009. They squared off against the Hershey Bears but lost the best-of-seven series 4-2.
In May 2011, multiple reports had confirmed that there was a deal in place between True North Sports and Entertainment and the owners of the Atlanta Thrashers to relocate the Thrashers to Winnipeg for the 2011-12 NHL season.[4] At the same time, there were reports that former Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Danny Williams had a deal in place that would see the Manitoba Moose relocate to St. John's for the 2011-2012 AHL season.[5] On June 2, 2011, Williams announced that he had tentative deals in place with the City of St. John's and True North to relocate the Moose to St. John's; the following day City Council approved the deal.[6][7] On June 10, the AHL Board of Governors unanimously approved the franchise's relocation to St. John's.[3] Later that day, Williams and Craig Heisinger, of True North Sports & Entertainment, held an event at Mile One Centre officially announcing the relocation of the Manitoba Moose to St. John's.[8] As part of the deal, the new team would become the renamed Jets' top affiliate.
Coincidentally, the nearby community of Conception Bay South had been awarded the Kraft Hockeyville exhibition game for 2011, which would have featured the Atlanta Thrashers facing the Ottawa Senators. Because of the proximity of St. John's and Conception Bay South, as well as St. John's receiving the former Thrashers' farm team, the game between the Senators and the team that since has become the Jets was relocated to the Mile One Centre,[9] making it the first IceCaps-related game since the announcement of the relocation. The de facto home Jets defeated the Senators, 3–1.
IceCaps games are expected to be broadcast on CJYQ.[10]
Following the announcement of the team's relocation to St. John's, Williams stated that while he would prefer to hold a fan contest to name the team there was not enough time before the season started and that the team's advisory committee would decide the name.[11] He immediately ruled out retaining the "Moose" moniker, which the team had in Minnesota and Manitoba. Williams cited vehicular accidents in Newfoundland and Labrador involving the animal as one of the reasons behind not retaining the name.[12] In June, several media outlets started reporting that the team would be known as the St. John's IceCaps, this after St. John's IceCaps Inc. was registered with Newfoundland and Labrador's registry of deeds and companies.[13]
On July 29, 2011, the official announcement was made that the team would be known as the St. John's IceCaps.[11]
The St. John's IceCaps' colours are polar night blue, white, aviator blue and silver; the same colours that are used by their parent team, the Winnipeg Jets.
Like the other 29 teams in the American Hockey League, the St. John's IceCaps play in the Reebok EDGE style uniforms. The IceCaps' home uniform is a white jersey with a polar night blue collar with aviator blue and silver trim, while their away uniform is a polar night blue jersey with aviator blue and silver trim, with the IceCaps logo placed on the front. These jerseys have been styled from the Winnipeg Jets' current away and home jerseys, respectively. The IceCaps' jerseys also include the Winnipeg Jets' primary logo on the shoulder.
On October 21, 2011, Buddy the Puffin was introduced as the mascot of the IceCaps. Buddy was previously the mascot of the St. John's Maple Leafs.
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing (In Atlantic Division) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 34 | 91 | 76 | 1st |
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
|---|
Updated January 2, 2011.[14][15]
16. stjohnsicecaps.com - St. John's IceCaps roster
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