Evansville IceMen
- This article is about the current ECHL Evansville IceMen franchise. For the defunct All American Hockey League franchise, see: Evansville IceMen (2008–2010).
| Evansville IceMen | |
|---|---|
 2013/14 ECHL season | |
 | |
| City | Evansville, Indiana |
| League | ECHL |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | North |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Operated | 1992-present |
| Home arena | Ford Center (Evansville) |
| Colors |
navy, sky, white |
| Owner(s) | Ron Geary |
| Head coach | Jeff Pyle |
| Media | WEOA |
| Affiliates |
Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL) Springfield Falcons (AHL) |
| Website | Evansville IceMen.com |
| Franchise history | |
| 1992–2008 | Muskegon Fury |
| 2008–2010 | Muskegon Lumberjacks |
| 2010-present | Evansville IceMen |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 2 (1999, 2005) |
| Division Championships | 4 (1996, 1999, 2005, 2007) |
| Ray Miron President's Cup | 0 |
| Colonial Cups | 4 (1999, 2002, 2004, 2005) |
The Evansville IceMen are a minor league ice hockey team in the ECHL. The team was originally a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the Central Hockey League in 2010. The franchise has won four post-season championship titles in the UHL in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2005. Formerly playing at the Swonder Ice Arena, since the 2011–12 season the IceMen have played at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.
The IceMen were formerly known as the Muskegon Fury (1992-2008), and Muskegon Lumberjacks (2008–2010). The current IceMen franchise replaced the original Evansville IceMen (2008–2010) that were a part of the All American Hockey League before folding in 2010.
Muskegon Fury (1992–2008)
The Muskegon Fury was an International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan. The team's colors were Teal, Purple, Black. The Fury were established in 1992 after the original Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League's previous incarnation relocated to Cleveland, Ohio. Hockey had been in Muskegon for 32 consecutive seasons to that point and Tony Lisman, Owner/President of the Fury, would not let that tradition end. Lisman kept his vow to keep hockey in Muskegon by establishing the Fury in the Colonial Hockey League, and has been very successful in doing so throughout the league's name changes.
The Fury lost to the Danbury Trashers in the 2005-2006 playoffs in their bid for a third consecutive Colonial Cup championship.
On August 30, 2006, Bruce Ramsay was named the Fury head coach for the 2006-2007 season, replacing Todd Nelson, who had accepted the assistant coaching position for the Chicago Wolves a few days earlier.Nelson is now serving as an assistant coach for the NHL Atlanta Thrashers. Ramsay resigned after the 2008-2009 season to become the head coach of the Tulsa Oilers in the Central Hockey League. Ramsay was replaced for the 2009-2010 season by Rich Kromm.
Erin Whitten one of the few female hockey players to play professionally, played for the Fury during the 1995-1996 season, before being traded to the Flint Generals.[1]
Muskegon Lumberjacks (2008–2010)
On September 12, 2008, new owners Stacey Patulsky, Jeff Patulsky and Tim Taylor changed the teams name from the Muskegon Fury to the Lumberjacks to reflect back on what many remember as the glory days of hockey in Muskegon.
During this time frame, the Lumberjacks were affiliated with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. The Battle Creek Revolution of the All American Hockey League served as the Lumberjacks farm team affiliate.[2]
Evansville IceMen (2010– Present)
On February 8, 2010 it was announced that the Muskegon Lumberjacks would move to Evansville, Indiana as the Evansville IceMen at the conclusion of the 2009–10 International Hockey League season. The dormant Rochester Mustangs franchise of the USHL would move to Muskegon taking on the name Muskegon Lumberjacks.[3]
On July 13, 2010, the International Hockey League merged with the Central Hockey League, retaining the name Central Hockey League. The merger had the Bloomington PrairieThunder, Dayton Gems, Evansville IceMen, Fort Wayne Komets and Quad City Mallards IHL franchises move to the Northern Conference of the new combined IHL/CHL.
Starting with the 2011-2012 season, the IceMen practice at Swonder, but play home games at the Ford Center.
The current Evansville IceMen replace the defunct Evansville IceMen (2008–2010) of the All American Hockey League. The former IceMen team ceased operation after winning the Rod Davidson Cup during the 2009-2010 season.
On May 17, 2012, the IceMen formally were accepted into the ECHL, with membership to begin in the 2012–13 season.[4] On June 15, 2012, the IceMen announced an affiliation with the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets and primary affiliate, the Springfield Falcons.[5] Before the resumption of the new season on August 30, 2012 the Peoria Rivermen announced that the IceMen would be their ECHL farm club, cutting ties with the Alaska Aces. This will make the IceMen the AA affiliate of the St. Louis Blues as well as the previously mentioned Columbus Blue Jackets.[6]
Current roster
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 |  |
Barron, LorenLoren Barron | D | L | 24 | 2013 | Glendora, California | IceMen |
| 20 | |
Beaulieu, JoshJosh Beaulieu (C) | LW | L | 27 | 2011 | Maplewood, Minnesota | IceMen |
| 16 |  |
Clarke, DylanDylan Clarke | LW | L | 27 | 2012 | Belleville, Ontario | IceMen |
| 36 | |
Clemente, MikeMike Clemente | G | L | 24 | 2013 | Great Falls, Virginia | Springfield Falcons |
| 11 | |
Dale, JasonJason Dale (A) | RW | R | 25 | 2012 | Toronto, Ontario | IceMen |
| 25 | |
Kennedy, PatrickPatrick Kennedy | RW | R | 25 | 2012 | Dorchester, Ontario | IceMen |
| 29 | |
Krug, MattMatt Krug | D | R | 28 | 2013 | Livonia, Michigan | IceMen |
| 22 |  |
Larkin, ThomasThomas Larkin | D | R | 23 | 2013 | London, England | Blue Jackets |
| 5 | |
Lavin, JoeJoe Lavin | D | L | 24 | 2013 | Shrewsbury, Massachusetts | Springfield Falcons |
| 19 | |
Leveillé, DaultanDaultan Leveillé | C | L | 23 | 2013 | St. Catharines, Ontario | IceMen |
| 17 | |
Lowry, MattMatt Lowry | F | L | 25 | 2013 | Neepawa, Manitoba | IceMen |
| 15 | |
Moon, NathanNathan Moon | F | L | 24 | 2012 | Belleville, Ontario | IceMen |
| 18 | |
Morrissette, AndreAndre Morrissette | F | R | 22 | 2013 | Trois-Rivieres, Quebec | IceMen |
| 92 | |
Sakaris, PeterPeter Sakaris | LW | L | 21 | 2013 | Candiac, Quebec | IceMen |
| 24 | |
Schepke, MattMatt Schepke | LW | L | 29 | 2013 | Warren, Michigan | IceMen |
| 30 | |
York, AllenAllen York | G | L | 24 | 2013 | Wetaskiwin, Alberta | IceMen |
Championships
| Year | League | Trophy |
|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | UHL | Colonial Cup |
| 2003–04 | UHL | Colonial Cup |
| 2001–02 | UHL | Colonial Cup |
| 1998–99 | UHL | Colonial Cup |
See also
- Sports in Evansville
References
- ↑ "Erin Whitten player biography". hockeygoalies.org. 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2010-05-06.
- ↑ "BC Announces Affiliation Agreement with Muskegon". American Hockey League. 2009-03-14. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
- ↑ "It's official Lumberjacks hockey in Muskegon". mlive.com. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2010-02-02.
- ↑ Press Release. "Expansion Membership Approved for Evansville". ECHL. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ↑ Press Release. "IceMen will be affiliated with NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets". Evansville Courier and Press. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
- ↑ Press Release. "Rivermen cut ties with Alaska, sign Evansville as ECHL farm club". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
- ↑ "Evansville IceMen roster". Evansville IceMen. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
External links
Media related to Evansville IceMen at Wikimedia Commons
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