New Hampshire Fighting Spirit
| New Hampshire Fighting Spirit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City |
 Laconia, New Hampshire |
| League | NA3EHL |
| Division | Eastern |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Home arena | Laconia Ice Arena |
| Colors |
Sky Blue, Midnight Blue, Vegas Gold, and White |
| Owner(s) | Rod Simmons |
| General manager | Rod Simmons |
| Head coach | Rod Simmons |
| Franchise history | |
| 2012–13 | Lake George Fighting Spirit |
| 2013–14 | AHI Fighting Spirit |
| 2014–2015 | New Hampshire Fighting Spirit |
| 2015– | Lewiston-Auburn Fighting Spirit |
The New Hampshire Fighting Spirit is a Junior "A" ice hockey team from Laconia, New Hampshire. The team is a member of the North American 3 Eastern Hockey League (NA3EHL) (previously known as the Northern States Junior Hockey League (NSHL) from 2012–14) and plays home games at the Laconia Ice Arena.
History
The team was founded in 2012 as the Lake George Fighting Spirit playing out of Lake George, New York. The Fighting Spirit joined the NSHL as one of the seven inaugural teams.[1]
The Fighting Spirit won the inaugural NSHL regular-season championship with a record of 37-4-1. With the title, the Fighting Spirit received an automatic bid, with the second place Syracuse Stampede, to the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) United Hockey Union tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tournament included the top teams from the three AAU-sanctioned leagues; the NSHL, Western States Hockey League, and the Midwest Junior Hockey League.[2]
Prior to the 2013–14 season, the team moved to Waterville Valley, New Hampshire and were known as the AHI Fighting Spirit to reflect a partnership with the American Hockey Institute.[3] The Fighting Spirit captured the team's second straight NSHL regular season title with a record of 31-4-3-2. After falling in the playoffs and participating in the second UHU National Championship in Las Vegas, the team announced a move to Laconia, New Hampshire and would change their name to the New Hampshire Fighting Spirit for the 2014-15 season.[4]
After the 2014–15 season the Fighting Spirit will relocate again to Lewiston, Maine and be called the Lewiston-Auburn Fighting Spirit and play home games at Androscoggin Bank Colisee.[5]
Statistics
Regular season records
| Season | GP | W | L | SOL | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2012–13 | 41 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 1st of 7 | Won Semi-final game (Kodiaks) Lost League Championship game (Stampede)[6] | ||||
| 2013–14 | 40 | 31 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 67 | 174 | 97 | 1st of 9 | Won Round 1 series, 2-0 (Stars) Lost Semi-final game (Wildcats) |
| 2014–15 | 41 | 33 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 68 | 174 | 75 | 1st of 5 Eastern Div 2nd of 10 NA3EHL | Won Div. Semi-final series, 2-1 (Wild) Won Semi-finals, 2-0 (Islanders) Lost League Championship, 2-1 (Wildcats) |
United Hockey Union Nationals
AAU Sanctioned Junior A National Champions
In 2013 & 2014 MWJHL, NSHL, & WSHL advanced two teams each.
| Year | Round Robin | Record Ranking |
Semi Final Game | Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | OTW, Bay Area Seals (WSHL) 4-3 L, Idaho Jr. Steelheads (WSHL) 0-3 L, Syracuse Stampede (NSHL) 0-4 | 1-2-0 6th of 6 | n/a | n/a |
| 2014 | OTL, Soo Firehawks (MJHL) 5-6 W, Jersey Shore Wildcats (NSHL) 5-0 OTW, Idaho Jr. Steelheads (WSHL) 6-5 | 2-0-1 2nd of 6 | L, Idaho Jr. Steelheads (WSHL) 1-6 | n/a |
References
- ↑ Follos, Tim (May 11, 2012). "Forum’s Simmons works to create elite hockey club". North Countryman. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ↑ Tobey, Pete (March 22, 2013). "Fighting Spirit to host hockey playoffs". Glens Falls Post-Star. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Two new teams call WVR home ice". Visit Waterville Valley. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ↑ Staff (March 14, 2014). "Fighting Spirit Laconia bound: Northern States Hockey League team will call Ice Arena home next winter". Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ↑ "Fighting Spirit to relocate to Lewiston, Maine". NA3EHL. December 16, 2014.
- ↑ "Lake George Fight Hard, but can't pull past Syracuse.". WMML 1230AM. March 25, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2014.