La Crosse Freeze
| La Crosse Freeze | |
|---|---|
| City | La Crosse, Wisconsin |
| League | NA3HL |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Home arena | Green Island Ice Arena |
| Colors |
Black, Ice Blue, White |
| Owner(s) | Michelle Bryant[1] |
| General manager | Jon Vaillancourt[2] |
| Head coach | Jon Vaillancourt |
| Affiliates | Coulee Region Chill |
| Franchise history | |
| 1998–2014 | Flint Jr. Generals |
| 2014–present | La Crosse Freeze |
The La Crosse Freeze is a Tier III junior ice hockey team that plays at the Green Island Ice Arena in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The team plays in the North American 3 Hockey League's Central Division.
The franchise was previously known as the Flint Jr. Generals based in Flint, Michigan.
History
Flint Junior Generals
In 1998, Gale and Kelly Cronk, a father and son, purchased the team placing it in the Flint area. The team played at the Iceland Arena in Clayton Township.[3]
Despite on-ice success and their age, the Jr. Generals attendance dwindled, causing long-time owners Kelly and Gale Gronk to pursue selling the team. In 2013, the Cronks declined to sell to a buyer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as they wanted the team to stay in Michigan and handed over operations to Fairland Management, managing company of the Michigan Warriors and Perani Arena. That season, the Generals were the NA3HL playoffs runner-up and won the East Division. With no Michigan-based interest, the Gronks sold the franchise to the owners of the Coulee Region Chill of the North American Hockey League.[3]
La Crosse Freeze
With the league's approval of the sale on May 6, 2014, the Flint Junior Generals became the La Crosse Freeze and relocated to the Green Island Ice Arena in La Crosse, Wisconsin.[3]
Season records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint Jr. Generals | |||||||||||
| 2006–07 | 45 | 31 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 180 | 129 | 1132 | 1st of 7, East 3rd of 14, CSHL | Won Hurster Cup Qualifier series, 2–0 vs. Michigan Ice Dogs 1–2–0 in Hurster Cup Round Robin (W, 4–2 vs. Cherokee; L, 0–4 vs. Thunderbirds; L, 2–4 vs. Jr. Blues) |
| 2007–08 | 48 | 34 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 209 | 133 | 1123 | 2nd of 13, CSHL | 1–2–0 in Hurster Cup Round Robin (W, 3–2 vs. Steam; OTL, 2–3 vs. Mustangs; L, 2–8 vs. Cherokee) |
| 2008–09 | 45 | 17 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 177 | 228 | 1359 | 9th of 12, CSHL | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | 48 | 16 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 188 | 235 | 1264 | 9th of 13, CSHL | Did not qualify |
| 2010–11 | 45 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 175 | 180 | 1034 | 9th of 12, NA3HL | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | 48 | 35 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 73 | 207 | 127 | 1526 | 1st of 4, East 1st of 16, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks 1–2–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin (W, 2–1 vs. Cherokee; L, 3–4 vs. Jr. Blues; L, 2–3 vs. Lumberjacks) |
| 2012–13 | 48 | 27 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 58 | 168 | 141 | 1426 | 3rd of 6, East 7th of 17, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Three Rivers Vengeance 0–2–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin (L, 0–5 vs. Bulls; L, 2–5 vs. Lumberjacks) |
| 2013–14 | 48 | 42 | 4 | 2 | — | 86 | 216 | 80 | 1080 | 1st of 6, East 2nd of 21, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Metro Jets Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks 2–1–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin (W, 3–1 vs. Jr. Blues; W, 5–2 vs. Jr. Stars; L, 3–7 vs. Bulls) Lost Championship game, 0–3 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
| La Crosse Freeze | |||||||||||
| 2014–15 | 47 | 28 | 14 | 5 | — | 61 | 160 | 155 | 913 | 3rd of 6, Central 11th of 31, NA3HL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Wisconsin Whalers |
| 2015–16 | 47 | 32 | 15 | 0 | — | 64 | 200 | 125 | 1161 | 2nd of 5, Central 13th of 34, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Wisconsin Whalers Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
| 2016–17 | 47 | 23 | 22 | 2 | — | 48 | 199 | 169 | 1079 | 2nd of 5, Central 27th of 48, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Wisconsin Whalers Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
References
- ↑ Brown, Jeff (May 5, 2014). "JUNIOR POWER PLAY, Chill owners add another franchise; move it to La Crosse". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
- ↑ "Vaillancourt named new head coach of La Crosse Freeze". NA3HL. June 8, 2017.
- 1 2 3 McMann, Aaron (May 9, 2014). "Flint Junior Generals hockey team sold, moving to La Crosse, Wis.". The Flint Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
