United Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The United Hockey League (UHL) was a low-level professional
ice hockey
league (self-described as AA, although professional hockey does not use letter designations for league levels), with teams in the United States
. The UHL, in general, was equal to the ECHL
in on-ice skill level and players often moved back and forth between the leagues; however, UHL franchises were much less valuable than ECHL franchises and were generally not profitable, with franchises folding mid-season on several occasions. The league was headquartered in Rochester, Michigan
prior to its 2010 merger with the Central Hockey League
, and in its last year, consisted of seven teams.
; Detroit, Michigan
; Flint, Michigan
; St. Thomas, Ontario
; and Thunder Bay
, Ontario
; the avowed goal of the league organizers was to fill the low-level niche in the Great Lakes
area abandoned by the original International Hockey League as the latter league engaged in upmarket expansion. As time passed, the CoHL moved eastward, into places like the Adirondacks, Danbury, CT, Binghamton, NY, and Richmond, VA. During that expansion, the league was renamed United Hockey League in 1997, before changing names again to the International Hockey League in 2007.
The final name change was intended to evoke the original International Hockey League, which had folded in 2001. The Fort Wayne Komets
were a longstanding member of the original league. In addition, the new Kalamazoo Wings
and Flint Generals
franchises revived the names of the original Kalamazoo and Flint
IHL teams.
On July 13, 2010 the IHL merged with the Central Hockey League
. Five of the seven IHL teams--the Bloomington PrairieThunder, Dayton Gems, Evansville IceMen
, Fort Wayne Komets
and Quad City Mallards
--were absorbed into the CHL. The remaining two franchises from the last IHL season that were not absorbed into the CHL, the Generals and the Icehawks, folded.
Dennis Hextall
was named as the President and Commissioner of the International Hockey League on September 2, 2009. Hextall was preceded by Paul Pickard, who served as Commissioner for the first two years of the renamed league (2007–2009).
Several IHL teams had affiliations with the National Hockey League
, American Hockey League
, and/or the All American Hockey League.
was the league's championship trophy. Originally named the Colonial Cup, the name was changed in 2007 to reflect the original IHL's championship trophy, also named the Turner Cup.
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
league (self-described as AA, although professional hockey does not use letter designations for league levels), with teams in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The UHL, in general, was equal to the ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
in on-ice skill level and players often moved back and forth between the leagues; however, UHL franchises were much less valuable than ECHL franchises and were generally not profitable, with franchises folding mid-season on several occasions. The league was headquartered in Rochester, Michigan
Rochester, Michigan
Rochester is an affluent city in north Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan on the northern outskirts of metro Detroit. The population was 12,711 at the 2010 census...
prior to its 2010 merger with the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
, and in its last year, consisted of seven teams.
History
The UHL was originally formed in 1991 as the Colonial Hockey League and had teams in Brantford, OntarioBrantford, Ontario
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
; Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
; Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
; St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas, Ontario
St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:...
; and Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay
-In Canada:Thunder Bay is the name of three places in the province of Ontario, Canada along Lake Superior:*Thunder Bay District, Ontario, a district in Northwestern Ontario*Thunder Bay, a city in Thunder Bay District*Thunder Bay, Unorganized, Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
; the avowed goal of the league organizers was to fill the low-level niche in the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
area abandoned by the original International Hockey League as the latter league engaged in upmarket expansion. As time passed, the CoHL moved eastward, into places like the Adirondacks, Danbury, CT, Binghamton, NY, and Richmond, VA. During that expansion, the league was renamed United Hockey League in 1997, before changing names again to the International Hockey League in 2007.
The final name change was intended to evoke the original International Hockey League, which had folded in 2001. The Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
were a longstanding member of the original league. In addition, the new Kalamazoo Wings
Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
and Flint Generals
Flint Generals
The Flint Generals were a professional ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan.They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center in Flint, Michigan....
franchises revived the names of the original Kalamazoo and Flint
Flint Generals (IHL)
The Flint Generals were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1969–1985. They were members of the International Hockey League and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. Their team colors were originally black and gold, but they were changed to royal blue, gold, and white....
IHL teams.
On July 13, 2010 the IHL merged with the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
. Five of the seven IHL teams--the Bloomington PrairieThunder, Dayton Gems, Evansville IceMen
Evansville IceMen
The Evansville IceMen were a professional hockey team based in Evansville, Indiana. The team folded in 2010, as IceMen owner Ron Geary purchased the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and moved the team to Evansville, taking on the name "Evansville IceMen".The AAHL IceMen...
, Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
and Quad City Mallards
Quad City Mallards
The Quad City Mallards were a professional ice hockey team competing in the AA level United Hockey League. The Mallards played their home games at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. Their team colors were forest green and burgundy. They won the Colonial Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2001,...
--were absorbed into the CHL. The remaining two franchises from the last IHL season that were not absorbed into the CHL, the Generals and the Icehawks, folded.
Governance
Dennis Hextall
Dennis Hextall is a former professional hockey forward who spent most of his career with the Minnesota North Stars and Detroit Red Wings...
was named as the President and Commissioner of the International Hockey League on September 2, 2009. Hextall was preceded by Paul Pickard, who served as Commissioner for the first two years of the renamed league (2007–2009).
Several IHL teams had affiliations with the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
, and/or the All American Hockey League.
Colonial/Turner Cup champions
The Turner CupColonial Cup (hockey)
The Colonial Cup was the name of the trophy for the post-season champion of the International Hockey League. On September 24, 2007, the league decided to restore the "Turner Cup" name to the championship trophy as a tribute to the original IHL in honor of Joe Turner, and a new trophy was being...
was the league's championship trophy. Originally named the Colonial Cup, the name was changed in 2007 to reflect the original IHL's championship trophy, also named the Turner Cup.
- 1992 - Thunder Bay Thunder HawksThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
- 1993 - Brantford SmokeBrantford SmokeThe Brantford Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played in Brantford, Ontario from 1991-92 until 1997-98, playing home games at the Brantford Civic Centre.They won the Colonial...
- 1994 - Thunder Bay SenatorsThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
- 1995 - Thunder Bay SenatorsThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
- 1996 - Flint GeneralsFlint GeneralsThe Flint Generals were a professional ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan.They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center in Flint, Michigan....
- 1997 - Quad City MallardsQuad City MallardsThe Quad City Mallards were a professional ice hockey team competing in the AA level United Hockey League. The Mallards played their home games at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. Their team colors were forest green and burgundy. They won the Colonial Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2001,...
- 1998 - Quad City MallardsQuad City MallardsThe Quad City Mallards were a professional ice hockey team competing in the AA level United Hockey League. The Mallards played their home games at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. Their team colors were forest green and burgundy. They won the Colonial Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2001,...
- 1999 - Muskegon FuryMuskegon FuryThe Muskegon Fury was a International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan.The Fury were established in 1992 after the original Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League's previous incarnation relocated to Cleveland, Ohio...
- 2000 - Flint GeneralsFlint GeneralsThe Flint Generals were a professional ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan.They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center in Flint, Michigan....
- 2001 - Quad City MallardsQuad City MallardsThe Quad City Mallards were a professional ice hockey team competing in the AA level United Hockey League. The Mallards played their home games at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. Their team colors were forest green and burgundy. They won the Colonial Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2001,...
- 2002 - Muskegon FuryMuskegon FuryThe Muskegon Fury was a International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan.The Fury were established in 1992 after the original Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League's previous incarnation relocated to Cleveland, Ohio...
- 2003 - Fort Wayne KometsFort Wayne KometsThe Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
- 2004 - Muskegon FuryMuskegon FuryThe Muskegon Fury was a International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan.The Fury were established in 1992 after the original Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League's previous incarnation relocated to Cleveland, Ohio...
- 2005 - Muskegon FuryMuskegon FuryThe Muskegon Fury was a International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan.The Fury were established in 1992 after the original Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League's previous incarnation relocated to Cleveland, Ohio...
- 2006 - Kalamazoo WingsKalamazoo WingsThe Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
- 2007 - Rockford IceHogs
- 2008 - Fort Wayne KometsFort Wayne KometsThe Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
- 2009 - Fort Wayne KometsFort Wayne KometsThe Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
- 2010 - Fort Wayne KometsFort Wayne KometsThe Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
Expansion
| Year | Teams | Expansion | Defunct | Suspended | Return from Hiatus | Relocated | Name Changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990–91 | 5 | Brantford Smoke Flint Bulldogs Michigan Falcons Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks St. Thomas Wildcats |
|||||
| 1991–92 | 7 | Chatham Wheels Muskegon Fury |
Detroit Falcons (Michigan) Thunder Bay Thunder Cats (Thunder Hawks) |
||||
| 1992–93 | 8 | Flint Generals | Flint → Utica Bulldogs | Thunder Bay Senators (Thunder Cats) | |||
| 1993–94 | 8 | Chatham → Saginaw Wheels St. Thomas → London Wildcats |
Flint Generals (Bulldogs) Utica Blizzard (Bulldogs) |
||||
| 1994–95 | 9 | Quad City Mallards Madison Monsters |
London Wildcats | ||||
| 1995–96 | 10 | London Wildcats | Detroit → Port Huron Border Cats London → Dayton Ice Bandits |
Saginaw Lumber Kings (Wheels) Thunder Bay Thunder Cats (Senators) |
|||
| 1996–97 | 10 | B.C. Icemen Winston-Salem IceHawks |
Utica Blizzard | Dayton Ice Bandits | |||
| 1997–98 | 11 | Dayton Ice Bandits | Brantford → Asheville Smoke Dayton → Mohawk Valley Prowlers |
Saginaw Gears (Lumber Kings) | |||
| 1998–99 | 14 | Fort Wayne Komets Madison Kodiaks Missouri River Otters |
Madison → Knoxville Speed Saginaw → Ohio Gears Thunder Bay → Rockford Icehogs Winston-Salem → Adirondack IceHawks |
||||
| 1999–2000 | 15 | Elmira Jackals New Haven Knights |
Mohawk Valley Prowlers (mid-season) Ohio Gears |
Madison → Kalamazoo Wings | |||
| 2000–01 | 14 | ||||||
| 2001–02 | 10 | Port Huron Beacons | Asheville Smoke B.C. Icemen Knoxville Speed New Haven Knights Port Huron Border Cats |
||||
| 2002–03 | 12 | Columbus Stars Richmond RiverDogs |
Columbus Stars (mid-season) | ||||
| 2004–04 | 14 | Danbury Trashers Kansas City Outlaws Motor City Mechanics |
Adirondack Frostbite (IceHawks) | ||||
| 2004–05 | 14 | Port Huron Flags | Kansas City Outlaws | Port Huron → Roanoke Valley Vipers | |||
| 2005–06 | 10 | Bloomington PrairieThunder | Adirondack Frostbite Danbury Trashers Missouri River Otters Motor City Mechanics Roanoke Valley Vipers |
Richmond → Chicago Hounds | |||
| 2006–07 | 6 | Port Huron Icehawks | Chicago Hounds Elmira Jackals (moved to ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... ) Port Huron Flags Quad City Mallards Rockford IceHogs (moved to AHL American Hockey League The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League... ) |
||||
| 2007–08 | 6 | Muskegon Lumberjacks (Fury) | |||||
| 2008–09 | 7 | Dayton Gems Quad City Mallards |
Kalamazoo Wings (moved to ECHL ECHL The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States... ) |
||||
| 2009–10 | 5 | Port Huron Icehawks Flint Generals |
Muskegon Lumberjacks → Evansville IceMen |
History of teams
- Adirondack FrostbiteAdirondack FrostbiteThe Adirondack Frostbite were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played their home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York....
2004–2006 - Adirondack IceHawks 1999–2004, later Adirondack FrostbiteAdirondack FrostbiteThe Adirondack Frostbite were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played their home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center in Glens Falls, New York....
- Asheville SmokeAsheville SmokeThe Asheville Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played in Asheville, North Carolina from 1998 to 2002. The Smoke were coached by Keith Gretzky from 1998 to 2000. Prior to 1998, the team was known as the Brantford Smoke. The closest rival of Asheville were...
1998–2002 - Arctic Xpress 2000–2001 (did not play), later Canton Xpress
- B.C. IcemenB.C. IcemenThe B.C. Icemen were an ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played in Binghamton, New York, USA at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.-Team records:The B.C. Icemen were an ice hockey team in the United Hockey League...
1997–2002 - Bloomington PrairieThunder (2006–2010), merged into Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
- Brantford SmokeBrantford SmokeThe Brantford Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played in Brantford, Ontario from 1991-92 until 1997-98, playing home games at the Brantford Civic Centre.They won the Colonial...
1991–1998, later Asheville SmokeAsheville SmokeThe Asheville Smoke were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played in Asheville, North Carolina from 1998 to 2002. The Smoke were coached by Keith Gretzky from 1998 to 2000. Prior to 1998, the team was known as the Brantford Smoke. The closest rival of Asheville were... - Canton Ice Patrol 2002 (did not play)
- Canton Xpress 2001–January 28, 2002 (did not play), later Canton Ice Patrol
- Chatham Wheels 1992–1994, later Saginaw WheelsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to...
- Chicago HoundsChicago HoundsThe Chicago Hounds were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League for the 2006-07 UHL season. They played their home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Hounds franchise was officially a relocation of the Richmond RiverDogs franchise, which played in...
2006–2007 - Columbus StarsColumbus StarsThe Columbus Stars were a minor league professional ice hockey team that folded before the midway point of their inaugural season, of 2004, in the United Hockey League due to economic problems. The Stars had 21 home games, which drew only an average of 973 people per game, the lowest of all minor...
2003–January 9, 2004 - Danbury TrashersDanbury TrashersThe Danbury Trashers were a United Hockey League ice hockey team located in Danbury, Connecticut. They played their home games at the Danbury Ice Arena....
2004–2006 - Dayton Gems 2009-2010, merged into Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
- Dayton Ice BanditsDayton Ice BanditsThe Dayton Ice Bandits were a Colonial Hockey League team that played from 1996-1997 in Dayton, Ohio.-St. Thomas & London:The franchise was originally the St. Thomas Wildcats, one of the original franchises in the Colonial Hockey League. The team eventually moved from St. Thomas, Ontario to...
1996–1997, later Mohawk Valley ProwlersMohawk Valley ProwlersThe Mohawk Valley Prowlers were a UHL team which played from 1998 until January 2001 in Utica, New York. They were formerly the Dayton Ice Bandits... - Detroit Falcons 1992–1996
- Elmira JackalsElmira JackalsThe Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
2000–2007 - Evansville IceMenEvansville IceMenThe Evansville IceMen were a professional hockey team based in Evansville, Indiana. The team folded in 2010, as IceMen owner Ron Geary purchased the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and moved the team to Evansville, taking on the name "Evansville IceMen".The AAHL IceMen...
2010, merged into Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs.... - Flint BulldogsFlint BulldogsThe Flint Bulldogs were a professional hockey team in Flint, Michigan from 1991–1993. They were a part of the Colonial Hockey League and played their home games at the IMA Sports Arena. They compiled an overall record of 47–66–7 . After the 1993 season, the Bulldogs were relocated to Utica, New...
1991–1993, later Utica Bulldogs - Flint GeneralsFlint GeneralsThe Flint Generals were a professional ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan.They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center in Flint, Michigan....
1993-2010 - Fort Wayne KometsFort Wayne KometsThe Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
2006-2010, merged into Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs.... - Kalamazoo WingsKalamazoo WingsThe Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
2000-2009 - Kansas City OutlawsKansas City OutlawsThe Kansas City Outlaws were a professional ice hockey team, a former member of the UHL. They played their home games at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Missouri, where the NHL's Kansas City Scouts played for two seasons during the 1970s, and later the International Hockey League's Kansas City Blades...
2004–2005 - Knoxville SpeedKnoxville SpeedThe Knoxville Speed was a UHL team which played from 1999-2002 in Knoxville, Tennessee with home ice at the James White Civic Coliseum. They were formerly the Madison Monsters, and in April 1999 team owner Andrew Wilhelm announced that the franchise would relocate to Knoxville due to low attendance...
1999–2002 - Lehigh Valley Xtreme 2000(did not play)
- London WildcatsLondon WildcatsThe London Wildcats were a Colonial Hockey League team from 1994-1995 which played in London, Ontario. They were formerly the St. Thomas Wildcats, and later became the Dayton Ice Bandits....
1994–1995, later Dayton Ice BanditsDayton Ice BanditsThe Dayton Ice Bandits were a Colonial Hockey League team that played from 1996-1997 in Dayton, Ohio.-St. Thomas & London:The franchise was originally the St. Thomas Wildcats, one of the original franchises in the Colonial Hockey League. The team eventually moved from St. Thomas, Ontario to... - Madison KodiaksMadison KodiaksThe Madison Kodiaks were a minor league ice hockey team based in Madison, Wisconsin, during the 1999-2000 UHL season. Affiliated with the AHL Milwaukee Admirals, the Kodiaks were an expansion team that filled the void left by the recently departed Madison Monsters.After one season, the team moved...
1999–2000, later Kalamazoo WingsKalamazoo WingsThe Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium.... - Madison MonstersMadison MonstersThe Madison Monsters was a hockey team based in Madison, Wisconsin that later moved to Knoxville, Tennessee and was named the Knoxville Speed. The team played in the UHL and CoHL. The City of Madison was granted the franchise before the 1995-96 season. The other team to join that year was the...
1996–1999, later Knoxville SpeedKnoxville SpeedThe Knoxville Speed was a UHL team which played from 1999-2002 in Knoxville, Tennessee with home ice at the James White Civic Coliseum. They were formerly the Madison Monsters, and in April 1999 team owner Andrew Wilhelm announced that the franchise would relocate to Knoxville due to low attendance... - Michigan Falcons 1991–1992, later Detroit Falcons
- Missouri River OttersMissouri River OttersThe now defunct Missouri River Otters was a minor pro team in the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2006. They were located in St. Charles, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Mike Shanahan Jr. was the owner and president when the team ceased operations. Frank Buonomo served as General Manager. They...
1999–2006 - Mohawk Valley ProwlersMohawk Valley ProwlersThe Mohawk Valley Prowlers were a UHL team which played from 1998 until January 2001 in Utica, New York. They were formerly the Dayton Ice Bandits...
1998– January, 2001 - Motor City MechanicsMotor City MechanicsThe Motor City Mechanics were a professional ice hockey team of the United Hockey League. The Mechanics played their first two seasons, from 2004–2006, at Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena in Fraser, Michigan...
2004–2006 - Muskegon LumberjacksMuskegon Lumberjacks (1992–2010)The Muskegon Lumberjacks was an International Hockey League ice hockey team located in Muskegon, Michigan. After the 2010 season the team folded, and the Evansville IceMen Owner Ron Geary purchased the franchise rights of the former Muskegon Lumberjacks, from the International Hockey League and...
1992-2010, later Evansville IceMenEvansville IceMenThe Evansville IceMen were a professional hockey team based in Evansville, Indiana. The team folded in 2010, as IceMen owner Ron Geary purchased the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League and moved the team to Evansville, taking on the name "Evansville IceMen".The AAHL IceMen... - New Haven KnightsNew Haven KnightsThe New Haven Knights were a professional ice hockey team and members of the United Hockey League from 2000-2002. They played in New Haven, Connecticut at the New Haven Coliseum, and were the last team to play at that venue, folding when the Coliseum closed in 2002....
2000–2002 - Ohio GearsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to...
December 20, 1999–2000, later Arctic Xpress - Port Huron BeaconsPort Huron BeaconsThe Port Huron Beacons were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League that played from 2002 to 2005. The team was based in Port Huron, Michigan, and played at the McMorran Arena. The Beacons departed in 2005 to become the Roanoke Valley Vipers.President, General...
2002–2005, later Roanoke Valley VipersRoanoke Valley VipersThe Roanoke Valley Vipers were a professional ice hockey team located in Roanoke, Virginia. They were formed for the 2005-06 season, mainly to fill the gap after the ECHL's Roanoke Express disbanded and to provide a travel partner near the Richmond RiverDogs. They were a member of the United... - Port Huron Border CatsPort Huron Border CatsThe Port Huron Border Cats were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League that played from 1996 to 2002. The team was based in Port Huron, Michigan, and played at the McMorran Arena...
1996–2002 - Port Huron IcehawksPort Huron IcehawksThe Port Huron Icehawks were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Port Huron, Michigan. They were a member of the International Hockey League and played their home games at McMorran Arena. The franchise was announced on June 20, 2007 as part of the new IHL. The Icehawks are owned by...
2007-2010 - Port Huron FlagsPort Huron FlagsThe Port Huron Flags were a minor league professional ice hockey team located in Port Huron, Michigan. The Flags competed in the International Hockey League between the 1962 and 1981 seasons. For three of those season from 1971 to 1974, Port Huron was a farm team of the Detroit Red Wings, and were...
2005–2007 - Quad City Mallards 1995–2007
- Quad City MallardsQuad City MallardsThe Quad City Mallards were a professional ice hockey team competing in the AA level United Hockey League. The Mallards played their home games at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. Their team colors were forest green and burgundy. They won the Colonial Cup in 1997, 1998 and 2001,...
2006-2010, merged into Central Hockey LeagueCentral Hockey LeagueThe Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs.... - Richmond RiverDogsRichmond RiverDogsThe Richmond RiverDogs were a professional minor league ice hockey franchise based in Richmond, Virginia. They played at the Richmond Coliseum....
2003–2006, later Chicago HoundsChicago HoundsThe Chicago Hounds were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League for the 2006-07 UHL season. They played their home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Hounds franchise was officially a relocation of the Richmond RiverDogs franchise, which played in... - Roanoke Valley VipersRoanoke Valley VipersThe Roanoke Valley Vipers were a professional ice hockey team located in Roanoke, Virginia. They were formed for the 2005-06 season, mainly to fill the gap after the ECHL's Roanoke Express disbanded and to provide a travel partner near the Richmond RiverDogs. They were a member of the United...
2005–2006 - Rockford IceHogs 1999–2007
- Saginaw GearsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to...
1998–December 19, 1999, later Ohio GearsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to... - Saginaw LumberKingsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to...
1996–1998, later Saginaw GearsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to... - Saginaw WheelsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to...
1994–1996, later Saginaw LumberKingsSaginaw Gears (UHL)The Saginaw Gears were a minor-league ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League . The Gears existed one season and part of another, from 1998 to December 19, 1999. On December 20, 1999, the team left Saginaw, Michigan in the middle of the night and moved to Massillon, Ohio to... - St. Thomas WildcatsSt. Thomas WildcatsThe St. Thomas Wildcats were a professional ice hockey team in the Colonial Hockey League, later the United Hockey League, now known as the International Hockey League. They played at the St. Thomas-Elgin Memorial Centre in St. Thomas, Ontario. The team was a founding member of the league and was...
1991–1994, later London WildcatsLondon WildcatsThe London Wildcats were a Colonial Hockey League team from 1994-1995 which played in London, Ontario. They were formerly the St. Thomas Wildcats, and later became the Dayton Ice Bandits.... - Thunder Bay SenatorsThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
1993–1996, later Thunder Bay Thunder CatsThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time... - Thunder Bay Thunder CatsThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
1996–1999, later Rockford IceHogsRockford IceHogsThis article is about the former UHL franchise. For the current American Hockey League franchise, see Rockford IceHogs.The Rockford IceHogs were a professional ice hockey team in Rockford, Illinois USA. They were a member of the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2007. The IceHogs played their home... - Thunder Bay Thunder HawksThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time...
1991–1993, later Thunder Bay SenatorsThunder Bay Thunder CatsThe Thunder Bay Thunder Cats was the name of the Rockford IceHogs of the UHL prior to moving to Rockford. The team went through a number of different names prior to being the Thunder Cats, including the Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks and the Thunder Bay Senators.-History:After the success of the 5-time... - Utica Bulldogs 1993–1994
- Utica BlizzardUtica BlizzardThe Utica Blizzard were a professional ice hockey team from Utica, New York, and member of the Colonial Hockey League 1994-1997. The Blizzard were formerly the Utica Bulldogs from 1993-1994. Prior to playing in Utica, the franchise was known as the Flint Bulldogs.-External links:* ...
1994–1997 - Winston-Salem IceHawksWinston-Salem IceHawksThe Winston-Salem IceHawks were a UHL from 1997-1999. They played in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They later became the Adirondack IceHawks....
1997–1999, later Adirondack IceHawks
See also
- List of developmental and minor sports leagues
- List of ice hockey leagues
- Minor leagueMinor leagueMinor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
- Sports league attendances