Worcester IceCats
Encyclopedia
The Worcester IceCats were an 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...

 team in the 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...

. They played in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....

, USA at the Worcester Centrum
DCU Center
The DCU Center is an indoor arena and convention center complex, located in downtown Worcester, Massachusetts....

. In 2005 the team was renamed the Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen
The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...

 and moved to Peoria, Illinois
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...

.

History

The IceCats got their start when original New York Islanders
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...

 owner Roy Boe
Roy Boe
Roy Lars Magnus Boe was an owner of the New Jersey Nets, New York Islanders, and several other professional sports teams....

 purchased the Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...

 AHL franchise and moved it to Worcester in the summer of 1994. The team began play in the Fall of 1994 with a collection of free-agent players but as yet with no 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...

 team affiliation. Late in the 1994–95 season, Boe and head coach/General Manager Jim Roberts
Jim Roberts (ice hockey b. 1940)
James Wilfred Roberts is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman and forward. He went by both nicknames of Jimmy and Jim....

 negotiated a deal with the St. Louis Blues. From that point on the IceCats would be the Blues' premier minor league team. The Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen (ECHL)
The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team in the ECHL. They played in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena....

 of the East Coast Hockey League, in turn, became the IceCats' minor league affiliate in 1998, having been with St. Louis before the 1994 Worcester deal. During the 2000–01 season, Boe sold the IceCats to the St. Louis Blues. The team celebrated its tenth season in the AHL in Fall 2003.

On November 9, 2004 the St. Louis Blues announced the sale of the IceCats to the owners of their ECHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. The new owners have moved the franchise to Peoria, IL, for the 2005–06 season.
This franchise was previously known as: Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...

 (1926–1994)
The franchise became known as: Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen
The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...

 (2005–present)
This franchise was replaced by: Worcester Sharks
Worcester Sharks
The Worcester Sharks are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . The franchise is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and play their home games at the DCU Center in Downtown Worcester. The Sharks and the city of Worcester hosted the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic.-History:On...

 (2006–present)

Regular Season

Season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...

Games WonLostTiedOTLSOLPoints Goals
for
Goals
against
Standing
1994–95
1994–95 AHL season
The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule...

80 24 45 11 0 59 234 300 6th, North
1995–96
1995–96 AHL season
The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions...

80 36 28 12 4 88 242 244 2nd, North
1996–97
1996–97 AHL season
The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division...

80 43 23 9 5 100 256 234 1st, New England
1997–98
1997–98 AHL season
The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...

80 34 31 9 6 83 267 268 4th, New England
1998–99
1998–99 AHL season
The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...

80 34 36 8 2 78 237 260 4th, New England
1999–00 80 34 31 11 4 83 249 250 3rd, New England
2000–01
2000–01 AHL season
The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...

80 48 20 9 3 108 264 205 1st, New England
2001–02
2001–02 AHL season
The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion...

80 39 33 7 1 86 245 218 3rd, North
2002–03
2002–03 AHL season
The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season...

80 35 27 15 3 88 235 220 3rd, North
2003–04
2003–04 AHL season
The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer....

80 37 27 13 3 90 207 186 3rd, Atlantic
2004–05
2004–05 AHL season
The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...

80 39 34 3 4 85 212 223 5th, Atlantic

Playoffs

Season1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1994–95
1994–95 AHL season
The 1994–95 AHL season was the 59th season of the American Hockey League. The All-Star Game is revived, with All-Stars grouped into "Team Canada" and "Team USA." Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule...

 
Out of playoffs.
1995–96
1995–96 AHL season
The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions...

 
L, 1-3, Portland
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...

 
1996–97
1996–97 AHL season
The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division...

 
L, 2-3, Providence
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...

 
1997–98
1997–98 AHL season
The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western...

 
W, 3-1, Springfield
Springfield Falcons
The Springfield Falcons are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the MassMutual Center and are the top affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League. The Falcons' two main rivals are the Connecticut Whale and the...

 
L, 3-4, Hartford 
1998–99
1998–99 AHL season
The 1998–99 AHL season was the 63rd season of the American Hockey League. Nineteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Providence Bruins finished first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.-Team changes:...

 
L, 1-3, Providence
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...

 
1999–00  W, 3-1, Portland
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...

 
L, 1-4, Hartford 
2000–01
2000–01 AHL season
The 2000–01 AHL season was the 65th season of the American Hockey League. The league realigns its divisions again. The Atlantic division is renamed the Canadian division. The Empire State division is replaced by the South division, with many teams shifting from the Mid-Atlantic division.Twenty...

 
W, 3-1, Lowell  L, 3-4, Providence
Providence Bruins
The Providence Bruins are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are the primary development team for the NHL's Boston Bruins. They play in Providence, Rhode Island at the Dunkin' Donuts Center.-History:...

 
2001–02
2001–02 AHL season
The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion...

L, 1-2, Manitoba
Manitoba Moose
The Manitoba Moose were a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that played in the International Hockey League from 1996 to 2001 and American Hockey League from 2001 to 2011. The team moved to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2011 to become the St...

2002–03
2002–03 AHL season
The 2002–03 AHL season was the 67th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Hamilton Bulldogs finished first overall in the regular season...

 
L, 0-3, Binghamton
Binghamton Senators
The Binghamton Senators are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . Nicknamed the B-Sens, they play in Binghamton, New York at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. Along with the Elmira Jackals of the ECHL, the B-Sens are minor league affiliates of the Ottawa Senators...

 
2003–04
2003–04 AHL season
The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduces the Willie Marshall Award in honour the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer....

 
W, 4-2, Manchester
Manchester Monarchs
The Manchester Monarchs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Verizon Wireless Arena. They have been the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings since 2001.-History:...

 
L, 0-4, Hartford 
2004–05
2004–05 AHL season
The 2004–05 AHL season was the 69th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-eight teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Rochester Americans finished first overall in the regular season...

 
Out of playoffs.


Lost in preliminary round.

Single season

  • Goals: 38 Eric Boguniecki
    Eric Boguniecki
    Eric Boguniecki is an assistant coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.- Playing career :Drafted 193rd overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, Boguniecki's scoring ability in the minor leagues led to him being signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers in 1999. ...

     and Justin Papineau
    Justin Papineau
    Justin Papineau , is a professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.- Draft :...

     (2001–2002)
  • Assists: 46 Eric Boguniecki (2001–2002)
  • Points: 84 Eric Boguniecki (2001–2002)
  • Penalty minutes: 337 Sylvain Blouin
    Sylvain Blouin
    Sylvain Lucien Blouin is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 115 games in the National Hockey League. He played with the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Minnesota Wild.-Career statistics:- External links :...

     (1999–2000)
  • GAA: 2.13 Curtis Sanford
    Curtis Sanford
    Curtis Sanford is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

     (2003–2004)
  • SV%: 0.929 Dwayne Roloson
    Dwayne Roloson
    Albert Dwayne Roloson is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League . He has previously played for the Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Edmonton Oilers, and New York Islanders during his professional career...

     (2000–2001)

Career

  • Career goals: 79 Marc Brown 
  • Career assists: 154 Terry Virtue
    Terry Virtue
    Terry William Virtue is a former Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Virtue spent many years in the minor leagues and it wasn't until the 1998–99 NHL season where he played his first NHL game, playing four for the Boston Bruins. The next season he played one game for the New York Rangers...

     
  • Career points: 210 Terry Virtue
  • Career penalty minutes: 1083 Terry Virtue
  • Career goaltending wins: 65 Curtis Sanford
  • Career shutouts: 10 Curtis Sanford
  • Career games: 455 Terry Virtue

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in IceCat's franchise history.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points;
Player Pos GP G A Pts
Terry Virtue
Terry Virtue
Terry William Virtue is a former Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Virtue spent many years in the minor leagues and it wasn't until the 1998–99 NHL season where he played his first NHL game, playing four for the Boston Bruins. The next season he played one game for the New York Rangers...

 
D 455 56 154 210
Jame Pollock
Jame Pollock
Jame Pollock is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Thomas Sabo Ice Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.-Playing career:...

 
D 270 63 104 167
Marc Brown LW 303 79 81 160
Eric Boguniecki
Eric Boguniecki
Eric Boguniecki is an assistant coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.- Playing career :Drafted 193rd overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, Boguniecki's scoring ability in the minor leagues led to him being signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers in 1999. ...

 
C 141 69 86 155
Jeff Panzer C 210 62 84 146
Justin Papineau
Justin Papineau
Justin Papineau , is a professional ice hockey centre who currently plays for the Adler Mannheim of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany.- Draft :...

 
C 162 66 77 143
Stephane Roy C 208 61 78 139
Daniel Corso
Daniel Corso
Daniel Corso is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for Dinamo Minsk of the Kontinental Hockey League.-Playing career:...

 
C 187 54 85 139
Marty Reasoner
Marty Reasoner
Martin Reasoner, is an American professional ice hockey center for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League . He has also played for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers...

 
C 122 57 68 125
Blake Evans
Blake Evans
Blake Evans is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre, who plays for Vålerenga in the Norwegian GET-ligaen.- Draft :...

 
C 253 52 73 125

Team captains

  • Jim Nesich, 1994–1995
  • Roy Mitchell, 1995–1996
  • David Williams, 1996–1997
  • Terry Virtue
    Terry Virtue
    Terry William Virtue is a former Canadian ice hockey defenceman.Virtue spent many years in the minor leagues and it wasn't until the 1998–99 NHL season where he played his first NHL game, playing four for the Boston Bruins. The next season he played one game for the New York Rangers...

    , 1997–1998
  • Ricard Persson
    Ricard Persson
    Ricard Persson is a Swedish professional ice hockey player. Persson played in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, and Ottawa Senators. Persson is currently with SG Cortina of the Serie A.-Playing career:...

    , 1997–1998
  • Geoff Smith
    Geoff Smith (ice hockey)
    Geoff Arthur Smith is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1989 to 1999.-Playing career:...

    , 1998–1999
  • Jason Widmer
    Jason Widmer
    Jason Widmer was a professional ice hockey player who played for the New York Islanders and San Jose Sharks of the NHL.-Regular season and playoffs:-External links:...

    , 1998–2000
  • Bryan Helmer
    Bryan Helmer
    Bryan Berry Helmer is a professional ice hockey player who is the captain of the Oklahoma City Barons of the American Hockey League . He previously served as Captain for the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League. He has also played in the NHL with the Phoenix Coyotes, St...

    , 1999–2000
  • Ed Campbell, 2000–2002
  • Eric Nickulas
    Eric Nickulas
    Eric Nickulas is a professional ice hockey right winger who last played for the ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in Germany....

    , 2002–2003
  • Jeff Panzer, 2003–2004
  • Mike Mottau
    Mike Mottau
    Michael Joseph Mottau is an German-American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League...

    , 2004–2005

Notable IceCats

  • Eric Boguniecki
    Eric Boguniecki
    Eric Boguniecki is an assistant coach for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL.- Playing career :Drafted 193rd overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues, Boguniecki's scoring ability in the minor leagues led to him being signed as a free agent by the Florida Panthers in 1999. ...

  • Rory Fitzpatrick
    Rory Fitzpatrick
    Rory B. Fitzpatrick is a former American professional ice hockey defenseman who played 10 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators, Buffalo Sabres, Vancouver Canucks and Philadelphia Flyers...

  • Jochen Hecht
    Jochen Hecht
    Jochen Hecht is a German professional ice hockey player for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

  • Brent Johnson
    Brent Johnson
    Brent Johnson is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...

  • Jamal Mayers
    Jamal Mayers
    Jamal David Mayers is a professional ice hockey forward who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. He wore jersey number 21 for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the St. Louis Blues, number 19 for the Flames, and number 10 for the San Jose Sharks...

  • Jay McClement
    Jay McClement
    -International:-External links:...

  • Jamie McLennan
    Jamie McLennan
    Jamie McLennan is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. He retired from playing in 2008 after spending a season with the Nippon Paper Cranes of Asia League Ice Hockey.-Playing career:...

  • Mike Mottau
    Mike Mottau
    Michael Joseph Mottau is an German-American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League...

  • Ladislav Nagy
    Ladislav Nagy
    Ladislav Nagy is a Slovak professional hockey player who plays for HC Lev Poprad of the KHL.- Playing career :Nagy, who is of Hungarian descent, was drafted 177th overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. Nagy had played in the Slovak Extraliga as a junior prior to being drafted...

  • Marty Reasoner
    Marty Reasoner
    Martin Reasoner, is an American professional ice hockey center for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League . He has also played for the St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers...

  • Pascal Rheaume
    Pascal Rhéaume
    Pascal Rhéaume is an ice hockey player. He is the younger brother of Manon Rhéaume, the first woman to appear in an NHL preseason game. He has previously played for the New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers, Chicago Blackhawks and Phoenix Coyotes. He won a Stanley...

  • Bryce Salvador
    Bryce Salvador
    Bryce Chad Salvador is a professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL. Salvador was drafted in the sixth round, 138th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. Salvador was traded from the St. Louis Blues to the Devils for Cam...

  • Curtis Sanford
    Curtis Sanford
    Curtis Sanford is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...

  • Steve Staios
    Steve Staios
    Steven Staios is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is an alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He has played both right wing and defence in the NHL.-Playing career:...

  • Mike Van Ryn
    Mike Van Ryn
    Michael Van Ryn is a former professional ice hockey defenceman. He attended Sir Fredrick Banting Secondary School in London, Ontario. He played for the St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League...

  • Dennis Wideman
    Dennis Wideman
    Dennis Earl Wideman is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League...


External links

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