Bloomington Blaze
| Bloomington Blaze | |
|---|---|
 |
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| City | Bloomington, Illinois |
| League | Southern Professional Hockey League |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Operated | CHL (2011–2013) SPHL (2013–present) |
| Home arena | U.S. Cellular Coliseum |
| Colors | Black, Red, Gold |
| Owner(s) | Illinois Pro Sports, LLC |
| Head coach | Brian Gratz |
| Media | WJBC-FM (93.7 FM) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2011–present | Bloomington Blaze |
The Bloomington Blaze is a minor league ice hockey team that is a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Based in Bloomington, Illinois, the Blaze play their home games at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, located in downtown Bloomington. After two years in the Central Hockey League, the Blaze will be under new ownership and begin playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League in the 2013–14 season.[1]
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History[edit]
The Blaze replaced the Bloomington PrairieThunder who played in the International Hockey League from 2006-2010 (in their first season the league was called the United Hockey League) before it merged with the CHL for the 2010-11 season, which they had only played the single season before folding. Though the Blaze also plays at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum, the franchise is not a continuation of the PrairieThunder franchise. The former head coach, Jason Christie, resigned before the season started.
The Blaze is coached by former Dayton Gems coach Brian Gratz. Gratz has been the head coach of the Central Hockey League affiliate Dayton Gems for the past two years. The Gems went a combined 55-58-19 in his tenure there.
On May 15, 2013, it was announced that the Blaze, along with the AHL's Peoria Rivermen, would move to the Southern Professional Hockey League for the 2013–14 season. The Rivermen had been notified that the Vancouver Canucks, who had purchased the team a month earlier, would not keep them in Peoria. The two teams will reportedly be owned by two former Rivermen executives, John Butler, Bart Rogers and David Holt with financial backing from former Rivermen owner Bruce Saurs.[1]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Eminian, Dave (May 13, 2013). "Peoria to join SPHL under former Rivermen management team". Peoria Journal Star. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
External links[edit]
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