Erie Otters

Erie Otters
City	Erie, Pennsylvania
League	Ontario Hockey League
Conference	Western
Division	Midwest
Founded	1996 (1996)–97
Home arena	Louis J. Tullio Arena
Colours	Navy blue, red, yellow and gold
General manager	Sherwood Bassin
Head coach	Robbie Ftorek
Affiliate(s)	Huntsville-Muskoka Otters
Website www.ottershockey.com
Franchise history
1946–53	Windsor Spitfires
1953–60	Hamilton Tiger Cubs
1960–74	Hamilton Red Wings
1974–76	Hamilton Fincups
1976–77	St. Catharines Fincups
1977–78	Hamilton Fincups
1978–84	Brantford Alexanders
1984–88	Hamilton Steelhawks
1988–96	Niagara Falls Thunder
1996–present	Erie Otters

The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). Based in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA, they have played their home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena since 1996. The Otters are the only Pennsylvania-based team in the OHL and one of only three United States-based teams in the league.

History

The Niagara Falls Thunder relocated from Niagara Falls, Ontario to Erie in 1996, becoming the Erie Otters. The team takes its name from the otter, a water creature common to the south shore of Lake Erie.

The Otters' ownership partners are Ron Sertz, Jeff Fatica, and Ray Irwin. Sherwood Bassin is the general manager and a managing partner of the team. Walt Wingfield serves as head scout.

The first three years in Erie were building years for the Otters, with the team eliminated in the first round of the playoffs each year. In the fourth year, all the hard work paid off with their first Midwest Division championship.

It would be their first of three consecutive Midwest Division championships for the Otters, culminating in an OHL Championship in 2001–02. Dave MacQueen won the Matt Leyden Trophy in 2000–01 as the OHL Coach of the Year. Sherwood Bassin was awarded OHL Executive of the Year in 2001–02 for his role in building a championship team as general manager.

The Erie Otters celebrated their 10th anniversary in the 2005–06 season.

Controversy struck the Otters on October 31, 2009, when forward Michael Liambas delivered a highly controversial and devastating check to opposing sixteen-year-old defenceman Ben Fanelli. As Liambas checked Fanelli into the boards behind the Rangers net, Fanelli's head hit a metal partition in the glass, breaking and knocking off his helmet. Fanelli lay unconscious while twitching and foaming at the mouth before being rushed to hospital in critical condition with skull and orbital bone fractures. OHL commissioner David Branch suspended Liambas for the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs, citing the speed and distance to which Liambas skated to deliver the check, as well as the severity of Fanelli's injuries. He commented that the suspension was responding to a "need to take strong steps to ... send out the message to all our players and minor hockey players that we have to be ... more respectful of our opponent." Otters general manager Sherwood Bassin was quick to come to Liambas' defense following the suspension, expressing surprise with the severity of the penalty from Branch. Bassin asserted that Liambas was not simply a "goofball kid", citing his 95 percent average in high school, as well as volunteer work in initiating a stay-in-school program for kids and at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie.

The Otters celebrated their 1000th regular season game in franchise history on February 5, 2011 with an 8-2 win against the Windsor Spitfires in front of a crowd of 5,417 at Louis J. Tullio Arena.

2001–02 OHL Champions

In the 2001–02 season, the Erie Otters became the second OHL team based in the United States to win the OHL Championship. The first were the 1995 champions Detroit Junior Red Wings (now the Plymouth Whalers).

After a disappointing conference finals loss to Plymouth the previous year, the Otters used their experience and work ethic to push themselves through the playoffs. Otters players had a puck holder hung on the wall of the dressing room with 16 slots to fill, equal to the number of wins needed for the title. Erie earned that 16th puck by defeating the Barrie Colts in game 5 of the 2002 finals on an overtime goal by 15-year-old Sean Courtney.

The Otters bid to host the 2002 Memorial Cup, but the Guelph Storm were chosen instead. Erie earned a berth in the tournament as OHL Champions but ultimately finished in third place.

Two-time OHL MVP Brad Boyes led the Otters as captain. Team members for the 2002 championship were:

T. J. Aceti, Chris Berti, Brad Bonello, Brad Boyes, Chris Campoli, Carlo Colaiacovo, Noel Coultice, Sean Courtney, Brandon Cullen, Scott Dobben, Jeff Doyle, Chris Eade, David Herring, Alex Karaulchuk, Michal Kokavec, Brian Lee, Thomas Lee, Chris Martin, Mike McKeown, Adam Munro, Cory Pecker, Mike Rice, Dave MacQueen (coach), Sherwood Bassin (GM)

Championships

• J. Ross Robertson Cup (OHL Champions)
  2001–2002
• Wayne Gretzky Trophy (Western Conference Champions)
  2001–2002
• Hamilton Spectator Trophy (1st place regular season)
  2000–2001 (102 points)
• Holody Trophy (Midwest Division Champions)
  1999–2000, 2000–2001, 2001–2002

Coaches

Dave MacQueen won the Matt Leyden Trophy in 2000–01 as the OHL Coach of the Year.

Multiple years in parentheses

• 1996–1997 Chris Johnstone, Dale Dunbar
• 1997–1998 Dale Dunbar (2)
• 1998–1999 Paul Theriault
• 1999–2006 Dave MacQueen (7)
• 2006–2007 Peter Sidorkiewicz (2)
• 2007–present Robbie Ftorek (4)

Players

A total of 21 players have been selected at the National Hockey League Entry Draft since the franchise relocated to Erie, including a five-year stretch from 1997–2001 in which seven members of the team were selected in the first round: (1997 Jason Ward, 11th, Montreal Canadiens; 1998 Michael Rupp, ninth, New York Islanders; 1999 Tim Connolly, fifth, New York Islanders; 2000 Nikita Alexeev, eighth, Tampa Bay Lightning; Brad Boyes, 24th, Toronto Maple Leafs; 2001 Carlo Colaiacovo, 17th, Toronto Maple Leafs; and Adam Munro, 29th, Chicago Blackhawks).

Award winners

• 1999–2000 - Brad Boyes, CHL Scholastic Player of the Year Award, Bobby Smith Trophy (OHL Scholastic Player of the Year)
• 2000–01 - Brad Boyes, Red Tilson Trophy (Most Outstanding Player), William Hanley Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player)
• 2000–01 - Joey Sullivan, Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy (Humanitarian of the Year)
• 2001–02 - Brad Boyes, CHL Sportsman of the Year Award, Red Tilson Trophy (Most Outstanding Player), William Hanley Trophy (Most Sportsmanlike Player), Wayne Gretzky 99 Award (Playoffs MVP)
• 2001–02 - Cory Pecker, Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy (Overage Player of the Year)
• 2003–04 - Chris Campoli, CHL Humanitarian of the Year, Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy (OHL Humanitarian of the Year)
• 2006–07 - Derrick Bagshaw, Roger Neilson Memorial Award (Top Academic University Player)
• 2007-09 - Ryan O’Reilly, Jack Ferguson Award (First Overall draft pick)

NHL alumni

Nikita Alexeev Adam Berti Michael Blunden Brad Boyes

Chris Campoli Carlo Colaiacovo Tim Connolly Brett MacLean

Steve Montador Adam Munro Ryan O'Marra Ryan O'Reilly

Jeff Paul Nick Palmieri Geoff Platt Michael Rupp

Stephen Valiquette Jason Ward Jeff Zehr

Retired numbers

• Brad Boyes (#16)
• Vince Scott (#18)

Current roster

Updated January 29th, 2012

Goaltenders
Number		Player	Catches	Acquired	NHL rights	Place of birth
29		Devin Williams	L	2011 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Saginaw, Michigan
33		Ramis Sadikov	R	2009 CHL Import Draft	Free Agent	Moscow, Russia
Defencemen
Number		Player	Shoots	Acquired	NHL rights	Place of birth
2		Liam Maaskant	R	2010 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Clinton, Ontario
5		Jimmy McDowell	R	Trade OSH 2012	Free Agent	Dimondale, MI
8		Tyler McCarthy	R	2008 OHL Draft	Free Agent	Orangeville, ON
15		Troy Donnay	R	Trade LDN 2012	Eligible in 2012	Fenton, MI
20		Nathan Glass	R	2010 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Weston, FL
27		Adam Pelech	L	2010 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Toronto, Ontario
32		Kris Grant	L	2009 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2011	Kingston, Ontario
37		Travis Wood	L	2011 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2014	Hudson, WI

Forwards
Number		Player	Shoots	Position	Acquired	NHL rights	Place of birth
6		Mac McDonnell	R	RW	Free Agent (2010)	Free Agent	Allen Park, Michigan
7		Jake Evans	L	C	2011 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2013	Thorold, ON
9		Anthony Cortellessa	L	LW	Trade WSR 2012	Eligible in 2012	Etobicoke, Ontario
10		Stephen Harper	L	LW	2011 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2013	Burlington, ON
12		Nick Betz	R	RW	2011 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2013	Clinton Twp., MI
17		Mitchell Eisenberg	L	LW	2010 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Raleigh, NC
19		Sondre Olden	L	C	2011 CHL Import Draft	TOR 2010 NHL Draft	Oslo, Norway
21		Johnny McGuire	R	RW	2009 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Lindsay, ON
23		Connor Crisp	L	C	2010 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2013	Alliston, Ontario
28		Connor Brown	R	RW	2010 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Etobicoke, Ontario
34		Dane Fox	L	C	Trade LDN 2012	Eligible in 2011	Thamesville, ON
40		Luke Cairns	L	C	2010 OHL Draft	Eligible in 2012	Stoney Creek, Ontario

Note: (OA) = Overage player

Team records

Team records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most points	102	2000–01
Most wins	45	2000–01
Most goals for	281	2010–11
Least goals for	181	2002–03
Least goals against	171	2000–01
Most goals against	378	2006–07

Individual player records for a single season
Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Most goals	Cory Pecker	53	2001–02
Most assists	Zack Torquato	62	2009–10
Most points	Cory Pecker	99	2001–02
Most points, rookie	Tim Connolly	62	1997–98
Most points, defenceman	Chris Campoli	66	2003–04
Best GAA (goalie)	Adam Munro	2.31	2000–01
Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season	Games	Won	Lost	Tied	OTL	SL	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
1996–97	66	23	36	7	-	-	53	0.402	240	260	5th Central
1997–98	66	33	28	5	-	-	71	0.538	261	252	4th Central
1998–99	68	31	33	4	-	-	66	0.485	271	297	3rd Midwest
1999–2000	68	33	28	4	3	-	73	0.515	224	229	1st Midwest
2000–01	68	45	11	10	2	-	102	0.735	264	171	1st Midwest
2001–02	68	41	22	4	1	-	87	0.632	246	218	1st Midwest
2002–03	68	24	35	6	3	-	57	0.397	181	248	5th Midwest
2003–04	68	29	26	6	7	-	71	0.471	221	212	5th Midwest
2004–05	68	31	26	6	5	-	73	0.500	186	207	4th Midwest
2005–06	68	26	35	-	4	3	59	0.434	219	266	5th Midwest
2006–07	68	15	50	-	1	2	33	0.243	209	378	5th Midwest
2007–08	68	18	46	-	2	2	40	0.294	206	343	5th Midwest
2008–09	68	34	29	-	3	2	73	0.537	208	254	3rd Midwest
2009–10	68	33	28	-	5	2	73	0.537	257	259	4th Midwest
2010–11	68	40	26	-	1	1	82	0.603	281	229	3rd Midwest
Total:	1016	456	459	52	37	12	1012	-	3474	3823	-

Playoffs

• 1996–97 Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in division quarter-finals.
• 1997–98 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 3 in division quarter-finals.
• 1998–99 Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
• 1999–2000 Defeated Brampton Battalion 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to S.S. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
• 2000–01 Defeated London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated Brampton Battalion 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
  Lost to Plymouth Whalers 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
• 2001–02 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Defeated London Knights 4 games to 2 in conference semi-finals.
  Defeated Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 1 in finals. OHL CHAMPIONS
  Lost to Victoriaville Tigres 5-4 (OT) in the Memorial Cup semi-finals.
• 2002–03 Out of playoffs.
• 2003–04 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
  Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
• 2004–05 Lost to Kitchener Rangers 4 games to 2 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2005–06 Out of playoffs.
• 2006–07 Out of playoffs.
• 2007–08 Out of playoffs.
• 2008–09 Lost to London Knights 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2009–10 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
• 2010–11 Lost to Windsor Spitfires 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.

Uniforms and logos

The team mascot is an anthropomorphic otter named Shooter, who wears a home jersey. The Otters home uniforms have a navy blue background; the road uniforms have a white background. Both have red, yellow and gold trim. The logo is an angry otter with a hockey stick. The team changes their color after the annual Christmas break in the league. It is a league wide tradition teams go from wearing their home whites to their home colors.

For the 2005–06 season (the team's 10th/Diamond Anniversary), the Otters unveiled a third jersey as part of the "Make Other Teams Bleed" campaign. The jersey has a red background with navy blue, white and gold trim. The third logo has "Erie" in big letters across the chest with "Otters" written beneath it.

In honor of the Erie Otters 1000th game on February 5, 2011, the Erie Otters wore yellow jerseys with Erie emblazoned across the chest in blue, with red and blue stripes on the sleeves and on the bottom of the jerseys.

Arena

The Erie Otters play home games at the Louis J. Tullio Arena located in downtown Erie, Pennsylvania. The arena was built in 1983 and seats 5,500 spectators. The Tullio arena is one of the loudest in the league and works well for home ice advantage. The arena is part of the Erie Civic Center Complex, which includes Jerry Uht Park—a baseball stadium and home to the AA Erie SeaWolves.

See also

• Erie Blizzard

External links

• www.ottershockey.com Erie Otters official site
• www.erieevents.com Erie Event Centre official site
• Erie Otters Erie Otters homepage on LocalSportsReport.com
• [1] Erie Otters Twitter page
• [2] Erie Otters Facebook Fan page
• [3] Erie Otters Remix Video