Niagara IceDogs: Difference between revisions
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{{Hockey team | |
{{Hockey team | |
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team = Niagara IceDogs | |
team = Niagara IceDogs | |
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logo = Nicedogslogo.jpg | |
logo = Nicedogslogo.jpg|250px|centre | |
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city = [[St. Catharines, Ontario]] | |
city = [[St. Catharines, Ontario]] | |
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league = [[Ontario Hockey League]] | |
league = [[Ontario Hockey League]] | |
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Revision as of 04:28, 13 June 2007
| Niagara IceDogs | |
|---|---|
| File:Nicedogslogo.jpg | |
| City | St. Catharines, Ontario |
| League | Ontario Hockey League |
| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | January 21, 1997 |
| Home arena | Jack Gatecliff Arena |
| Colours | red, black, white |
| General manager | Dave Brown |
| Head coach | Mario Cicchillo |
| Affiliate | Mississauga Chargers |
The Niagara IceDogs are a junior ice hockey team in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The team started out in Mississauga, Ontario and have played in the Ontario Hockey League since the 1998-99 season. The team was sold in June 2007 and relocated from Mississauga, Ontario to St. Catharines, Ontario for the 2007-08 season. [1][2]
History
From 1998 to 2002, the IceDogs enjoyed little success, finishing last in the OHL's Central Division every year. During this building phase, the team had six head coaches within the span of 4 years, including the owner, Don Cherry. Mississauga drafted first overall each year, leading to two rookies of the year, including one of the highest touted NHL prospects in Jason Spezza.
In the 2002-03 OHL season, the IceDogs finished fourth in the Central division and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but lost in the first round in five games against the Ottawa 67's.
The 2003-04 OHL season was the IceDogs' best season to date. The team finished second in the Central division, finishing two points behind the division champion St. Michael's Majors, and third overall in the Eastern Conference.
In the first round of the playoffs, the IceDogs defeated the Oshawa Generals in seven games, winning their first-ever playoff series. The IceDogs were down three games to two against the Barrie Colts in the second round but managed to come back and win the series in seven games. The surprise IceDogs then upset the St. Michael's Majors in the Eastern Conference Championship series in six games to win the Bobby Orr Trophy and earn their first-ever trip to the Ontario Hockey League finals. The dream ended there as they fell to the Guelph Storm in four straight games in the OHL final, losing the fourth game at the Hershey Centre.
2004-05 was another record setting season for the IceDogs. They won their first ever central division title and finished first in the Eastern Conference with 81 points. Despite regular season success, the IceDogs were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the eighth-seeded Toronto St. Michael's Majors in five games. In 2005-06 the IceDogs started rebuilding and missed the playoffs again.
Change in ownership
On July 12, 2006, Eugene Melnyk, who owns the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, bought the Mississauga IceDogs. After the 2006-07 season, Melnyk planned to sell the IceDogs, and move the Majors to the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. [3]. On January 8, 2007, Toronto businessman Tom Bitove proposed to buy the team with plans to move to Niagara Falls [4], but city council declined the proposal to build a new arena. [5] As an alternative, the team had aproached the City of St. Catharines about moving the team into Jack Gatecliff Arena in the downtown core of the city. St. Catharines City Council voted on a leasing arrangement on April 23rd, 2007, which passed. Bill Burke got OHL Board approval on June 5th, 2007 to buy the IceDogs and relocated the team to St. Catharines in time for the 2007-08 season, to be known as the Niagara IceDogs. [6][7]
Championships
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Bobby Orr Trophy
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Emms Trophy
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Coaches
Former team owner, and legendary hockey commentator Donald S. Cherry (aka Grapes) stepped behind the bench to coach the IceDogs for the 2001-02 season, after going through five coaches in three years. The team had its best season to the date, but still failed to reach the playoffs. The IceDogs were one of the highest-selling road teams in the OHL that year, as many spectators attended games to see Don Cherry coach and seek autographs.
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Players
The Niagara IceDogs had the first overall draft pick four years in a row, which produced two rookies of the year, and a total of seven alumni have played in the National Hockey League.
Award Winners
Emms Family Award
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Jack Ferguson Award
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NHL Alumni
Team records
| Team Records for a single season | ||
| Statistic | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most Points | 83 | 2003-04 |
| Most Wins | 36 | 2003-04 |
| Most Goals For | 217 | 2003-04 |
| Least Goals For | 145 | 1998-99 |
| Least Goals Against | 172 | 2004-05 |
| Most Goals Against | 426 | 1998-99 |
| Individual player records for a single season | |||
| Statistic | Player | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most Goals | Patrick O'Sullivan | 43 | 2003-04 |
| Most Assists | Patrick O'Sullivan | 58 | 2001-02 |
| Most Points | Patrick O'Sullivan | 92 | 2001-02 |
| Best GAA (Goalie) | Michael Ouzas | 2.18 | 2004-05 |
| Goalies = minimum 1500 minutes played | |||
Yearly Results
Regular Season
Legend: T = Tie (2004-05 & previous), SL = Shoot Out Loss (2005-06 & onward)
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | T/SL | OTL | Points | Pct % | Goals For |
Goals Against |
Standing |
| 1998-99 | 68 | 4 | 56 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 0.118 | 145 | 426 | 5th Central |
| 1999-00 | 68 | 9 | 56 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 0.154 | 160 | 346 | 5th Central |
| 2000-01 | 68 | 3 | 56 | 7 | 2 | 15 | 0.110 | 157 | 380 | 5th Central |
| 2001-02 | 68 | 11 | 47 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 0.235 | 212 | 327 | 5th Central |
| 2002-03 | 68 | 23 | 31 | 11 | 3 | 60 | 0.441 | 212 | 231 | 4th Central |
| 2003-04 | 68 | 36 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 83 | 0.610 | 217 | 199 | 2nd Central |
| 2004-05 | 68 | 34 | 21 | 12 | 1 | 81 | 0.596 | 207 | 172 | 1st Central |
| 2005-06 | 68 | 21 | 40 | 2 | 7 | 49 | 0.360 | 192 | 299 | 5th Central |
| 2006-07 | 68 | 43 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 90 | 0.662 | 326 | 251 | 2nd Central |
Playoffs
- 1998-99 Out of playoffs.
- 1999-00 Out of playoffs.
- 2000-01 Out of playoffs.
- 2001-02 Out of playoffs.
- 2002-03 Lost to Ottawa 67's 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2003-04 Defeated Oshawa Generals 4 games to 3 in conference quarter-finals.
Defeated Barrie Colts 4 games to 3 in conference semi-finals.
Defeated St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 0 in finals. - 2004-05 Lost to St. Michael's Majors 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
- 2005-06 Out of playoffs.
- 2006-07 Lost to Sudbury Wolves 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
Uniforms & Logos
The IceDogs colours are red, white, black and silver. The logo has been changed and now features a dog holding a hockey stick on the front of the jersey and crossed dog bones on each shoulder.
The previous logos were styled after Don Cherry's pet bull terrier named Blue. It shows a snarling dog overtop of the IceDogs name with a maple leaf in the background. The original logo (inset right) looked a roboticized dog with red eyes in front of a big letter "M" with a maple leaf in the corner. The logo was redesigned after their 5th season with the change in ownership.
Arena
The Jack Gatecliff Arena located in the Garden City Arena Complex is the main arena in St. Catharines, Ontario. It was built in 1938 and was originally named the Garden City Arena. It was renamed for local sportswriter Jack Gatecliff when it was renovated in 1996.
- Capacity = 2,800 and 200 standing
- Ice Size = 190' x 85'
- Garden City Arena Complex - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
Former Arenas
The Mississauga IceDogs played home games at the Hershey Centre in northeast Mississauga, near the junction of Highway 401 & Highway 403. The Hershey Centre hosted the OHL All-Star Game in 2000.
- Capacity = 5,420
- Ice Size = 200' x 85'
- Hershey Centre - The OHL Arena & Travel Guide
See also
External links
- Niagara IceDogs Official web site
- Ontario Hockey League Official web site
- Canadian Hockey League Official web site
- Niagara IceDogs Forum Niagara IceDogs News and Fan Forum