Erie Otters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Benstown (talk | contribs) at 02:26, 20 November 2016 (svg logo). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Erie Otters
CityErie, Pennsylvania
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionMidwest
Founded1996 (1996)–97
Home arenaErie Insurance Arena
ColorsNavy blue, gold, red, white
       
Websitewww.ottershockey.com
Franchise history
1946–1953Windsor Spitfires
1953–1960Hamilton Tiger Cubs
1960–1974Hamilton Red Wings
1974–1976Hamilton Fincups
1976–1977St. Catharines Fincups
1977–1978Hamilton Fincups
1978–1984Brantford Alexanders
1984–1988Hamilton Steelhawks
1988–1996Niagara Falls Thunder
1996–presentErie Otters

The Erie Otters are a Major junior ice hockey team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Midwest Division of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of only three American teams in the circuit. The "Otters" name refers to the North American otter (Lontra canadensis), a semiaquatic mammal common to Lake Erie.

History

The Erie Otters were previously located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, where they were called the Niagara Falls Thunder. They moved to Erie Insurance Arena in downtown Erie in time for the 1996–97 season. After three seasons of mediocrity in Erie, they won the Midwest Division's Holody Trophy in 1999. It was their first of three consecutive Midwest Division championships, culminating in a J. Ross Robertson Cup in the 2001–02 season. Additionally, Dave MacQueen won the Matt Leyden Trophy in 2000–01 as the OHL Coach of the Year and Sherwood Bassin was awarded OHL Executive of the Year for his role in building a championship team as general manager. The Erie Otters were the second U.S. team to win the OHL Championship, following the 1994–95 season champions Detroit Junior Red Wings (now the Plymouth Whalers).

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) officially partnered with the Erie Otters in 2012 as their official medical provider.[1]

Connor McDavid era (2012-15)

Main article: Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid, a Canadian center, played for the Erie Otters from 2012 to 2015, before joining the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Otters chose him as their first overall pick in the OHL Priority Selection Draft. The NHL Central Scouting Bureau subsequently named McDavid the top North American prospect for the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, where the Oilers selected him first overall.[2][3] The Greater Toronto Hockey League named McDavid "Player of the Year" for the 2011–12 season following a record of 79 goals and 130 assists. Hockey Canada, the governing body for amateur hockey in Canada, granted McDavid "Exceptional Player" status, which permitted him to play in the OHL a year earlier than would otherwise be permissible for a player his age. He was only the third player to receive that status, after John Tavares and Aaron Ekblad.[4]

Uniforms and logos

The Erie Otters' colors are navy blue, gold, red, and white. Their primary logo features a circular outline with a fierce, anthropomorphic otter furnishing a hockey stick and gear. The "Otters" wordmark is superimposed over the design in red with gold and navy blue outline. The team's home uniform includes a navy blue sweater with red and gold accents. The away uniforms feature a white jersey with navy blue and red trim.

For the 2013 season, the Erie Otters introduced a gold alternate jersey. This jersey features a navy blue shoulder yoke, navy blue and white stripes, and the cursive "Otters" wordmark centered across the chest. Its design resembles the sweaters of the defunct Erie Blades, who played from 1975 to 1982.[5]

Arena

Main article: Erie Insurance Arena

The Erie Otters play their home games at Erie Insurance Arena, which opened in 1981 and currently seats 5,500 spectators. It is a centerpiece of the Erie Civic Center Complex, which also includes the Jerry Uht Park baseball stadium, home to the Double-A Erie SeaWolves.

Championships

Coaches

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

Multiple years in parentheses

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

NHL alumni

Retired numbers

Current roster

Updated December 29th, 2015

Goaltenders
# Player Born Place of birth Drafted
20 Canada Jake Lawr 1998 Caledon, Ontario Eligible 2016
31 United States Devin Williams 1995 Saginaw, Michigan Undrafted
Defencemen
# Player Born Place of birth Drafted
2 Canada Mitchell Byrne 1998 Brampton, Ontario Eligible 2016
4 Canada Taylor Egan 1998 Carp, Ontario Eligible 2016
6 Canada Jordan Sambrook 1998 Markham, Ontario Eligible 2016
14 Slovakia Erik Černák 1997 Košice, Slovakia LA –– Round 2, 43rd overall –– 2015
22 Canada Josh Wainman 1999 Peterborough, Ontario Eligible 2017
24 Canada Darren Raddysh 1996 Caledon, Ontario Eligible 2016
25 Canada T. J. Fergus 1997 Oakville, Ontario Undrafted
44 Canada Travis Dermott 1996 Newmarket, Ontario TOR –– Round 2, 34th overall –– 2015
Forwards
# Player Position Born Place of birth Drafted
7 Canada Christian Girhiny LW 1998 Thorold, Ontario Eligible 2016
8 Germany Jakob Mayenschein C 1997 Landshut, Germany Undrafted
9 Canada Kyle Maksimovich LW 1998 Hamilton, Ontario Eligible 2016
10 United States Shaun Bily C 1998 Doylestown, Pennsylvania Eligible 2016
11 Canada Mitchell Webb LW 1997 Fort Erie, Ontario Undrafted
12 United States Alex DeBrincat RW 1997 Farmington Hills, Michigan Eligible 2016
13 Canada Brett Neumann C 1999 Toronto, Ontario Eligible 2017
15 Canada Kyle Pettit C 1996 Komoka, Ontario VAN –– Round 6, 156th overall –– 2014
17 Canada Taylor Raddysh RW 1998 Caledon, Ontario Eligible 2016
19 Canada Dylan Strome C 1997 Mississauga, Ontario ARI –– Round 1, 3rd overall –– 2015
21 Canada Patrick Fellows LW 1997 Mississauga, Ontario Undrafted
27 Canada Jake Marchment C 1995 Courtice, Ontario LA –– Round 6, 157th overall –– 2014
29 United States Nick Betz RW 1995 Mount Clemens, Michigan Undrafted
36 Canada Riley MacRae LW 1998 Dundas, Ontario Eligible 2016
42 Canada Haydn Hopkins C 1997 Victoria, British Columbia Undrafted
43 United States Vanya Lodnia C 1999 Novi, Michigan Eligible 2017

Team records

Team records for a single season
Statistic Total Season
Most points 106 2013–14
Most wins 52 2013–14
Most goals for 331 2014–15
Least goals for 169 2011–12
Least goals against 170 2013–14
Most goals against 378 2006–07
Individual player records for a single season
Statistic Player Total Season
Most goals Dane Fox 64 2013–14
Most assists Dylan Strome 84 2014–15
Most points Dylan Strome 129 2014–15
Most points, rookie Alex DeBrincat 104 2014–15
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, PTS - Points, GF - Goals For, GA - Goals Against

Season Games Won Lost Tie OTL SL PTS PCT% GF GA 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 West
1998–99 68 31 33 4 - - 66 0.485 271 297 3rd Midwest
1999–00 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
2011–12 68 10 52 - 3 3 26 0.191 169 338 5th Midwest
2012–13 68 19 40 - 4 5 47 0.346 206 312 5th Midwest
2013–14 68 52 14 - 2 0 106 0.779 312 170 2nd Midwest
2014–15 68 50 14 - 2 2 104 0.765 331 212 1st Midwest
2015–16 68 52 15 - 1 0 105 0.772 269 183 1st Midwest
2016–17 18 14 3 - 1 0 29 0.806 90 49 --

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 Sault Ste. 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.
  • 2011–12 Out of playoffs.
  • 2012–13 Out of playoffs.
  • 2013-14 Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to Guelph Storm 4 games to 1 in conference finals.
  • 2014-15 Defeated Sarnia Sting 4 games to 1 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference semi-finals.
    Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 2 in conference finals.
    Lost to Oshawa Generals 4 games to 1 in finals.
  • 2015-16 Defeated Saginaw Spirit 4 games to 0 in conference quarter-finals.
    Defeated Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4 games to 1 in conference semi-finals.
    Lost to London Knights 4 games to 0 in conference finals.

References

  1. ^ "LECOM becomes official medical provider..." Otters Hockey.com. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  2. ^ NHL Central Scouting's 2015 final rankings, National Hockey League, April 8, 2015
  3. ^ Strang, Katie. "Highly touted prospect Connor McDavid goes No. 1 overall to Oilers". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "Connor McDavid granted exceptional status, now eligible for OHL draft". National Post. March 21, 2012.
  5. ^ Creamer, Chris. "New Otters Jersey Evokes Memories of the Blades". SportsLogos.net Blog. Retrieved 18 March 2013.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Erie_Otters&oldid=750493227"