Idaho Jr. Steelheads
| Idaho IceCats | |
|---|---|
| City | McCall, Idaho |
| League | WSHL |
| Division | Northwest Division |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Home arena | Manchester Ice & Event Centre Idaho Ice World CenturyLink Arena |
| Colors | Blue, black, white, silver |
| Owner(s) | Idaho Hockey Foundation Inc. |
| General manager | John Olver |
| Head coach | John Olver |
| Franchise history | |
| 2009–2017 | Idaho Junior Steelheads |
| 2017–present | Idaho IceCats |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | 5 Thorne Cups (2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16) 1 UHU National Championships (2013) |
The Idaho IceCats, formerly called the Idaho Jr. Steelheads, are a junior ice hockey team based in McCall, Idaho. The IceCats currently play in the Northwest Division of the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). Home games take place at Manchester Ice & Event Centre in McCall.[1] The team previously played some home games at Idaho Ice World and CenturyLink Arena in Boise, the latter being the home of the ECHL Idaho Steelheads.[2] In recent years the team has been one of the most successful in the WSHL, winning five Thorne Cup championships over six seasons and appeared in seven straight.[3]
The team is coached by former NHL Colorado Rockies draft pick and former Idaho Steelheads head coach John Olver.[4]
History
The Idaho Junior Steelheads were founded by Idaho Hockey Foundation Inc. in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity. The Junior Steelheads, like their ECHL parent club the Idaho Steelheads, were named for a species of seagoing rainbow trout native to Idaho streams and rivers and popular with local anglers.
In the team's first season, the 2009–10 WSHL season, the Junior Steelheads finished 2nd in the Western Division and clinched their first Thorne Cup playoff spot against the experienced Phoenix Polar Bears. The Junior Steelheads won the first game of the three game series 5–3, but Phoenix rallied winning the second game 3-2 in OT and the third game 2-1.[5] During the season, the team received a four-day ban from the city of Boise after an incident at a practice when players missed a shot, they had to take off an article of equipment. An assistant coach told the AP the team was emulating a similar stunt done by the Tampa Bay Lightning[6][7]
On April 9, 2013, the Junior Steelheads defeated the Bay Area Seals 5-1 to win the first ever United Hockey Union junior ice hockey championship in a six-team tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.
In 2017, the team changed its name to the Idaho IceCats after the ECHL Steelheads asked the organization to change their to prevent confusion.[8] The new logo is based off another previously Olver-coacched team, the Tacoma Sabercats.
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–10 | 49 | 39 | 7 | 3 | 81 | 238 | 111 | 1168 | 2nd of 8, Western 3rd of 13, WSHL |
Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Phoenix Polar Bears |
| 2010–11 | 46 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 80 | 257 | 84 | — | 1st of 8, Western 1st of 13, WSHL |
Won Conf. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. San Diego Gulls Won Conf. Finals, 2–0 vs. Phoenix Polar Bears Won League Finals, 2–0 vs. El Paso Rhinos Thorne Cup Champions |
| 2011–12 | 46 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 88 | 264 | 92 | 911 | 1st of 5, Mountain 2nd of 13, WSHL |
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ogden Mustangs Won Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Boulder Bison 3–0 in Thorne Cup round-robin (W, 3–1 vs. Monsters; W, 9–6 vs. Rhinos; W, 3–2 vs. Ice Jets) Won Championship game, 6–5 vs. Dallas Ice Jets Thorne Cup Champions |
| 2012–13 | 46 | 44 | 1 | 1 | 89 | 256 | 100 | 1142 | 1st of 5, Northwest 1st of 22, WSHL |
Won Div Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Seattle Totems Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Southern Oregon Spartans 2–0 in Thorne Cup round-robin (W, 4–3 vs. Monsters; W, 10–1 vs. Spartans) Won Semifinal game, 3–1 vs. Southern Oregon Spartans Won Championship game, 4–2 vs. Bay Area Seals Thorne Cup Champions |
| 2013–14 | 46 | 39 | 5 | 2 | 80 | 218 | 93 | 1227 | 1st of 6, Northwest 2nd of 24, WSHL |
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Missoula Maulers Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Ogden Mustangs 1–2 in Thorne Cup round-robin (as wild card) (L, 2–4 vs. Rhinos; OTL, 3–4 vs. Monsters; W, 7–2 vs. Mustangs) Won Semifinal game, 3–2 vs. Fresno Monsters Lost Championship game, 3–7 vs. El Paso Rhinos |
| 2014–15 | 46 | 42 | 2 | 2 | 86 | 290 | 74 | 822 | 1st of 7, Northwest 1st of 28, WSHL |
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Whitefish Wolverines Won Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Missoula Maulers Won Thorne Cup Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Fresno Monsters Won Thorne Cup Finals, 3–1 vs. El Paso Rhinos Thorne Cup Champions |
| 2015–16 | 52 | 44 | 7 | 1 | 89 | 334 | 78 | 818 | 1st of 8, Northwest 2nd of 29, WSHL |
Div. Quarterfinals, Bye Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Whitefish Wolverines Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Missoula Maulers Won Thorne Cup Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Long Beach Bombers Won Thorne Cup Finals, 3–0 vs. Colorado Jr. Eagles Thorne Cup Champions |
| 2016–17 | 52 | 43 | 5 | 4 | 90 | 273 | 99 | 910 | 1st of 7, Northwest 2nd of 27, WSHL |
Div. Quarterfinals, Bye Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Tahoe Icemen Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Butte Cobras 1–2–0, 4th of 6, Thorne Cup round-robin (L, 2–3 vs. Mustangs; W, 3–1 vs. Flyers; L, 1–2 vs.Jr. Thunder) Won Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 3–1 vs. Valencia Flyers Lost Thorne Cup Championship game, 3–4 vs. Wichita Jr. Thunder |
United Hockey Union National Championship Tournament
AAU Sanctioned Junior A National Championship
In 2013 and 2014, the Midwest Junior Hockey League (MWJHL), Northern States Hockey League (NSHL), and the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) advanced two teams each to the tournament.
There was no UHU tournament held after the 2015 season.
| Year | Round Robin | Record Ranking |
Semifinal Game | Championship Game |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | W, Tennyson Chevrolet (MWJHL) 4–3 W, Lake George Fighting Spirit (NSHL) 3–0 W, Hartland Hounds (MWJHL) 5–1 |
3–0–0 1st of 6 |
W, Hartland Hounds (MWJHL) 6–2 | W, Bay Area Seals (WSHL) 5–1 National Champions |
| 2014 | W, Hartland Hounds (MWJHL) 3–0 SOW, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 3–2 OTL, AHI Fighting Spirit (NSHL) 5–6 |
2–0–1 1st of 6 |
W, AHI Fighting Spirit (NSHL) 6–1 | L, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 3–6 |
References
- ^ http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.html
- ^ http://highnoondesign.com/jrsteelheads/qwest-arena-game-1010-730/
- ^ "LOCAL ROUNDUP: Yotes' frosh Pfaff reaches NAIA final", The Idaho Press-Tribune, May 22, 2015. (accessed 5 June 2015)
- ^ http://www.mccallstarnews.com/pages/fp_stories_page.html
- ^ http://www.wshl.org/schedResultsWestern_content.htm
- ^ http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4600688
- ^ http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33498262/ns/sports-nhl/
- ^ "IDAHO ICECATS take over for the Idaho Jr. Steelheads". WSHL. July 27, 2017.
