Jump to content

Portland Pirates

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rjwilmsi (talk | contribs) at 07:19, 30 June 2010 (→‎Roster: fix unclosed small tags using AWB (6775)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Portland Pirates
CityPortland, Maine
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
ConferenceEastern Conference
DivisionAtlantic Division
Founded1993
Home arenaCumberland County Civic Center
ColorsBlack, red, silver, white
       
Owner(s)Brian Petrovek
General managerDarcy Regier
Head coachKevin Dineen
MediaPortland Press Herald
AffiliateBuffalo Sabres (NHL)
Franchise history
1975–1982Erie Blades
1982–1993Baltimore Skipjacks
1993–presentPortland Pirates
Championships
Division titles1 (2005–06)
Conference titles1 (1995–96)
Calder Cups1 (1993–94)

The Portland Pirates are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, serving as the top farm team for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. They play in Portland, Maine, at the Cumberland County Civic Center. The franchise was previously known as the Baltimore Skipjacks from 1982 to 1993.

History

The Portland Pirates were founded in 1993–94 as an affiliate of the Washington Capitals. The team was previously known as the Baltimore Skipjacks, who relocated to Maine. The Pirates replaced the void made by the Maine Mariners who departed to become the Providence Bruins a year earlier. The Capitals affiliation ended after 12 seasons in 2005.

The Pirates first season proved to be their most successful one to date, as they won the Calder Cup with a 43–27–10 record. Their next season they had 104 points, but were upset in the 1st round of the playoffs. In the 1995–96 season, they again reached the Calder Cup Finals, despite a subpar record of 32–34–10, but lost to the Rochester Americans.

Since then, it has been a roller coaster ride for the Pirates. Despite an excellent 100 point season, they were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round in 1999–00.

For the first four seasons, they were coached by current Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz. They have played host to the AHL All-Star Classic twice (in 2003 and 2010).

In the 2006 AHL playoffs, the Pirates went for a thrilling playoff run, only to be defeated by the eventual Calder Cup-winning Hershey Bears in a dramatic seven-game series.

In 2005 the Pirates announced a five year lease extension at the Cumberland County Civic Center, ending speculation that the team might relocate. The Pirates also signed a three year affiliation agreement with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2005, but the Ducks announced on June 3, 2008, that they were affiliating with the Iowa Stars instead of renewing the agreement.

The Sabres era

On June 10, 2008, the Pirates and the Buffalo Sabres announced that they had reached a new affiliation agreement, ending several months of speculation.[1]

On August 5, 2008, the team announced that Kevin Dineen has been retained as head coach.[2]

On February 10, 2009, the team played in Buffalo at HSBC Arena for the first time before a crowd of 11,144. The Pirates lost 4-3 in a shootout to the Albany River Rats. The Sabres faithful were pleased with the aggressive play and numerous fights during the game. It has been announced that the Pirates will play in Buffalo twice in 2009-10. The first game will be played on November 12 and the second will be March 7; both games will be against the Rochester Americans (the Sabres' previous AHL affiliate).

On March 17, 2010, the Pirates signed a 2-year lease extension with the Civic Center[3]. Reports indicate that as part of the deal, no more games will be played in Buffalo. In an article on June 23, 2010 from WCSH-TV (NBC) Portland, Maine developer Jason Synder wants to build 60+ million dollar arena as part of a 300 million dollar retail/commercial development project on 2 sites he owns near the Maine Turnpike one site is located in Portland and the other in Westbrook. The arena would seat 8,000 the Portland Pirates hockey team (AHL) would be the primary tenant the developer hopes the Maine Red Claws Pro Basketball team (NBA D-LEAGUE) would eventually play their games at the new arena and Mr. Synder hopes the arena would attract big name concert acts as well. He is to meet with Cumberland County officials on financing options.

The market was previously home to

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL SOL Points Goals
for		 Goals
against		 Standing
1993–94 80 43 27 10 0 — 96 328 269 2nd, North
1994–95 80 46 22 12 0 — 104 333 233 2nd, North
1995–96 80 32 34 10 4 — 78 282 283 3rd, North
1996–97 80 37 26 10 7 — 91 279 264 3rd, New England
1997–98 80 33 33 12 2 — 80 241 247 3rd, Atlantic
1998–99 80 23 48 7 2 — 55 214 273 5th, Atlantic
1999–00 80 46 23 10 1 — 103 256 202 2nd, New England
2000–01 80 34 40 4 2 — 74 250 280 5th, New England
2001–02 80 30 31 15 4 — 79 220 225 4th, North
2002–03 80 33 28 13 6 — 85 221 195 4th, North
2003–04 80 32 27 13 8 — 85 156 160 5th, Atlantic
2004–05 80 34 34 — 6 6 80 175 242 6th, Atlantic
2005–06 80 53 19 — 5 3 114 306 241 1st, Atlantic
2006–07 80 37 31 — 3 9 86 225 232 6th, Atlantic
2007–08 80 45 26 — 5 4 99 238 215 3rd, Atlantic
2008–09 80 39 31 — 3 7 88 249 239 3rd, Atlantic
2009–10 80 45 24 — 7 4 101 244 214 2nd, Atlantic

Playoffs

Season Prelim 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
1993–94 — W, 4–1, ALB W, 4–2, ADIR bye W, 4–2, MONC
1994–95 — L, 3–4, PROV — — —
1995–96 — W, 3–1, WOR W, 4–2, SPR W, 4–3, SJNB L, 3–4, ROCH
1996–97 — L, 2–3, SPR — — —
1997–98 — W, 3–1, FRED L, 2–4, SJNB — —
1998–99 Out of playoffs.
1999–00 — L, 1–3, WOR — — —
2000–01 — L, 0–3, SJNB — — —
2001–02 Out of playoffs.
2002–03 L, 1–2, MTB — — — —
2003–04 W, 2–0, PROV L, 1–4, HART — — —
2004–05 Out of playoffs.
2005–06 — W, 4–2, PROV W, 4–2, HART L, 3–4, HER —
2006–07 Out of playoffs.
2007–08 — W, 4–1, HART W, 4–2, PROV L, 3–4, WBS —
2008–09 — L, 1–4, PROV — — —
2009–10 — L, 0–4, MAN — — —

Team records

Single season

Goals: 41 Canada Michel Picard (1993–94)
Assists: 73 Canada Jeff Nelson (1993–94)
Points: 107 Jeff Nelson (1993–94)
Points (By a Defenseman): 51 Marc-Andre Gragnani (2008-09)
Penalty minutes: 355 Canada Mark Major (1997–98)
GAA: 1.99 Canada Maxime Ouellet (2003–04)
SV%: .930 Maxime Ouellet (2003–04)

Career

Career goals: 147 Canada Kent Hulst
Career assists: 224 Canada Andrew Brunette
Career points: 360 Kent Hulst
Career penalty minutes: 797 Canada Kevin Kaminski
Career goaltending wins: 79 Canada Martin Brochu
Career shutouts: 17 Maxime Ouellet
Career games: 473 Kent Hulst

Roster

Updated April 21, 2010.

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Birthplace
31 Canada Todd Ford L Calgary, Alberta
Defensemen
# Player Shoots Birthplace
3 United States T. J. Brennan L Willingboro, New Jersey
6 United States Mike Weber L Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7 United States Matt Generous R Cheshire, Connecticut
17 Canada Marc-Andre Gragnani L Montreal, Quebec
27 Sweden Dennis Persson L Nyköping, Sweden
28 Canada Mike Kostka R Etobicoke, Ontario
33 Canada Joe DiPenta L Barrie, Ontario
44 Canada Drew Schiestel R Hamilton, Ontario
Forwards
# Player Position Shoots Birthplace
9 United States Travis Turnbull C R Chesterfield, Missouri
12 Canada Paul Byron C L Ottawa, Ontario
15 Germany Felix Schutz C L Erding, Germany
20 Canada Jeff Cowan LW L Scarborough, Ontario
21 United States Derek Whitmore LW L Rochester, New York
22 Canada Kyle Rank RW R Elmira, Ontario
26 Canada Kyle Wanvig RW R Calgary, Alberta
29 Canada Brad Larsen LW L Nakusp, British Columbia
36 Canada Luke Adam LW L St. John's, Newfoundland
47 Germany Philip Gogulla LW L Düsseldorf, Germany

Pirates Hall of Fame

Officially only #50 has been retired by the Portland Pirates. However a banner still hangs in the rafters in tribute to the 5 Maine Mariners who had their number retired before moving to Providence.
37 Olaf Kolzig (1993-96) Inducted 1999
19 Andrew Brunette (1993-98) Inducted 1999
34 Byron Dafoe (1993-95) Inducted 1999
32 'Killer'Kevin Kaminski (1993-95,97-98) Inducted 2000
3 Steve Poapst (1993-2000) Inducted 2001
10 Kent Hulst (1993-96) Inducted 2002
30 Martin Brochu (1996-2000) Inducted 2003
23 Ryan Mulhern (1995-98,99-2000) Inducted 2004
Head Coach Barry Trotz (1993-97) Inducted 2005
44 Todd Nelson (1993-95) Inducted 2006
31 Jim Carey (1994-96) Inducted 2007
Owner #50 Tom Ebright (1993-97) Inducted 2008
26 Chris Jensen (1993-95) Inducted 2010[4]

AHL awards and trophies

References

  1. ^ "Sabres to parent Portland". buffalonews.com. 2008-06-10. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  2. ^ "Dineen Named Head Coach". sabres.nhl.com. 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2008-08-05.
  3. ^ Dougherty, Pete (March 17, 2010). "It's Official - Pirates Sign Two-Year Lease In Portland". Albany Times Union. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  4. ^ http://www.portlandpirates.com/hall_of_fame.asp
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portland_Pirates&oldid=370951388"