Watertown Wolves
| Watertown Wolves | |
|---|---|
| File:Watertown Wolves logo.png | |
| City | Watertown, New York |
| League | Federal Hockey League |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Home arena | Watertown Municipal Arena |
| Colors | Black, blue, white |
| Owner(s) | IDHL, LLC. |
| Head coach | Trevor Karasiewicz |
| Media | Watertown Daily Times |
| Franchise history | |
| 2010–2013 | 1000 Islands Privateers |
| 2013–2014 | Watertown Privateers |
| 2014–present | Watertown Wolves |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 1 (2014–15) |
| Playoff championships | 2 (2015, 2018) |
The Watertown Wolves are a minor professional hockey team in the Federal Hockey League based in Watertown, New York and play home games at the Watertown Municipal Arena. The team was on hiatus during the 2015–16 season while renovations at the Watertown Municipal Arena were completed and then returned for the 2016–17 season.[1] With a history dating to 2010, the Wolves are the oldest franchise in the FHL.
History
The team was originally known as the 1000 Islands Privateers and played at the Bonnie Castle Recreation Center in Alexandria Bay for two seasons before moving to Watertown for the 2012–13 season.[2] On March 1, 2013, Privateers owner and president Nicole Kirnan served as the team’s coach for the first time, making her the first woman to head coach a professional hockey team in the United States.[3][4]
Before the 2013–14 season, the Privateers revamped their identity by changing their name to the Watertown Privateers and redesigning their jerseys and logo. Brad Zangs was brought in as new head coach.[5]
New ownership
Watertown's FHL team returned for the 2014–15 with new ownership after the previous owners decided not to continue. The team rechristened itself as the Watertown Wolves during this season.
In their first season, the Wolves won both the regular season and the playoffs championship. First-year head coach, Brent Clarke, would be named FHL Coach of the Year, but would resign after the season.[6]
The Wolves suspended operations for the 2015–16 season to allow for the Watertown Municipal Arena to be renovated; the team attempted to find another arena in Northern New York to use, but were unable to find an available venue. The renovations were completed on schedule and the Wolves signed a new one-year lease agreement with the city of Watertown in order to return after one season off.[7][8]
The Wolves returned for the 2016–17 season and hired Phil Esposito as head coach.[9]
Prior to the 2017–18 season, the franchise was purchased by IDHL, LLC., the a subsidiary of the FHL and an organization that had announced to be operating a developmental league as feeder system for the FHL[10][11] called the International Developmental Hockey League.[12] The IDHL put off launching the new league and would instead focus solely on operating the Wolves. The shareholders in Top Shelf Hockey eventually left the Wolves organization outright later in the offseason stating they had grown exhausted over the major financial and emotional investments they were making in the franchise.[13] The new owners did not retain Esposito as coach and instead hired Trevor Karasiewicz.[14]
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | SOL | Pts[a] | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 44 | 26 | 13 | — | 5 | 0 | 57 | 3rd of 6 | Lost Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Akwesasne Warriors |
| 2011–12 | 49 | 29 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 95 | 2nd of 8 | Won First Round, 2–1 vs. Akwesasne Warriors Lost Second Round, 0–2 vs. Danbury Whalers |
| 2012–13 | 53 | 18 | 26 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 68 | 3rd of 6 | Lost Semifinals, 0–3 vs. Danbury Whalers |
| 2013–14 | 56 | 15 | 32 | 5 | 4 | — | 59 | 3rd of 4 | Lost Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Dayton Demonz |
| 2014–15 | 54 | 32 | 13 | 6 | 3 | — | 111 | 1st of 6 | Won Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Danbury Whalers Won Finals, 3–2 vs. Danville Dashers |
| 2016–17 | 56 | 27 | 23 | 2 | 4 | — | 89 | 4th of 7 | Lost Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Danville Dashers |
| 2017–18 | 52 | 29 | 12 | 6 | 5 | — | 104 | 2nd of 7 | Won Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Carolina Thunderbirds Won Finals, 3–1 vs. Port Huron Prowlers |
- ^ Except for the 2010–11 season, the FHL awards 3 points for a regulation time win, 2 points for an overtime win, and 1 point for an overtime or shootout loss
References
- ^ "Wolves Already Planning For 2016-17". FHL. June 24, 2015.
- ^ City Council approves Privateers’ move to fairgrounds
- ^ "With Kirnan behind bench, Privateers win". Watertown Daily Times. March 2, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Nicole Kirnan, first woman to coach men's pro hockey team, faced 'demoralizing' criticism". Yahoo! Sports. March 14, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Minnesota native Zangs new man behind Privateers' bench". Watertown Daily Times. October 31, 2013.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Wolves Bench Boss Clarke Resigns". Federal Hockey League. FHL. April 29, 2015.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Wolves, city ink new contract for Watertown arena". Watertown Daily Times. May 17, 2016.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Wolves Fans Give New Arena Warm Reception". WWNY TV. January 17, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Watertown Wolves hire Esposito as head coach". Watertown Daily Times. September 8, 2016.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "THE IDHL IS BORN". OurSports Central. February 6, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ "Introducing the International Developmental Hockey League for players ages 20-23". USA Junior Hockey Magazine. February 9, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "New Owners Take Over Watertown Wolves Hockey Team". WWNY TV. June 29, 2017.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Last of local owners depart Watertown Wolves". Watertown Daily Times. September 29, 2017.
- ^ "Watertown Wolves hire Karasiewicz as coach". Watertown Daily Times. July 6, 2017.
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