| Mentor Ice Breakers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Mentor, Ohio |
| League | Federal Prospects Hockey League |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Folded | 2020 |
| Home arena | Mentor Civic Arena |
| Owner(s) | Hockey Unlimited |
| Head coach | Sebastian Ragno |
| Website | MentorIceBreakers.com |
| Franchise history | |
| 2018–2020 | Mentor Ice Breakers |
The Mentor Ice Breakers were a professional ice hockey team based in Mentor, Ohio. The team was a member of the Federal Prospects Hockey League and played at Mentor Civic Arena.
On July 23, 2018, the Federal Hockey League (FHL) announced an expansion team Mentor, Ohio, which brought the FHL back to six teams after two teams from the previous season folded and the addition of another expansion team in Elmira, New York. [1] Dan Moon and Chris Bryniarski, who were stated to be the team's owners, also revealed the team's name, the Mentor Ice Breakers, and inaugural schedule. [2] The team also initially announced that Joe Pace Sr. had been hired as head coach, coming from the same position with the Port Huron Prowlers, [3] however, by August 9 he had been replaced by Iain Duncan [4] and Cary Ross was listed as the ownership's managing partner. [5] [6] The Ice Breakers finished with a 18–35–5, tied for last in the league in points, and failed to make the playoffs in their inaugural season.
Prior to the 2019–20 season, the league fully rebranded to Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). Nick Russo took over as director of hockey operations in the offseason. [7] The Ice Breakers started the season decently, going 12–12 by the end of 2019, but lost several players to trades and call-ups to the Southern Professional Hockey League. Head coach Duncan was then fired on February 22, 2020, following a ten-game losing streak and disagreeing with the management for trading away so many of his players. [8] He was replaced by interim head coach Sebastian Ragno [9] who was named the permanent replacement after the season ended. [10]
The 2019–20 season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On November 16, 2020, the Ice Breakers announced it had permanently ceased operations due to the pandemic-related operating restrictions in Ohio. [11] [12]
| Season | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | Pts [lower-alpha 1] | Pct | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 [13] | 58 | 17 | 35 | 1 | 5 | 58 | .333 | 203 | 280 | 1595 | 5th of 6, FHL | Did not qualify |
| 2019–20 [14] | 48 | 15 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 48 | .333 | 147 | 196 | 831 | 4th of 5, Eastern | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
The First Arena is a 3,784-seat multi-purpose facility located in downtown Elmira, New York. It features two ice surfaces, a full-service restaurant and bar, a food service center for the recreational rink, video game arcade, 31 luxury suites, party/group outing facilities, and meeting/community rooms among other amenities. The arena opened in 2000 as the Coach USA Center and changed names to the First Arena in 2004. It has been home to the Elmira Jackals from its opening until 2017 and the Elmira Enforcers of the Federal Prospects Hockey League from 2018 to 2021. It is located on the corner of W. Gray Street and N. Main Street.
Iain C. Duncan is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward.
The Wenatchee Wild were a Junior A ice hockey team. The team played its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington. The team joined the North American Hockey League as an expansion club for the 2008–09 season, and in that time they were well known for their rivalry with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. The Wild moved to the British Columbia Hockey League for 2015–16, after seeking approval from both Hockey Canada and USA Hockey for three years. In 2023, the ownership of the Wild purchased and relocated the Winnipeg Ice, a major junior Western Hockey League franchise, under the Wenatchee Wild brand, but ceased operations of their junior A team.
The Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) is a professional ice hockey independent minor league with teams in the Midwestern, Southern, and Northeastern United States. The FPHL began operations in November 2010 as the Federal Hockey League. Don Kirnan is the league's commissioner. The league also occasionally branded itself as the Federal Professional Hockey League from 2015 to 2018 until it began using the name Federal Prospects Hockey League and completing the rebrand in 2019.
The Watertown Wolves are a minor professional hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) 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. With a history dating to 2010, the Wolves are the last original franchise in the FPHL.
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The Danbury Hat Tricks are a professional ice hockey team based in Danbury, Connecticut. The team is a member of the Federal Prospects Hockey League and plays at the Danbury Ice Arena.
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The Vermilion County Bobcats were a professional ice hockey team in Danville, Illinois, that began play in the 2021–22 season as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League. They ceased operations effective February 9, 2023.
The Elmira Mammoth were a minor league professional hockey team located in Elmira, New York, playing in the Federal Prospects Hockey League who played in the 2022–23 season. Their home games were played at the First Arena. The team played in orange, white, and purple jerseys.
The 2018–19 Federal Hockey League season was the ninth season of the Federal Hockey League. The regular season ran for 58 games for four of the six teams, with the Port Huron Prowlers and Danville Dashers each playing 59. The Carolina Thunderbirds won both the regular season and the playoff championships, the latter being their first league title.
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The 2019–20 Federal Prospects Hockey League season was the tenth season of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) and the first with "Prospects" in the league's name. The regular season was an unbalanced schedule with the ten teams in the league playing somewhere from 56 to 60 games per team. On March 16, 2020, the league canceled the remainder of the 2019–20 season schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic.