Bloomington PrairieThunder

Last updated
Bloomington PrairieThunder
PrairieThunder.PNG
City Bloomington, Illinois, United States
League UHL/IHL (20062010)
CHL (20102011)
ConferenceTurner
Founded 2006
Home arena U.S. Cellular Coliseum
ColorsBlue, gold, silver, white
    
Owner(s)Tim Leighton
General managerJim Riggs
Head coach Jason Christie
CaptainJon Booras
Media WJBC-FM (93.7 FM)
Franchise history
2006–2011Bloomington PrairieThunder
Inaugural home opener (10/14/2006) PrarieThunderfirstpuckdrop.jpg
Inaugural home opener (10/14/2006)

The Bloomington PrairieThunder were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Bloomington, Illinois. They were a member of the Central Hockey League in the Turner Conference. The team was originally a member of the United Hockey League (later known as the International Hockey League) prior to its merger into the CHL in 2010. They played their home games at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum.

Contents

History

On September 12, 1999, John Butler and Mike Nelson, both of Bloomington, began formulating a plan to bring a minor league hockey team to Central Illinois. [1] On August 18, 2004, ground was broken for the $37-million U.S. Cellular Coliseum, the arena that would become the home of the PrairieThunder. On September 20, 2005, the United Hockey League (UHL) awarded Butler and Nelson a membership to obtain a franchise. [1]

On February 1, 2006, a contest was announced to name the new hockey franchise and on February 23, 2006, the official name was announced. "PrairieThunder" refers to a train called "Prairie Thunder" that passed through Bloomington in its early history. [1] On July 20, 2006, the PrairieThunder unveiled their team logo, which featured a charging bison smashing its hooves into a sheet of ice. The team's colors were navy, silver, old gold, and white.

Season by season records

SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMStandingPlayoffs
2006–0776254565620128513925th, WestDid not qualify
2007–08763138346921025817116thDid not qualify
2008–09762940256523529114185thDid not qualify
2009–10763134567324127318645thDid not qualify
2010–1166372278118818912123rd,Turner ConferenceLost in First Round

Mascot

Chip the Buffalo at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum (October 4, 2006) Chip 1.jpg
Chip the Buffalo at the U.S. Cellular Coliseum (October 4, 2006)

The team held a name-the-mascot contest, sponsored by the Bloomington Pantagraph , to find a name for the mascot. Megan Fish, a 12-year-old sixth-grader at Chiddix Junior High School, was the first of 12 individuals to submit the name Chip. The next most popular entry was "Boomer", which had seven submissions. Chip the Buffalo made his first public appearance at the open house and public scrimmage held by the PrairieThunder on October 4, 2006, interacting with fans and signing autographs.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "PrairieThunder team history". Bloomington PrairieThunder. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  2. Bill, Shaun (December 27, 2008). "Don Parsons - 678". Pro Hockey News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  3. "Parsons waived by PrairieThunder". Pro Hockey News. January 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 1, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  4. "Liambas joins IHL following OHL ban for injuring player". TSN . The Canadian Press. December 3, 2009. Archived from the original on December 6, 2009. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  5. Egenes, Mike (June 1, 2010). "Thunder in new league as IHL, CHL merge". The Pantagraph . Retrieved October 4, 2011.