Capital Centre Pride

Last updated

Capital Centre Pride
City Dimondale, Michigan
League North American Hockey League
Founded1991
Folded2003
Home arena Summit at the Capital Centre
ColorsGreen and gold
  
Franchise history
1991–1995 Saginaw Gears
1995–1998 Gaylord Grizzlies
1998–2000 Grand Rapids Bearcats
2000 Grand Rapids Rockets
2000–2003 Capital Centre Pride

The Capital Centre Pride were a junior ice hockey team that played in the North American Hockey League. The team played out of the Summit at the Capital Centre in Dimondale, Michigan, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan.

Contents

History

Shortly after the completion of the Summit at the Capital Centre in 1999, the new building began looking for a permanent tenant. In short order, the Grand Rapids Rockets, which had been taken over by the NAHL in the middle of the previous season, were relocated to Dimondale and became the Capital Centre Pride for the 2000–01 season. Former NHLer Kelly Miller was chosen as the franchise's new head coach and he led them for one season. [1]

While their home arena wasn't particularly large, seating only 1,000, the Pride nonetheless had trouble filling the barn. The average crowds in their first season were just over half capacity and, while there was a sizable increase for year two, the team was only getting about 600 fans per game in 2002–03. After three seasons, the team folded and, more than 20 years later, remain dormant.

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLPTSGFGAFinishPostseason
2000–01 562130547185216t-3rd of 5, East
t-6th of 10, NAHL
Lost Div. Semifinal series, 1–2 (Soo Indians)
2001–02 5624284521902085th of 6, East
7th of 11, NAHL
Did not qualify
2002–03 5626255571782094th of 6, East
7th of 11, NAHL
Lost Div. Semifinal series, 0–2 (Pittsburgh Forge)

References

  1. "Kelly Miller". Hockey DB. Retrieved June 15, 2025.