Motor City Rockers

Last updated
Motor City Rockers
Motor City Rockers logo full.png
City Fraser, Michigan
League Federal Prospects Hockey League
DivisionEmpire
Founded2020
Home arena Big Boy Arena
Owner(s)Bearcat Hockey Club
General managerCharley Watson
Head coach Jamie Milam (Player-Coach)
Website Motor City Rockers
Franchise history
2022–presentMotor City Rockers

The Motor City Rockers are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Fraser, Michigan. [1] The team is the tenth to join the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). [1] [2] After experiencing delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rockers played their first game on October 13, 2022. [1] [3]

Contents

History

On July 16, 2020, a new FPHL team led by team president Adam Stio was approved to play at the 3,400 seat Fraser Hockeyland for the 2020–21 season. [1] [4] [5] On August 11, 2020, the Motor City Rockers were announced by Stio. At this event, Stio also introduced the team's first head coach, Kahlil Thomas. [6] Thomas never coached a game for the Rockers.

The team's first transactions were acquiring Ryan Alves and Tim Santopaolo from the Columbus River Dragons via a trade. [4] [7] The Rockers were originally scheduled to play in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled their launch. [1]

On April, 29, 2022, general manager Nick Field announced that the Rockers were being revived. The team was allowed to choose twelve athletes from other teams in the Federal Prospects League. [1] [2] [8] In September 2022, the Rockers named Gordie Brown as their head coach. [9] On October 13, 2022, the Rockers played their inaugural game in Fraser, Michigan. [1] [3] Prior to the 2024-25 season, the Rockers announced that Brown would be stepping away from the club, only six months after being named coach of the year. Former Motor City Mechanics Head Coach Steve Shannon would take over the club. [10] Shannon only lasted a month, before team captain Jamie Milam would be named Player-Head Coach. [11]

On January 6, 2025, it was announced that Bearcat Hockey Club, a local youth hockey program, led by Mike McCallum and former FPHL player James Ryerse had bought the team, and would keep the team in Fraser. They also announced that they would be dropping the Rockers name, for a new name to be announced during the final regular season game of 2024-25. [12] However, the day after, Ryerse announced that the team will keep the Rockers name and logos for the foreseeable future, while incorporating their Bearcat branding as well.

Season-by-season results

Regular seasonPlayoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLPts [a] PctGFGAPIMFinishHead CoachQuarterfinalsSemi-FinalsFinals
2022-23563218697.57722019812673rd of 5, Continental

5th of 10, Overall

Gordie BrownL, 2-0, Columbus ——
2023-24563319497.57721919411192nd of 5, Empire

4th of 11, Overall

Gordie BrownW, 2-1, Danbury L, 2-0 Binghamton —
  1. ↑ 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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 DeVito, Lee (2022-04-29). "After delays, new metro Detroit pro hockey team Motor City Rockers ready to play in Macomb County". Detroit Metro Times . Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Adzima, Mike (May 4, 2022). "Pointers help bring pro hockey back to Big Boy Arena". Grosse Pointe News . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Szczepaniak, Jonathan (October 21, 2022). "Motor City Rockers start inaugural season in Fraser". C&G Newspapers. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  4. 1 2 Pohly, George (August 20, 2020). "Coach of FPHL franchise promises 'hard-working team' at Fraser Hockeyland". The Oakland Press . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  5. ↑ "FPHL adds Fraser, Michigan as tenth team". Pro Hockey News. July 20, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  6. ↑ Pohly, George (August 11, 2020). "Motor City Rockers preparing for debut at Fraser Hockeyland". The Macomb Daily . Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Introducing the newest FPHL team: the Motor City Rockers". Bus League Hockey. August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  8. ↑ Szczepaniak, Jonathan (June 21, 2022). "Rockers revived for 2022 Federal Prospects hockey League". C & G Newspapers. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ "News: Rockers Announce Gordie Brown as Head Coach - Motor City Rockers". www.mcrockershockey.com. 2 September 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  10. ↑ "News: Motor City Rockers Announce Coaching Change! - Motor City Rockers". www.mcrockershockey.com. 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  11. ↑ "News: Motor City Rockers Announce Leadership Change - Motor City Rockers". www.mcrockershockey.com. 2024-11-06. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
  12. ↑ "News: Bearcat purchase Motor City Rockers(FPHL)! - www.BearcatHCPro.com". www.bearcathcpro.com. 2024-12-25. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
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