Phoenix Knights | |
---|---|
City | Gilbert, Arizona |
League | WSHL |
Division | Western |
Founded | 1999 |
Home arena | AZ Ice Gilbert |
Colors | Purple, silver, black |
Website | www.phoenixknightshockey.com |
Franchise history | |
1999–2011 | Phoenix Polar Bears |
2011–2018 | Phoenix Knights |
Championships | |
Division titles | 2013–14 |
Phoenix Knights were an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Tier II junior ice hockey team based out of Gilbert, Arizona. The Knights were a part of the Western States Hockey League and played in the Western Division. [1] Their home games were played at AZ Ice Gilbert in Gilbert, Arizona. The organization was operated by Arizona Hockey Club, Inc, which also runs a local youth hockey program.
The franchise, originally known as the Phoenix Polar Bears, joined the WSHL in 1999. [2] In 2011, the owners of the Polar Bears dropped their WSHL membership when the league left USA Hockey sanctioning for the Amateur Athletic Union. The franchise was sold to Arizona Hockey Clubs, Inc. and was renamed as the Phoenix Knights. [3]
Colten St. Clair was named head coach and general manager in March 2017. [4] St. Clair grew up in Gilbert, Arizona, before playing junior hockey for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League and in NCAA Division I for the University of North Dakota. After one season and being named the coach of the year for 2017–18, St. Clair left to become a volunteer assistant coach for the NCAA Division I University of Maine. [5] [6]
The organization then failed to find a new head coach in time to adequately recruit for the 2018–19 season and withdrew from participation. [7]
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2011–12 | 46 | 11 | 33 | 2 | 24 | 138 | 273 | 1001 | 6th of 6, Western | Did not qualify |
2012–13 | 46 | 19 | 23 | 4 | 42 | 166 | 202 | 1270 | 4th of 6, Mountain | Lost Conf. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. El Paso Rhinos |
2013–14 | 46 | 32 | 12 | 2 | 66 | 255 | 138 | 907 | 1st of 6, Mountain | Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 vs. Boulder Bison Won Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Colorado Jr. Eagles 1–2–0 in Thorne Cup Round Robin (4–5 vs. Mustangs; 3–5 vs. Rhinos; 3–1 vs. Monsters) Lost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 3–4 vs. El Paso Rhinos |
2014–15 | 46 | 10 | 33 | 3 | 23 | 158 | 265 | 1009 | 7th of 8, Western | Did not qualify |
2015–16 | 52 | 22 | 27 | 3 | 47 | 198 | 221 | 1208 | 5th of 8, Western | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche |
2016–17 | 49 | 7 | 42 | 0 | 14 | 96 | 350 | 725 | 7th of 8, Western | Did not qualify |
2017–18 | 51 | 23 | 26 | 2 | 48 | 171 | 240 | 786 | 5th of 6, Western | Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Valencia Flyers Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers |
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 50th season of operation in 2024–25. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternative for those who would not or did not make the roster of a team in the Major Junior Canadian Hockey League (CHL) nor Tier I United States Hockey League (USHL). The NAHL is one of the oldest junior hockey leagues in the United States and is headquartered in Addison, Texas.
The Western States Hockey League (WSHL) was a junior ice hockey league established in 1993. It was sanctioned by the United Hockey Union, the junior hockey branch of the Amateur Athletic Union. Previously, it was sanctioned by USA Hockey from 1994 to 2011. Teams played approximately 50 games in the regular season schedule, mimicking what players would experience at the collegiate level. As of January 2022, there are no active teams in the league following the creation of the Can-Am Junior Hockey League by former WSHL teams.
The Phoenix Polar Bears were a USA Hockey-sanctioned Junior A Tier III ice hockey team based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Their host facility was the Desert Schools Coyotes Center in Chandler, Arizona. The Polar Bears were a member of the Western States Hockey League but vacated their membership in the league when the WSHL moved away from USA Hockey sanctioning in 2011.
The El Paso Rhinos are a junior ice hockey organization based in El Paso, Texas. Their home games are played at the County Events Center located within the El Paso County Coliseum complex. The Rhinos are members of the Tier II junior North American Hockey League (NAHL) after adding the team as an expansion franchise in 2021. The organization also has a Tier III team that was originally a member of the Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Western States Hockey League from 2006 to 2020 before joining the North American 3 Hockey League for the 2020–21 season.
The Seattle Jr. Totems are a junior ice hockey team in Seattle, Washington. They are a member of the United States Premier Hockey League and play their home games at Olympic View Arena in Mountlake Terrace, Washington.
The Superior RoughRiders were a junior ice hockey organization based in Superior, Boulder County, Colorado. The team played in the Western States Hockey League at the Sport Stable in Superior. The Superior RoughRiders are owned by the RoughRiders Hockey Club.
The Fresno Monsters are a junior ice hockey team based in Fresno, California. The team is a member of the United States Premier Hockey League and plays in the Premier Division. The Monsters' home venue is Gateway Ice Center.
The West Sound Warriors were a junior ice hockey that played at the Bremerton Ice Center in Bremerton, Washington. Formerly, the team was a USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III ice hockey team that played in the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac/NPHL) and the United States Premier Hockey League-USP3 (USPHL-USP3). In the 2017–18 season, the team was an AAU-sanctioned junior team in the Western States Hockey League. The WSHL franchise was sold to a new ownership group in Bremerton after the one season and became the West Sound Admirals.
The Valencia Flyers were an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)-sanctioned junior ice hockey team based in Valencia, Santa Clarita, California. The team played in the Western Division of the Western States Hockey League at the Ice Station Valencia.
The Long Beach Bombers are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in Pacific group of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) Premier Division. The team plans to play their home games at The Rinks – Lakewood Ice in Lakewood, California.
The San Diego Sabers are a junior ice hockey team based in Carlsbad, California, that competes in the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL). The team plays its home games at IceTown Carlsbad. The team was the fourth to be known as the San Diego Gulls, using the name from 2008 to 2015, when it was given to the American Hockey League (AHL) San Diego Gulls before the 2015–16 season.
The Idaho Jr. Steelheads, also called the Idaho IceCats, were a junior ice hockey team based in McCall, Idaho. The team played in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) and home games were held at Manchester Ice & Event Centre in McCall. The team previously played some home games at Idaho Ice World and CenturyLink Arena in Boise, the latter being the home of the ECHL Idaho Steelheads. The team had been one of the most successful in the WSHL, winning five Thorne Cup championships over six seasons and appeared in seven straight between 2010 and 2017.
The Bowdoin Polar Bears are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Bowdoin College, located in Brunswick, Maine. The Polar Bears compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). Bowdoin College currently fields teams in fourteen men's sports and sixteen women's sports. The polar bear team name was selected to honor Robert Peary of the class of 1877 who lead the first expedition that reached the North Pole.
The Bellingham Blazers are an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned Tier II junior ice hockey team in the United States Premier Hockey League. The Blazers are based in Bellingham, Washington and play home games at the Bellingham Sportsplex. The team also has the local youth hockey association named after them, going by the Jr. Blazers.
The Maine Nordiques were a Tier III Junior "A" ice hockey team from Lewiston, Maine. The team was a member of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL) since 2016 and played home games at The Colisée since 2015. The franchise relocated several times under the operation of the Fighting Spirit organization before it was sold to the Colisée owner, Jim Cain, in 2017.
The United Hockey Union (UHU), founded in 2012, is a group of ice hockey leagues in North America. The UHU is overseen and insured by the Amateur Athletic Union. Neither body is recognized by USA Hockey, Hockey Canada, or the International Ice Hockey Federation.
The Tahoe Icemen were an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned junior ice hockey team in the Western States Hockey League and based in South Lake Tahoe, California. Home games were at South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena.
The Wichita Jr. Thunder were an Amateur Athletic Union-sanctioned junior ice hockey team based in Wichita, Kansas, and played home games at the Wichita Ice Center. The team was a member of the Western States Hockey League (WSHL). The league and team were dormant for the 2020–21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Jr. Thunder were not included as a member of the league when it restarted in 2021.
The 2018–19 Maine Black Bears Men's ice hockey season was the 44th season of play for the program, the 42nd season competing at the Division I level, and the 35th season in the Hockey East conference. The Black Bears represented the University of Maine and played their home games at Alfond Arena, and were coached by Red Gendron, in his 6th season as their head coach.
The Canadian-American Junior Hockey League (CAJHL) is a junior hockey league with teams based in Canada. The league is independently operated and insured; it is not sanctioned by Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, or the Amateur Athletic Union. The league initially used the title Can-Am Junior Hockey League but their website later changed to Canadian-American Junior Hockey League.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)