Shreveport Mudbugs

Last updated
Shreveport Mudbugs
Shreveport Mudbugs Logo.png
City Shreveport, Louisiana
League North American Hockey League
Founded2016
Home arena Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
ColorsBlack, teal, purple, red, white
     
Owner(s)Tommy & Leslie Scott
General managerScott Muscutt
Head coachJason Campbell
MediaShreveporttimes.com
Franchise history
2016–presentShreveport Mudbugs
Championships
Robertson Cups2 (2018, 2021)

The Shreveport Mudbugs are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Shreveport, Louisiana, as a member of the North American Hockey League. The new Mudbugs replaced a former professional team that played in the area from 1997 to 2011 known as the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

Contents

History

From 1997 to 2000, Shreveport, Louisiana was home to a professional hockey team in the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) named the Shreveport Mudbugs. In 2000, the Mudbugs relocated to nearby Bossier City to play out of CenturyTel Center and changed their name to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs. The Mudbugs then joined the Central Hockey League in 2001 when the WPHL merged with the CHL. The professional Mudbugs would eventually fold in 2011 citing low attendance and financial issues even though the team had just won the league championship. [1] [2]

In October 2015, it was announced that a new Mudbugs team would return for the 2016–17 season after signing a 12-year lease agreement with the Louisiana State Fairgrounds and returning to Hirsch Coliseum but as a member of the Tier II junior North American Hockey League. [3] On April 8, 2016, the Shreveport Mudbugs were officially announced as an expansion team in the NAHL. [4] Former Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs player, Karlis Zirnis, was named the team's first head coach. [5]

In their second season, the Mudbugs finished first in the South Division at the end of the regular season and played their way through the Robertson Cup playoffs to take the NAHL championship in 2018. Following the season, head coach Zirnis left the team to take an assistant coaching position with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks hockey team. [6]

Longest playoff game in NAHL history

On April 22, 2023, the Shreveport Mudbugs traveled to North Richland Hills, Texas to play the Lone Star Brahmas for Game 1 of the South Division semifinals. At 7:30 pm CT, the puck was dropped. At 1:38 am the next day, the game finally ended with a 2-1 victory for Lone Star in quadruple overtime. The game was approximately 6 hours and 8 minutes long, making it the longest playoff game in the NAHL. However, the Mudbugs got the last laugh, as they upset the Brahmas in the series, beating them 3 games to 2.

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
2016–1760351967618915111262nd of 7, South Div.
6th of 24, NAHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–3 vs. Corpus Christi IceRays
2017–1860411278919111211631st of 6, South Div.
2nd of 23, NAHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Corpus Christi IceRays
Won Div. Finals, 3–2 vs. Lone Star Brahmas
Won Robertson Cup Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights
Won Robertson Cup Championship game, 2–1 vs. Minot Minotauros
Robertson Cup Champions
2018–19602822106616316413573rd of 6, South Div.
12th of 24, NAHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Lone Star Brahmas
Lost Div. Finals, 2–3 vs. Amarillo Bulls
2019–2052341806816410712694th of 7, South Div.
9th of 26, NAHL		Season cancelled
2020–2156381178320513911031st of 6, South Div.
3rd of 23, NAHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Amarillo Bulls
Won Div. Finals, 3–0 vs. Wichita Falls Warriors
Won Robertson Cup Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Maine Nordiques
Won Robertson Cup Championship game, 4–2 vs. Aberdeen Wings
Robertson Cup Champions
2021–2260342157317015411684th of 8, South Div.
11th of 29, NAHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–3 vs. Lone Star Brahmas
2022–2360371678118313510573rd of 8, South Div.
5th of 29, NAHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 3–2 vs. Lone Star Brahmas
Lost Div. Finals, 0–3 vs. Oklahoma Warriors
2023–2460411728420814111632nd of 8 South,
3rd of 32 NAHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 3-2 vs. El Paso Rhinos
Lost Div. Finals, 1-3 vs. Lone Star Brahmas
2024-254729153611511208352nd of 8 South,
7th of 32 NAHL		TBD

References

  1. ↑ Lang III, Roy (June 10, 2011). "Won and done for Mudbugs". The Shreveport Times . Retrieved June 10, 2011.
  2. ↑ Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs win CHL title, then cease operations
  3. ↑ Lang III, Roy. "Ice, Ice, Baby! Mudbugs hockey returns to Shreveport". Shreveporttimes.com. GANNETT. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Shreveport Mudbugs accepted into the NAHL for the 2016-17 season". OurSports Central. April 8, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Former Mudbug Zirnis named head coach of new Shreveport Mudbugs NAHL team". Bossier Press-Tribune. June 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Karlis Zirnis leaves Mudbugs to coach in NCAA". Shreveport Times . July 12, 2018.
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