Worcester IceCats

Last updated
Worcester IceCats
Worcester-Ice-Cats.png
City Worcester, Massachusetts
League American Hockey League
Operated1994–2005
Home arena Worcester Centrum
ColorsTeal, blue, silver
   
Affiliates St. Louis Blues (NHL),
Ottawa Senators (NHL),
New York Islanders (NHL)
Franchise history
1932–1935 Quebec Beavers
1935–1951 Springfield Indians
1951–1954 Syracuse Warriors
1954–1967 Springfield Indians
1967–1974 Springfield Kings
1974–1994 Springfield Indians
1994–2005Worcester IceCats
2005–2013 Peoria Rivermen
2013–2021 Utica Comets
2021–present Abbotsford Canucks
Championships
Regular season titles1: (2000–01)
Division titles2: (1996–97, 2000–01)

The Worcester IceCats were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the Worcester Centrum. In 2005 the team was renamed the Peoria Rivermen and moved to Peoria, Illinois.

Contents

History

The IceCats got their start when original New York Islanders owner Roy Boe purchased the Springfield Indians AHL franchise and moved it to Worcester in the summer of 1994. The team began play in the Fall of 1994 with a collection of free-agent players but as yet with no National Hockey League team affiliation. [1] Immediately following the end of the 1994–95 season, Boe and head coach/General Manager Jim Roberts closed an affiliation deal with the St. Louis Blues. [1] From that point on the IceCats would be the Blues' premier minor league team. The Peoria Rivermen of the East Coast Hockey League, in turn, became the IceCats' minor league affiliate in 1998, having been with St. Louis before the 1994 Worcester deal. During the 2000–01 season, Boe sold the IceCats to the St. Louis Blues. The team celebrated its tenth season in the AHL in fall 2003.

On November 9, 2004, the St. Louis Blues announced the sale of the IceCats to the owners of their ECHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. The new owners moved the franchise to Peoria, Illinois, for the 2005–06 season. [2]

This franchise was previously known as: Springfield Indians (1926–1994)
The franchise became known as: Peoria Rivermen (2005–2013)
This franchise was replaced by: Worcester Sharks (2006–2015)

Affiliates:

Season-by-season results

Regular season

SeasonGamesWonLostTiedOTLSOLPointsGoals
for		Goals
against		Standing
1994–95 802445110—592343006th, North
1995–96 803628124—882422442nd, North
1996–97 80432395—1002562341st, New England
1997–98 80343196—832672684th, New England
1998–99 80343682—782372604th, New England
1999–00 803431114—832492503rd, New England
2000–01 80482093—1082642051st, New England
2001–02 80393371—862452183rd, North
2002–03 803527153—882352203rd, North
2003–04 803727133—902071863rd, Atlantic
2004–05 80393434—852122235th, Atlantic

Playoffs

Season1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1994–95 Did not qualify
1995–96 L, 1–3, Portland ———
1996–97 L, 2–3, Providence ———
1997–98 W, 3–1, Springfield L, 3–4, Hartford ——
1998–99 L, 1–3, Providence ———
1999–00 W, 3–1, Portland L, 1–4, Hartford ——
2000–01 W, 3–1, Lowell L, 3–4, Providence ——
2001–02 †L, 1–2, Manitoba †———
2002–03 L, 0–3, Binghamton ———
2003–04 W, 4–2, Manchester L, 0–4, Hartford ——
2004–05 Did not qualify

† Lost in preliminary round.

Team records

Single season

Career

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top ten point-scorers in IceCat's franchise history.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points;

PlayerPosGPGAPts
Terry Virtue D45556154210
Jame Pollock D27063104167
Marc Brown LW3037981160
Eric Boguniecki C1416986155
Jeff Panzer C2106284146
Justin Papineau C1626677143
Stephane Roy C2086178139
Daniel Corso C1875485139
Marty Reasoner C1225768125
Blake Evans C2535273125

Team captains

Notable IceCats

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References

  1. 1 2 "Blues announce affiliation with Worcester". United Press International. 1995-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-04.
  2. ↑ "Blues Agree to Sell Worcester IceCats". OurSports Central. November 9, 2004. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
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