Elmira Jackals
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| Elmira Jackals | |
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| City: | Elmira, New York |
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| League: | ECHL |
| Conference: | American Conference |
| Division: | North Division |
| Founded: | 2000 |
| Home Arena: | First Arena |
| Colors: | navy, red, silver, white |
| Owner(s): | Mostafa Afr |
| General Manager: | Robbie S. Nichols |
| Head Coach: | Steve Martinson |
| Affiliates: | Columbus Blue Jackets, Syracuse Crunch |
| Franchise history | |
| 2000 to present: | Elmira Jackals |
| Championships | |
| Regular Season Titles: | None |
| Division Championships: | 2001-02 |
| Conference Championships: | None |
| Kelly Cups: | None |
The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east". Their mascot is named Blade, and they were originally part of the United Hockey League.
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[edit] The UHL Years
The Jackals were born as a member of the United Hockey League before the 2000-2001 season, as an affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Eventually, they severed ties with the Blue Jackets and became an independent operation for the rest of their years in the league. During their tenure in the UHL, their average attendance was 3,308 per game, which included 31 sellouts. The largest crowd was a standing-room-only of 4,126 on October 13, 2006.
[edit] Playoff History
The team made a splash in their first season by immediately making the playoffs. Improving dramatically in the off-season, the Jackals won the Eastern Conference for the first time, in just their second season. They even got as far as playing the Muskegon Fury in the Colonial Cup finals, but lost in a hard fought 6 game series. They returned to the playoffs in 2003, but didn't get the chance to play for The Cup again until the 2004 season when they again faced the Muskegon Fury. After being swept in the 2004 Colonial Cup series, they never returned to the playoffs in the UHL.
[edit] The Final Year
Their final season in the league, was especially disappointing. They hired a new head coach who'd proven successful elsewhere and signed a few solid players, giving the team hope for a return to the playoffs. The season brought three head coaching changes, after the first one suffered a mini-stroke. There were also some injuries to key players. One of which, limited top ranked goalie Shawn Degagne to only 4 games.
Despite finishing in last place, there were some bright spots. Star forward Frank Littlejohn scored a franchise record 42 goals. The fans were very supportive of the team, averaging 3,427 per game during the season in an arena that only seats 4,000. Then on April 14, 2007, ownership announced they would be leaving the UHL for the North Division of the ECHL. [1]
[edit] ECHL
The Elmira Jackals joined the ECHL in the summer of 2007 with a new logo and jerseys. They are a member of the North division.
Returning from a loss in Cincinnati, the team bus was involved in crash on Interstate 90 in Pennsylvania early in the morning of November 29, 2007. Several players sustained minor injuries. The Jackals suffered their worst loss in their first year. They lost to Johnstown 9-3. On March 9th, 2008 after three seasons of being out of playoff contention in the United Hockey League, the Elmira Jackals qualified for the East Coast Hockey League playoffs.[2]
[edit] Season-by-season record
The complete seasonal records for the team during their years in the UHL.
| Season | W | L | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2000-01 | 32 | 33 | 9 | 73 | 260 | 289 | 2015 | 2nd, Northeast | Lost in 1st round |
| 2001-02 | 45 | 21 | 8 | 98 | 260 | 216 | 2523 | 1st, East | Lost in Finals 4 games to 2 |
| 2002-03 | 41 | 28 | 7 | 89 | 257 | 254 | 2250 | 3rd, Eastern | Lost in 2nd round 4 games to 0 |
| 2003-04 | 33 | 34 | 9 | 75 | 238 | 256 | 1670 | 4th, Eastern | Lost in Finals 4 games to 0 |
| 2004-05 | 24 | 51 | 5 | 53 | 224 | 310 | 1686 | 4th, Eastern | Did not qualify |
| 2005-06 | 27 | 42 | 7 | 61 | 231 | 300 | 1815 | 4th, Eastern | Did not qualify |
| 2006-07 | 30 | 45 | 1 | 61 | 217 | 287 | 2087 | 5th, Eastern | Did not qualify |
| 2007-08 | 41 | 24 | 7 | 89 | 245 | 219 | 1840 | 5th, American | Lost in 1st round 4 games to 2 |
| Totals | 263 | 278 | 53 | 599 | 1932 | 2131 | 14135 | - | - |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Elmira Jackals official website
- Local Newspaper - Jackals articles
- Jackals Coach's Show Audio Downloads
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| American Conference | North | Cincinnati Cyclones · Dayton Bombers · Elmira Jackals · Johnstown Chiefs · Reading Royals · Trenton Devils · Wheeling Nailers |
| South | Augusta Lynx · Charlotte Checkers · Columbia Inferno · Florida Everblades · Gwinnett Gladiators · Mississippi Sea Wolves · Pensacola Ice Pilots · South Carolina Stingrays | |
| National Conference |
Pacific | Bakersfield Condors · Fresno Falcons · Las Vegas Wranglers · Ontario Reign · Stockton Thunder |
| West | Alaska Aces · Idaho Steelheads · Phoenix Roadrunners · Utah Grizzlies · Victoria Salmon Kings | |
| Future teams | Myrtle Beach, SC · Toledo Walleye | |
| Related articles: List of ECHL seasons · Kelly Cup · Brabham Cup · All-Star Game · Awards · Timeline · Defunct teams · Hall of Fame · Arenas · Other Professional Hockey leagues | ||
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