Indiana Ice Miners
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Indiana Ice Miners | |
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| City: | Indiana, Pennsylvania |
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| League: | Mid-Atlantic Hockey League |
| Founded: | 2007 |
| Home Arena: | S&T Bank Arena |
| Colors: | black, red, silver |
| Owner(s): | Fidel Jenkins |
| General Manager: | Bob Yusco |
| Head Coach: | Christian Panaia |
| Media: | Indiana Gazette |
| Franchise history | |
| 2007-present: | Indiana Ice Miners |
| Championships | |
| Regular Season Titles: | 1 |
The Indiana Ice Miners are a professional ice hockey team in the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League. Based in Indiana, Pennsylvania, the team was a founding member of the MAHL, first playing in 2007. The team plays at the S&T Bank Arena
[edit] History
A Mid-Atlantic Hockey League team was announced for Indiana, Pennsylvania by league president Andrew Haines in 2007. The league held a contest to name the team, and the "Ice Miners" nickname, a reference to the coal mining regions of Central and Western Pennsylvania, was picked in June. [1]
On June 21, 2007 the team announced the hiring of head coach Brian Gratz [1]. Gratz previously played goaltender at Penn State University, where he won four ACHA National Championships. In the year before taking the position with the Ice Miners, Gratz served as a volunteer assistant for the Reading Royals of the ECHL. He later returned to play with the Wheeling Nailers. He was called up to the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and finished the year in the ECHL playoffs with the Cincinnati Cyclones.[2]
The team named Josh Lipkin, previously of the American Indoor Football League's Johnstown Riverhawks, general manager on November 29.[3]
The league announced the ownership of the team would be acquired by Robert Eger in December. The team had been run by the league since starting play.[4]
In February, the league announced that it would immediately suspend operations, citing financial reasons.[5] Over the course of the season, the Ice Miners recorded a professional hockey record 26-game winning streak.[5] The team was named champions of the league, with a 31-1-0 record, 18 games before the season was scheduled to end.[6]
The team was purchased by real estate developer Fidel Jenkins on March 7, 2008. [7]
Head coach Brian Gratz left the team in March, to explore other coaching opportunities. The Ice Miners later introduced new coach, Christian Pania. [8]
The team also made a change of General Manager, hiring Bob Yusko in April. Yusko previously served as the director of operations with the Mon Valley Thunder.[9]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Weaver, Rick. "Hockey team adopts 'Ice Miners' moniker, names coach", Indiana Gazette, 6-21-2007.
- ^ "MAHL's name Brian Gratz head coach", Indiana Ice Miners.
- ^ "West Lebanon native named Ice Miners GM", Indiana Gazette, 11-20-2007.
- ^ Weaver, Rick. "League OKs Ice Miners ownership", Indiana Gazette, 12-30-2007.
- ^ a b Weaver, Rick. "MAHL puts Ice Miners, league's season on ice", Indiana Gazette, 2-13-08.
- ^ Weaver, Rick. "Ice Miners named MAHL champs", Indiana Gazette, 2-14-2008.
- ^ "Fidel Jenkins named new owner of the Indiana Ice Miners", MAHL.
- ^ "Ice Miners get new bench boss", MAHL.
- ^ "Ice Miners name Bob Yusko new GM", MAHL.
[edit] External links
Indiana Ice Miners
Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
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