Texas Wildcatters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Texas Wildcatters
City: Beaumont, Texas
League: ECHL
Conference: American Conference
Division: South Division
Founded: 2003
Home Arena: Ford Arena
Colors: Black and Gold
General Manager: Richard W. Adams
Head Coach: Malcom Cameron
Affiliates: Minnesota Wild (NHL) Houston Aeros (AHL)
Franchise history
1993 to 2000: Huntington Blizzard
2003 to 2008: Texas Wildcatters
2008 to Future: Ontario Reign
Championships
Regular Season Titles: none
Division Championships: 2007–08
Conference Championships: none
Kelly Cups: none

The Texas Wildcatters, who take their name from Texas wildcatters, are the ECHL team based in Beaumont, Texas. They currently play their home games at the Ford Arena. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers in 2004–2005. The team played in Huntington, West Virginia and were known as the Huntington Blizzard from 1993–2000. The Wildcatters began play in 2003.

The Wildcatters ceased their existence in Beaumont with a 4–1 loss to the Columbia Inferno on April 25, 2008 at Ford Arena.

Contents

[edit] History

On October 7, 2005, the Jefferson County, Texas Commissioners announced that the team would not be allowed to use Ford Arena for the 2005–2006 season because the site was being used for Hurricane Rita relief. The team was forced to cancel the season, but resumed gameplay in 2006–2007. They are affiliated with the Minnesota Wild of the NHL and the AHL's Houston Aeros as of July 18, 2007. After this season, they will cease operations and move to Ontario, California., where they will play as the Ontario Reign, and will instead be affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings[1]. According to a recent Beaumont TV report, there is a local group attempting to secure a Central Hockey League franchise for Beaumont starting in the 2008–2009 season [2]. If successful, the team will be called the Wildcatters, but “Texas” could have to change given that the Texas Brahmas are already in the CHL.

[edit] Relocation Press Release

On March 12, 2008 , the team released the following [3].

NEWS RELEASE FROM TEXAS WILDCATTERS:

WILDCATTERS INSTRUCTED TO VACATE FORD ARENA

"The Texas Wildcatters were told Wednesday afternoon by Jefferson County to vacate their offices and players' facilities in Ford Arena within 30 days from the completion of the 2008 ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs. The County has indicated it would refuse to honor the terms of the Wildcatters' license agreement permitting play for five full hockey seasons.

It is unfortunately now clear, that despite the Wildcatters' good faith efforts since October 29, 2007 to have an honest dialogue with county officials concerning hockey in Southeast Texas, that all negotiations have been terminated by the County as of March 12, 2008.

During the course of negotiations to retain hockey in Southeast Texas, the Wildcatters at all times believed the County would live up to the license agreement signed by the County and currently in effect and that clearly provides for five full hockey seasons.

While the Wildcatters originally initiated discussions with the County this past fall, the Wildcatters, on February 4, 2008, made a comprehensive proposal to the County which also included the addition of a second major professional sports team (MISL) which would have added another 15 dates to the arena's calendar. In addition to the current Wildcatters total of 36 dates, this would have brought the total number of sports dates to 52 plus playoffs, accounting for nearly 80% of the current building usage.

In that proposal the Wildcatters also offered to make a very significant investment of $1 million to $5 million in the building. That offer was ignored.

The County's only response to this comprehensive proposal was to propose a rent of $10,000 per game - triple what is clearly identified in the license agreement - followed by a later offer of $4,000 per game. These delays and the ensuing breach of the license agreement caused the Wildcatters to miss several extended ECHL deadlines and cost the Wildcatters the opportunity to retain an ECHL team for the 2008–2009 season.

The County encouraged the Wildcatters to pursue other playing options and the organization immediately began negotiations with the Central Hockey League. The Wildcatters arranged for the purchase of a CHL franchise to bring to Jefferson County. The CHL has seven Texas-based teams and offers the opportunities for tremendous geographic rivalries due to the relative proximities of many of the teams in relation to Southeast Texas.

On February 28, 2008, the County withdrew its offer for the $4,000 per game rent, and it has become clear that the County was not negotiating in good faith to keep professional hockey in Southeast Texas. In response to several misleading and inaccurate reports concerning details of the Texas Wildcatters' lease status at Ford Park, the team is releasing all information, letters and documents in its possession pertaining to discussions with County officials in order to clarify the record.

As part of this, it is the Wildcatters understanding that the County has indicated, in connection with discussions with various third parties, that the County is awaiting a response from the Wildcatters to the County's offer for hockey at Ford Arena in 2008–2009. There is in fact no offer from the County for the team to respond to. The County officials have informed the Wildcatters their lease is null and void after completion of the 2008 Playoffs.

The Wildcatters have been told they may not play at Ford Park next season, costing the arena its primary tenant as well as a proposed new sports tenant and significant capital contribution.

The Wildcatters will continue to pursue all options to keep professional hockey in Southeast Texas for the 2008–2009 season.

Materials pertaining to the County discussions with the Wildcatters are currently available for the media at the Wildcatters' offices and will be posted for the public on the team website: wildcattershockey.com by 10 p.m. Thursday, March 13.

The Texas Wildcatters are a proud ECHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild of the NHL and the AHL's Houston Aeros."

[edit] Season-by-Season results

[edit] Regular season

Season Games Won Lost Tied OTL SOL Points Goals
for		 Goals
against		 Standing
2003–04 72 22 44 6 — — 50 196 287 7th, Central
2004–05 72 17 44 11 — — 45 178 260 6th, South
2005–06 Voluntary Suspension of Season
2006–07 72 41 22 — 5 4 91 265 222 2nd, South
2007–08 72 52 9 — 4 7 115 266 177 1st, South

[edit] Playoffs

Season 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
2003–04 Out of playoffs.
2004–05 Out of playoffs.
2005–06 Voluntary suspension of season.
2006–07 — W, 3–2, GWT L, 2–4, FLA —
2007–08 W, 3–1, MIS L, 2–3, CBA — —

[edit] Current Roster

As of February 6, 2008. Numbers taken from ECHL website.[4]

Goaltenders
# Player Catches Date of birth Place of birth
1 Flag of the United States Jeff Pietrasiak L April 5, 1980 Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA
35 Flag of Kazakhstan Anton Khudobin L May 7, 1986 Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan
Defencemen
# Player Shoots Date of birth Place of birth
2 Flag of Canada Cleve Kinley R January 3, 1984 Powell River, British Columbia, Canada
3 Flag of the United States Michael Grenzy L February 6, 1984 Lockport, New York, USA
4 Flag of the United States Tim Cook R March 13, 1984 Montclair, New Jersey, USA
10 Flag of the United States A. J. Thelen L March 11, 1986 Savage, Minnesota, USA
25 Flag of Canada David Schulz R January 3, 1986 Winkler, Manitoba, Canada
61 Flag of the United States John Adams R December 21, 1982 Wayzata, Minnesota, USA
Forwards
# Player Position Shoots Date of birth Place of birth
13 Flag of the United States Dan Welch F R February 23, 1981 Hastings, Minnesota, USA
16 Flag of Canada Colin Nicholson F R January 7, 1983 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
17 Flag of Canada Jordie Preston F R August 5, 1983 Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada
19 Flag of Canada Scott Champagne F L May 30, 1983 Cornwall, Ontario, Canada
21 Flag of Canada Max Taylor F L December 20, 1983 Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
23 Flag of Canada Marc Fulton F R February 23, 1983 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
26 Flag of Canada Brandon Benedict F L June 10, 1982 Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
27 Flag of the United States Ross Carlson F R February 21, 1982 Duluth, Minnesota, USA
28 Flag of Canada Danick Bouchard F R February 2, 1986 Québec City, Québec, Canada
39 Flag of the United States Moises Gutierrez F R July 20, 1986 Anchorage, Alaska, USA
59 Flag of Canada Riley Emmerson F R February 7, 1986 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
67 Flag of Canada John McNabb F L April 21, 1978 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
71 Flag of Canada Kevin Baker F R June 15, 1979 Kingston, Ontario, Canada
74 Flag of Canada Matt Kassian F L October 28, 1986 Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada
Staff
Title Staff Member
Head Coach Malcolm Cameron
Assistant Coach Leon Hayward
Trainer Haley Orwick
Equipment Manager Philip Shipp

[edit] References

  1. ^ ECHL Concludes Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting
  2. ^ KBMT Channel 12 report accessed 2-27-08
  3. ^ wildcattershockey.com: 'Catters Archive
  4. ^ ECHL - Premier 'AA' Hockey League

[edit] External links

v • d • e
ECHL (2008-09)
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