The Peoria Rivermen were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois, at the Carver Arena. After the 2012–13 AHL season, the team relocated to Utica, New York, and became the Utica Comets.[1]
| Peoria Rivermen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Peoria, Illinois |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Operated | 2005–2013 |
| Home arena | Carver Arena |
| Colors | Royal blue, navy, gold, white |
| Affiliate | St. Louis Blues (NHL) (2005–2013) |
| 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 |
| 1994–2005 | Worcester IceCats |
| 2005–2013 | Peoria Rivermen |
| 2013–2021 | Utica Comets |
| 2021–present | Abbotsford Canucks |
History
editIn 2011, Dave Checketts announced that the St. Louis Blues, Scottrade Center, and the Peoria Rivermen were all for sale. On May 10, 2012, Tom Stillman purchased the Peoria Rivermen franchise. On August 30, the Rivermen signed a one-year affiliation agreement with the Evansville IceMen, an expansion team in the ECHL, cutting ties with the Alaska Aces, who they were affiliated with since the Rivermen joined the AHL.[2]
On March 29, 2013, the Rivermen were purchased by the Vancouver Canucks.[3] On April 18, 2013, the AHL approved the sale of the Peoria Rivermen to the Vancouver Canucks.[4]
On May 13, 2013, the Vancouver Canucks confirmed with Peoria Civic Center officials that they would not bring back the Rivermen franchise and the AHL's Peoria Rivermen would no longer play in Peoria.[5] The AHL announced on June 14, 2013, that the franchise was being relocated to Utica, New York, as the Utica Comets for the 2013–14 AHL season.[6]
A Southern Professional Hockey League franchise replaced the AHL incarnation of the Rivermen in 2013 and took the team's name.
Season-by-season results
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | OTL | SOL | Points | PCT | Goals for | Goals against | Standing | Year | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals |
| 2005–06 | 80 | 46 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 100 | .625 | 253 | 226 | 3rd, West | 2006 | L, 0–4, HOU | — | — | — |
| 2006–07 | 80 | 37 | 33 | 2 | 8 | 84 | .525 | 221 | 242 | 5th, West | 2007 | Did not qualify | |||
| 2007–08 | 80 | 38 | 33 | 4 | 5 | 85 | .531 | 247 | 242 | 7th, West | 2008 | Did not qualify | |||
| 2008–09 | 80 | 43 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 92 | .575 | 215 | 211 | 2nd, West | 2009 | L, 3–4, HOU | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | 80 | 38 | 33 | 2 | 7 | 85 | .531 | 233 | 248 | 5th, West | 2010 | Did not qualify | |||
| 2010–11 | 80 | 42 | 30 | 3 | 5 | 92 | .575 | 223 | 218 | 4th, West | 2011 | L, 0–4, HOU | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | 76 | 39 | 33 | 2 | 2 | 82 | .539 | 217 | 207 | 4th, Midwest | 2012 | Did not qualify | |||
| 2012–13 | 76 | 33 | 35 | 5 | 3 | 74 | .487 | 183 | 218 | 5th, Midwest | 2013 | Did not qualify | |||
Players
editTeam captains
edit- Brendan Buckley, 2005–2006
- Aaron MacKenzie, 2006–2008
- Trent Whitfield, 2008–2009
- Yan Stastny, 2009–2010
- Dean Arsene, 2010–2011
- Adam Cracknell, 2011–2012
- Scott Ford, 2012–2013
Coaches
edit- 2005–2006: Steve Pleau
- 2006–2008: Dave Baseggio
- 2008 – Jan 2, 2010: Davis Payne
- January 2, 2010 – April 2010: Rick Wamsley
- 2010–2012: Jared Bednar
- 2012–2013: Dave Allison
References
edit- ^ "It's official: Pro hockey returns to Utica". Observer-Dispatch. June 14, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ "Blues Name Evansville New ECHL Affiliate". St. Louis Blues. August 30, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ Tung, Allen (March 29, 2013). "Report: Vancouver Canucks Purchase Rivermen; Move to Abbotsford?". The Canuck Way. FanSided. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
- ^ Eminian, Dave (April 18, 2013). "Sold: AHL approves Blues sale of Rivermen to Vancouver". Peoria Journal Star. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
- ^ "Peoria Rivermen to the Southern Professional Hockey League". Central Illinois Proud. May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 14, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.
- ^ "Utica Comets to join AHL in 2013–14". American Hockey League. June 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2013.