| 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. Beaumont is a city in and the County seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont&ndash Port Arthur Metropolitan The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a Professional Ice hockey league based in Princeton New Jersey, with teams scattered The 2003-04 ECHL season was the 16th season of the ECHL. This season brought a major change in the ECHL as the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications The Ford Arena is a 7736-seat multi-purpose Arena in Beaumont Texas, USA. 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. The Minnesota Wild are a professional Ice hockey team based in Saint Paul Minnesota. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The Houston Aeros are an Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary The Ontario Reign are a minor league Ice hockey team from Ontario California set to play in the ECHL by the 2008–09 season. The 2007-08 ECHL Season was the 20th season of the ECHL. Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006-07 season the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the Texas wildcatters were notable individuals within the the history of the Petroleum industry in Texas. The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a Professional Ice hockey league based in Princeton New Jersey, with teams scattered Beaumont is a city in and the County seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont&ndash Port Arthur Metropolitan They currently play their home games at the Ford Arena. The Ford Arena is a 7736-seat multi-purpose Arena in Beaumont Texas, USA. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers in 2004–2005. The Florida Panthers are a professional Ice hockey team based in Sunrise Florida, a suburb of Ft The team played in Huntington, West Virginia and were known as the Huntington Blizzard from 1993–2000. Huntington is a city located in the State of West Virginia along the Ohio River. 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 |
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. Events 3761 BC - The epoch (origin of the modern Hebrew calendar ( Proleptic Julian calendar) Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Jefferson County is a County located in the state of Texas, United States. Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense Tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico 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. The Minnesota Wild are a professional Ice hockey team based in Saint Paul Minnesota. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary The Houston Aeros are an Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. 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]. The Ontario Reign are a minor league Ice hockey team from Ontario California set to play in the ECHL by the 2008–09 season. The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles California. 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.
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. "
Season-by-Season results
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 | |
Playoffs
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Out of playoffs. The 2003-04 ECHL season was the 16th season of the ECHL. This season brought a major change in the ECHL as the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications The 2004-05 ECHL Season was the 17th season of the ECHL. This season marked uncharted territory for the ECHL as they established their first Canadian franchise the The 2005-06 ECHL Season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League ECHL, a professional Ice-hockey league based in the United States. The 2006-07 ECHL Season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions the Texas Wildcatters (who had to suspend operations The 2007-08 ECHL Season was the 20th season of the ECHL. Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006-07 season the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the The 2003-04 ECHL season was the 16th season of the ECHL. This season brought a major change in the ECHL as the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications | ||||
| 2004–05 | Out of playoffs. The 2004-05 ECHL Season was the 17th season of the ECHL. This season marked uncharted territory for the ECHL as they established their first Canadian franchise the | ||||
| 2005–06 | Voluntary suspension of season. The 2005-06 ECHL Season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League ECHL, a professional Ice-hockey league based in the United States. | ||||
| 2006–07 | — | W, 3–2, GWT | L, 2–4, FLA | — | |
| 2007–08 | W, 3–1, MIS | L, 2–3, CBA | — | — | |
Current Roster
As of February 6, 2008. The 2006-07 ECHL Season was the 19th season of the ECHL. Two teams returned to the ECHL after suspensions the Texas Wildcatters (who had to suspend operations The Gwinnett Gladiators are a minor league Ice hockey team playing out of the Arena at Gwinnett Center in Duluth Georgia. Awards and Trophies EA Gingher Memorial Trophy The Everblades have won the E The 2007-08 ECHL Season was the 20th season of the ECHL. Two teams suspended operations at the end of the 2006-07 season the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the The Mississippi Sea Wolves are a professional hockey team based in Biloxi Mississippi and playing in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. Numbers taken from ECHL website. [4]
| # | Player | Catches | Date of birth | Place of birth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Jeff Pietrasiak | L | April 5, 1980 | Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, USA |
| 35 |  | Anton Khudobin | L | May 7, 1986 | Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan |
| # | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 |  | Cleve Kinley | R | January 3, 1984 | Powell River, British Columbia, Canada |
| 3 | | Michael Grenzy | L | February 6, 1984 | Lockport, New York, USA |
| 4 | | Tim Cook | R | March 13, 1984 | Montclair, New Jersey, USA |
| 10 | | A. J. Thelen | L | March 11, 1986 | Savage, Minnesota, USA |
| 25 | | David Schulz | R | January 3, 1986 | Winkler, Manitoba, Canada |
| 61 | | John Adams | R | December 21, 1982 | Wayzata, Minnesota, USA |
| # | Player | Position | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | | Dan Welch | F | R | February 23, 1981 | Hastings, Minnesota, USA |
| 16 | | Colin Nicholson | F | R | January 7, 1983 | Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| 17 | | Jordie Preston | F | R | August 5, 1983 | Bedford, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| 19 | | Scott Champagne | F | L | May 30, 1983 | Cornwall, Ontario, Canada |
| 21 | | Max Taylor | F | L | December 20, 1983 | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| 23 | | Marc Fulton | F | R | February 23, 1983 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| 26 | | Brandon Benedict | F | L | June 10, 1982 | Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
| 27 | | Ross Carlson | F | R | February 21, 1982 | Duluth, Minnesota, USA |
| 28 | | Danick Bouchard | F | R | February 2, 1986 | Québec City, Québec, Canada |
| 39 | | Moises Gutierrez | F | R | July 20, 1986 | Anchorage, Alaska, USA |
| 59 | | Riley Emmerson | F | R | February 7, 1986 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| 67 | | John McNabb | F | L | April 21, 1978 | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| 71 | | Kevin Baker | F | R | June 15, 1979 | Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
| 74 | | Matt Kassian | F | L | October 28, 1986 | Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada |
| Title | Staff Member | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Malcolm Cameron | |||||
| Assistant Coach | Leon Hayward | |||||
| Trainer | Haley Orwick | |||||
| Equipment Manager | Philip Shipp | |||||
References
External links
A J Thelen (born March 11, 1986) is an American professional Ice hockey defenseman who plays for the Florida EverbladesDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic