1.
Cleveland
–
Cleveland is a city in the U. S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the states second most populous county. The city proper has a population of 388,072, making Cleveland the 51st largest city in the United States, Greater Cleveland ranked as the 32nd largest metropolitan area in the United States, with 2,055,612 people in 2016. The city is the center of the Cleveland–Akron–Canton Combined Statistical Area, the city is located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately 60 miles west of the Pennsylvania border. Clevelands economy has diversified sectors that include manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, Cleveland is also home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Residents of Cleveland are called Clevelanders, Cleveland has many nicknames, the oldest of which in contemporary use being The Forest City. Cleaveland oversaw the plan for what would become the downtown area, centered on Public Square, before returning home. The first settler in Cleaveland was Lorenzo Carter, who built a cabin on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, the Village of Cleaveland was incorporated on December 23,1814. In spite of the swampy lowlands and harsh winters, its waterfront location proved to be an advantage. The area began rapid growth after the 1832 completion of the Ohio, growth continued with added railroad links. Cleveland incorporated as a city in 1836, in 1836, the city, then located only on the eastern banks of the Cuyahoga River, nearly erupted into open warfare with neighboring Ohio City over a bridge connecting the two. Ohio City remained an independent municipality until its annexation by Cleveland in 1854, the citys prime geographic location as a transportation hub on the Great Lakes has played an important role in its development as a commercial center. Cleveland serves as a point for iron ore shipped from Minnesota. In 1870, John D. Rockefeller founded Standard Oil in Cleveland, other manufacturers located in Cleveland produced steam-powered cars, which included White and Gaeth, as well as the electric car company Baker. Because of the significant growth, Cleveland was known as the Sixth City during this period, by 1920, due in large part to the citys economic prosperity, Cleveland became the nations fifth largest city. The city counted Progressive Era politicians such as the populist Mayor Tom L. Johnson among its leaders, many prominent Clevelanders from this era are buried in the historic Lake View Cemetery, including President James A. Garfield, and John D. Rockefeller. In commemoration of the centennial of Clevelands incorporation as a city, conceived as a way to energize a city after the Great Depression, it drew four million visitors in its first season, and seven million by the end of its second and final season in September 1937. The exposition was housed on grounds that are now used by the Great Lakes Science Center, following World War II, the city experienced a prosperous economy. In sports, the Indians won the 1948 World Series, the hockey Barons became champions of the American Hockey League, as a result, along with track and boxing champions produced, Cleveland was dubbed City of Champions in sports at this time
2.
American Hockey League
–
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League. Twenty-seven AHL teams are located in the United States and the three are in Canada. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and its current president is David Andrews, the annual playoff champion is awarded the Calder Cup, named for Frank Calder, the first President of the NHL. The reigning champions are the Lake Erie Monsters, the AHL traces its origins directly to two predecessor professional leagues, the Canadian-American Hockey League, founded in 1926, and the first International Hockey League, established in 1929. With both leagues down to the minimum in membership, the governors of each recognized the need for action to assure their member clubs long-term survival. Their solution was to play an interlocking schedule, while the Can-Am was based in the Northeast and the IHL in the Great Lakes and Midwest, their footprints were close enough for this to be a viable option. The two older leagues eight surviving clubs began joint play in November 1936 as a new circuit of mutual convenience known as the International-American Hockey League. The four Can-Am teams became the I-AHL East Division, with the IHL quartet playing as the West Division. The IHL also contributed its former championship trophy, the F. G. Teddy Oke Trophy, the Oke Trophy is now awarded to the regular-season winners of the AHLs Northeast Division. A little more than a month into that first season, the balance, the makeshift new I-AHL played out the rest of its first season with just seven teams. At the end of the 1936–37 season, a modified playoff format was devised and a new championship trophy. The Syracuse Stars defeated the Philadelphia Ramblers in the final, three-games-to-one, the Calder Cup continues on today as the AHLs playoff championship trophy. After two seasons of interlocking play, the governors of the two leagues seven active teams met in New York City on June 28,1938, maurice Podoloff of New Haven, the former head of the Can-Am League, was elected the I-AHLs first president. The former IHL president, John Chick of Windsor, Ontario, the Bears remain the only one of these eight original I-AHL/AHL franchises to have been represented in the league without interruption since the 1938–39 season. The newly merged circuit also increased its schedule for each team by six games from 48 to 54. After the 1939–40 season the I-AHL renamed itself the American Hockey League and it generally enjoyed both consistent success on the ice and relative financial stability over its first three decades of operation. The number of teams competing for players rose from six to thirty in just seven years. Player salaries at all levels shot up dramatically with the increased demand and this did not seem to affect the AHL at first, as it expanded to 12 teams by 1970
3.
Quicken Loans Arena
–
Quicken Loans Arena, commonly known as The Q, is a multi-purpose arena in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It also serves as an arena for Cleveland State Vikings mens and womens basketball. The arena opened in October 1994 as part of the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex with adjacent Progressive Field and it is named for the retail mortgage lender Quicken Loans, whose chairman and founder is Dan Gilbert, the majority owner of the Cavaliers, Monsters, and Gladiators. From its opening until August 2005, it was known as Gund Arena, named for former Cavaliers owner Gordon Gund, after he paid for the naming rights. Quicken Loans Arena seats 20,562 people in its configuration and up to 20,056 for ice hockey. It has also been the host venue for the 2007 NCAA Womens Division I Basketball Final Four, opening and regional games in the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament. Figure Skating Championships in 2000 and 2009, in July 2016, The Q hosted the 2016 Republican National Convention. The Q was preceded in downtown Cleveland by the Cleveland Arena and it was best known as the site of the Moondog Coronation Ball in 1952, widely regarded as the first rock and roll concert. Cleveland Arena was the first home of the Cavaliers in 1970, by 1970, however, Cleveland Arena was outdated and in disrepair. The Cavs played there their first four seasons and it was replaced in 1974 by the 20, 273-seat Richfield Coliseum, located in Richfield, between Cleveland and Akron. The market site was acquired in 1985 and cleared in 1987 in a push for new downtown sports facilities by city. In 1990, voters approved a sin tax on alcohol and tobacco products in Cuyahoga County to fund the Gateway Sports and Entertainment Complex, construction began in 1992 with the ballpark opening in April 1994 and the arena in October 1994. The arena opened with a concert by Billy Joel on October 17,1994, the Cavaliers played their first regular-season game in the arena a few weeks later, a loss to the Houston Rockets, on November 8,1994. The team name was announced as the Lake Erie Monsters on January 25,2007, the Lake Erie Monsters changed their name to the Cleveland Monsters on August 9,2016. The Las Vegas Gladiators of the Arena Football League announced on October 16,2007, plans for a two-year, $140 million renovation project to begin in 2017 were released by the Cavaliers in December 2016. The project calls for an increase in the footage of the concourses and open areas. It is scheduled to be completed by late 2019, the arena seats 20,562 for basketball, with 2,000 club seats and 88 luxury suites. Seating is divided into three levels, with two levels of suites and five platinum suites on the event level
4.
Dan Gilbert
–
Daniel Dan Gilbert is the chairman and founder of Rock Ventures and Quicken Loans Inc. He is also the operator of the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio and chairman of JACK Entertainment, Gilbert was born to a Jewish family in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in Southfield, Michigan where he attended Southfield-Lathrup High School. He earned his bachelors degree from Michigan State University and a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School, while in college he earned a real estate agent’s license and while in law school, he worked part-time at his parents Century 21 Real Estate agency. In 2000, software maker Intuit Inc. purchased Rock Financial and it renamed the national web operation Quicken Loans and grew substantially as the leading provider of direct-to-consumer home loans on the Internet, offering mortgages in all 50 states. Gilbert remained at the company as CEO, in 2010, Quicken Loans moved its headquarters and 1,700 of its employees to downtown Detroit. In 2007, Gilbert bought the dormant Utah Grizzlies American Hockey League franchise, moved it to Cleveland, in early 2012, Gilbert became the new owner of the Arena Football Leagues Cleveland Gladiators. Gilbert became majority owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers in March 2005 and undertook a complete overhaul of the front office, coaching staff, player personnel and game presentation. Under his tenure, the Cavs won four Central Division championships, also in 2016, Gilberts Lake Erie Monsters won the Calder Cup, giving Gilbert two championships within eight days. In 2011, Gilbert purchased the NBADLs New Mexico Thunderbirds, and moved them to Canton, Ohio renaming them the Canton Charge, following the special, Gilbert published an open letter in Comic Sans font to Cleveland Cavaliers fans in which he strongly criticized how James made his announcement. July 12,2010, NBA Commissioner David Stern fined Gilbert $100,000 for his remarks in the letter, though some members of the media criticized Gilbert for this letter, many Cleveland Cavaliers fans embraced him for it and even offered to pay the fine. Gilbert instead insisted on donating the money to charity, four years later when James opted out of his contract with Miami, Gilbert and James met privately. James also expressed his regret to Gilbert about The Decision, the two embraced, and James subsequently returned to Cleveland in free agency days later. James explained his homecoming to Cleveland in his Sports Illustrated announcement writing “I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, who am I to hold a grudge. ”Gilbert is a founding partner in private equity group Rockbridge Growth Equity LLC. The partnership invests in growing businesses in the services, Internet technology, consumer-direct marketing. Gilbert is a principal of Detroit Venture Partners, a venture firm that funds start-up. Some of the companies DVP has invested in includes, LevelEleven, iRule, in addition, Gilbert recently cofounded StockX, a stock market of things for high-demand, limited edition products such as sneakers. Gilbert is also invested and involved in the operation of several consumer-based technology-centered businesses, including Fathead, Veritix, Xenith, StyleCaster, in November 2009, Gilbert and a group of partners successfully backed a statewide referendum to bring casino gaming to Ohio’s four largest cities. Through a joint venture with Caesars Entertainment Corporation, the groups operate urban-based casinos in both Cleveland and Cincinnati, the first of the casinos, Horseshoe Cleveland, opened in May 2012
5.
John Madden (ice hockey)
–
John J. Madden is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre and current head coach of the Cleveland Monsters in the American Hockey League. An undrafted player from the University of Michigan, he won three Stanley Cups during his National Hockey League career, two with the New Jersey Devils and one with the Chicago Blackhawks. Madden was noted during his career for his ability to kill penalties, Madden was regarded during his career as one of the leagues best defensive forwards, he was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2001, and finished second in voting 2003,2004 and 2008. His penalty-killing skills often generated breakaway chances while his team was shorthanded, Madden led the NHL and set a New Jersey Devils team record — and tied the NHL rookie record at the time, held by Gerry Minor — by scoring six shorthanded goals during the 1999–2000 season. After playing 14 seasons, he retired on September 4,2012, John Maddens journey to the NHL was an uncommon one. As a child, he grew up in a housing project, Parma Court. During his second season with the Colts, Madden set team records for assists and points. Madden was selected in the 11th round in the 1992 OHL Priority Selection by the Niagara Falls Thunder after a 104 point season with the Barrie Colts Jr. B. team, Madden did not report to Niagara Falls, instead chose to pursue an NCAA scholarship. After his 2nd season in Barrie, when he scored 124 points in 43 games, however, of the 286 players drafted that year, only 24 have played more career NHL games than the undrafted Madden. Madden played college hockey for the University of Michigan playing in 160 games, during his four-year career with the Wolverines, Madden set the NCAA record for most career Shorthanded goals and was a member of the 1995–96 championship team. In his final season at Michigan, he was named to both the CCHA First All-Star and NCAA West First All-American Teams, Maddens teammates at Michigan included future NHL players Brendan Morrison, Mike Knuble, Blake Sloan, Marty Turco, Steve Shields and Bill Muckalt. Lamoriello eventually offered Madden a contract, and he signed with the Devils as a free agent on June 26,1997. Madden spent the bulk of his first two seasons with the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League. Madden led the Rats in scoring during the 1998–99 season, setting records for assists and points. Madden made his NHL debut on January 6,1999 against cross-town rivals the New York Rangers and he won a permanent spot on the Devils roster the following season and remained with the team through the 2008-09 season. On October 29,2000, in a 9–0 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Madden, over his career Madden has 32 2-point games,3 3-point games,1 4-point game and 1 5-point game. For most of his time with the Devils, Madden was paired with left wing player Jay Pandolfo, the value of the Madden/Pandolfo partnership to the Devils was particularly notable after the 2004–05 NHL lockout. On April 25,2006, Madden completed his first career playoff hat-trick in a 4–1 win over the New York Rangers, Madden was a member of the Devils 1999–2000 and 2002–03 Stanley Cup champion clubs
6.
WMMS
–
WMMS – branded 100.7 WMMS, The Buzzard – is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Widely regarded as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout its history, the station also serves as the FM flagship for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians radio networks. Besides a standard transmission, WMMS broadcasts over two HD Radio channels, and is available online via iHeartRadio. The HD2 digital subchannel, which airs alternative rock under the brand 99X, serves as the affiliate for Sixx Sense with Nikki Sixx. WMMS-HD2 also simulcasts over Cleveland translator W256BT, the WMMS studios are located at the former Centerior Energy building in the Cleveland suburb of Independence, while the station transmitter resides in neighboring Seven Hills. The WMMS call letters first referred to an owner – MetroMedia Stereo – but have taken on a variety of other meanings. Created in April 1974 as an ironic twist on Clevelands down-and-out reputation as a decaying Rust Belt city, in 1981, Radio & Records identified the malevolent feathered figure as the best-known station symbol in the country. De-emphasized in the fall of 2007, the scavenger was revived the following spring to coincide with the stations 40th anniversary, WMMS played a key role in breaking several major acts in the U. S. including David Bowie, Rush, and Bruce Springsteen. Station employees went on to director and executive-level positions in the recording industry, namely with labels RCA, Mercury. Noted filmmakers, including Cameron Crowe and Paul Schrader, have called on both The Buzzard and its personnel while preparing for various rock-themed productions, WMMS was also a major driving force behind the successful campaign to bring the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Cleveland. A federal offense, the act nearly cost WMMS its broadcasting license.1 megahertz, on July 31,1947, W8XUB began broadcasting at 100.7 MHz. On November 13,1947, the new FM station transitioned from experimental to commercial status, increased its power, on November 11,1948, the station adopted the callsign WHK-FM. In 1958, both WHK and WHK-FM were sold to Metropolitan Broadcasting, itself renamed MetroMedia two years later, like most early FM stations, WHK-FM mostly simulcast the Top 40 programming of its AM sister station. Seeing a small but significant groundswell of support for the medium in the market, WHK-FM became one of a handful of commercial stations in the country to try that format, many of which were owned by MetroMedia. In order to establish a separate identity, and to reflect the stations ownership. The station first turned to adult contemporary, then Top 40, big band, WMMS reverted to progressive rock on September 11,1970. The station briefly battled with WNCR of Nationwide Communications, itself filling the void created by the absence of WMMS on the rock scene. Key WNCR personnel were hired by WMMS, taking most of their audience with them
7.
Fox Sports Ohio
–
The channel originally launched on February 9,1989, with an official launch on September 1 of that year as SportsChannel Ohio. It launched as an affiliate of SportsChannel, a slate of sports networks operated as a joint venture between Cablevision and NBC. SportsChannel Ohio initially held the broadcast games from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the channel also aired select Cincinnati Reds games produced by SportsChannel Cincinnati, Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball and football games, and Ohio State Buckeyes sporting events. As part of a rebranding of the SportsChannel networks that began that month. The channel reverted to the Fox Sports Ohio moniker in 2008, the network operates regional feeds for the Cleveland and Cincinnati markets, both branded as Fox Sports Ohio, which broadcast different events depending on the market. This arrangement can cause event conflicts in the Columbus market, which is located between Cleveland and Cincinnati, in the event of conflicting events between the two regional feeds, cable providers in Central Ohio will carry the other game on an alternate channel. The channel also carries a number of college basketball games involving the Xavier Musketeers. The channel formerly broadcast Cleveland Indians games from the launch as SportsChannel Ohio. Despite this move, Reds games continue to be blacked out in Northeast Ohio, on October 19,2016, Fox Sports and the Reds announced an extension of their broadcast agreement to the end of the 2032 season. The deal includes the Reds taking an equity stake in the Cincinnati sub-feed of Fox Sports Ohio
8.
SportsTime Ohio
–
SportsTime Ohio is available from most cable providers in Northeast Ohio and select providers in other portions of Ohio, Northwest Pennsylvania, and extreme Western New York. It is also available nationwide on satellite via DirecTV, as well as outside Ohio on AT&T U-verse, the deal was finalized four weeks later on December 28. Fox retained SportsTime Ohios existing staff despite coming under common ownership with Fox Sports Ohio, SportsTime Ohio holds the exclusive regional cable television rights to the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball and the Ohio Machine of Major League Lacrosse. The channel produces Indians Live, a pre-game and post-game show bookending the channels Indians telecasts or any national games airing on another network, the network also shares coverage of Cleveland Monsters hockey and Cleveland Gladiators arena football with sister network Fox Sports Ohio. The Viking Basketball Report – A magazine program featuring analysis and discussion about the Cleveland State Vikings basketball team, hosted by Al Pawlowski, Cleveland Indians Andre Knott - field reporter
9.
Columbus Blue Jackets
–
The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League, the Blue Jackets were founded as an expansion team in 2000. The team qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in 2009, the Blue Jackets name and logos were inspired by Ohios Civil War history. The Blue Jackets play their games at Nationwide Arena in downtown Columbus. They are affiliated with the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL, prior to the establishment of the Blue Jackets, the last NHL team in the state of Ohio was the Cleveland Barons, who played from 1976 to 1978. In Columbus, the Blue Jackets replaced the Columbus Chill of the ECHL, the Chill played at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum where they had an 83-game sellout streak, which was a minor league hockey record at the time. In November 1996, five investors formed a partnership called Columbus Hockey Limited, who submitted an application. The voters of Columbus were considering a referendum to build a publicly financed arena, when League Commissioner Gary Bettman visited Columbus to meet with the communitys leaders about the franchise proposal, there was concern that the voters might not pass the needed referendum. The civic leaders told Bettman that they would not be willing to foot the bill for the if the referendum failed. However, just after the meeting adjourned, John H. McConnell privately guaranteed Bettman that an arena would be built, Columbus hopes for the bid dimmed when the May referendum failed. However, Nationwide announced on May 31,1997, that it would finance the $150-million arena, subsequently, on June 25,1997, the NHL announced that Columbus would receive a new franchise. Afterwards a Name the Team contest was held with the help from Wendys throughout central Ohio during the month of August 1997, out of 14,000 submitted entries, the franchise with help from the NHL narrowed the 14,000 entries down to 10 names. Then with the information received from owner John H. McConnell regarding Columbus history, the League, the former, which referenced Ohios contributions to the American Civil War, was eventually announced as the team name in November. On June 23,2000, the NHLs two newest teams, the Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, took part in the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft in Calgary, Alberta. Under the drafts rules,26 of the NHLs active 28 teams were allowed to protect one goaltender, five defensemen, and nine forwards, or two goaltenders, three defensemen, and seven forwards. The Atlanta Thrashers and Nashville Predators both had their full rosters protected because they were the two newest teams, only being in existence for one and two years, respectively. Both the Blue Jackets and Wild had to use their first 24 selections on three goaltenders, eight defensemen, and thirteen forwards and their final two picks could be players of any position. With the first-overall choice, the Blue Jackets selected goaltender Rick Tabaracci from the Colorado Avalanche, over the course of the draft, Columbus picked up goalie Dwayne Roloson, defensemen Lyle Odelein and Mathieu Schneider, and forwards Geoff Sanderson, Turner Stevenson and Dallas Drake, among others
10.
National Hockey League
–
Headquartered in New York City, the NHL is considered to be the premier professional ice hockey league in the world, and one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. The Stanley Cup, the oldest professional sports trophy in North America, is awarded annually to the playoff champion at the end of each season. At its inception, the NHL had four teams—all in Canada, the league expanded to the United States in 1924, when the Boston Bruins joined, and has since consisted of American and Canadian teams. After a labour-management dispute that led to the cancellation of the entire 2004–05 season, in 2009, the NHL enjoyed record highs in terms of sponsorships, attendance, and television audiences. The league draws many highly skilled players from all over the world, canadians have historically constituted the majority of the players in the league, with an increasing percentage of American and European players in recent seasons. The National Hockey League was established in 1917 as the successor to the National Hockey Association, founded in 1909, the NHA began play one year later with seven teams in Ontario and Quebec, and was one of the first major leagues in professional ice hockey. Realizing the NHA constitution left them unable to force Livingstone out, the four teams voted instead to suspend the NHA, frank Calder was chosen as its first president, serving until his death in 1943. The Bulldogs were unable to play, and the remaining owners created a new team in Toronto, the first games were played on December 19,1917. The Montreal Arena burned down in January 1918, causing the Wanderers to cease operations, the NHL replaced the NHA as one of the leagues that competed for the Stanley Cup, which was an interleague competition back then. Toronto won the first NHL title, and then defeated the Vancouver Millionaires of the Pacific Coast Hockey Association for the 1918 Stanley Cup. The Canadiens won the title in 1919, however their Stanley Cup Final against the PCHAs Seattle Metropolitans was abandoned as a result of the Spanish Flu epidemic. Montreal in 1924 won their first Stanley Cup as a member of the NHL, the Hamilton Tigers, won the regular season title in 1924–25 but refused to play in the championship series unless they were given a C$200 bonus. The league refused and declared the Canadiens the league champion after defeated the Toronto St. Patricks in the semi-final. Montreal was then defeated by the Victoria Cougars of the Western Canada Hockey League for the 1925 Stanley Cup and it was the last time a non-NHL team won the trophy, as the Stanley Cup became the de facto NHL championship in 1926 after the WCHL ceased operation. The National Hockey League embarked on rapid expansion in the 1920s, adding the Montreal Maroons, the Bruins were the first American team in the league. The New York Americans began play in 1925 after purchasing the assets of the Hamilton Tigers, the New York Rangers were added in 1926. The Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Cougars were also added after the league purchased the assets of the defunct WCHL, a group purchased the Toronto St. Patricks in 1927 and immediately renamed them the Maple Leafs. The first NHL All-Star Game was held in 1934 to benefit Ace Bailey, the second was held in 1937 in support of Howie Morenzs family when he died of a coronary embolism after breaking his leg during a game
11.
Ice hockey
–
Ice hockey is a contact team sport played on ice, usually in a rink, in which two teams of skaters use their sticks to shoot a vulcanized rubber puck into their opponents net to score points. Ice hockey teams usually consist of six each, one goaltender. A fast-paced, physical sport, ice hockey is most popular in areas of North America, Ice hockey is the official national winter sport of Canada, where the game enjoys immense popularity. In North America, the National Hockey League is the highest level for mens hockey, the Kontinental Hockey League is the highest league in Russia and much of Eastern Europe. The International Ice Hockey Federation is the governing body for international ice hockey. The IIHF manages international tournaments and maintains the IIHF World Ranking, worldwide, there are ice hockey federations in 74 countries. Ice hockey is believed to have evolved from simple stick and ball games played in the 18th and 19th century United Kingdom and these games were brought to North America and several similar winter games using informal rules were developed, such as shinny and ice polo. The contemporary sport of ice hockey was developed in Canada, most notably in Montreal, some characteristics of that game, such as the length of the ice rink and the use of a puck, have been retained to this day. Amateur ice hockey began in the 1880s, and professional ice hockey originated around 1900. The Stanley Cup, emblematic of ice hockey club supremacy, was first awarded in 1893 to recognize the Canadian amateur champion, in international competitions, the national teams of six countries predominate, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden and the United States. Of the 69 medals awarded all-time in mens competition at the Olympics, in the annual Ice Hockey World Championships,177 of 201 medals have been awarded to the six nations. In Russia and the Ukraine, where hockey can also refer to bandy, the name hockey has no clear origin. The English historian and biographer John Strype did not use the word hockey when he translated the proclamation in 1720, the 1573 Statute of Galway banned a sport called hokie—the hurling of a little ball with sticks or staves. A form of this word was thus being used in the 16th century, though much removed from its current usage. According to the Austin Hockey Association, the word derives from the Scots Gaelic puc or the Irish poc. The blow given by a hurler to the ball with his caman or hurley is always called a puck. Stick-and-ball games date back to pre-Christian times, in Europe, these games included the Irish game of hurling, the closely related Scottish game of shinty and versions of field hockey. IJscolf, a game resembling colf on a surface, was popular in the Low Countries between the Middle Ages and the Dutch Golden Age. It was played with a curved bat, a wooden or leather ball
12.
Downtown Cleveland
–
Downtown Cleveland is the central business district of the City of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, United States. It is the economic and symbolic center of the Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH Combined Statistical Area, as of 2000,100,000 people worked in the district, as of 2012, it contained more than 16 million square feet of rentable office space. Reinvestment in the area in the mid-1990s spurred a rebirth that continues to this day and it had the largest population growth, by percentage, of any Cleveland neighborhood over that time and is Ohios most populous downtown. Between 2010 and 2014, it saw more than $4.5 billion in residential and commercial developments, in 2012, Forbes included Downtown Cleveland in a list of 15 U. S. The heart of downtown and the citys first settled area, Public Square was laid out by city founder Moses Cleaveland in 1796 and has remained largely unchanged and it consists of a large open space, cut into quadrants by Ontario Street and Superior Avenue. Public Square is the heart of the city, and has hosted presidents, vast congregations of people. At one time, Public Square was fenced off and inaccessible to vehicles, in 1860, the Perry Monument, a memorial to Commodore Oliver Hazard Perrys victory in the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812, was dedicated in the center of Public Square. In 1892, it was moved out of the square, which by then had the fences removed after lobbying by commercial interests, Public Square is also home to the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which commemorates residents of Cuyahoga County who served in the Civil War. Public Square also features a statue of Cleaveland, a statue of Tom L. Johnson, the citys most famous mayor, an amount of shrubbery and other landscaping. The Consulate-General of Slovenia in Cleveland is in the 55 Public Square building, Public Square is also home to the historic Old Stone Church, completed in 1855. The classic Higbees department store building is home to the Jack Cleveland Casino, the Warehouse District is the largest downtown neighborhood by population, and continues to grow with an assortment of shops, clubs, bars, and loft condos/apartments. West Sixth Street is known as the heart of the district, famously, the 17-story Rockefeller Building sits on the corner West Sixth and Superior Ave erected by John D. Rockefeller. The Gateway complex was built on parking lots on the site of a former produce market, the baseball stadium and basketball arena are connected to Tower City Center, and RTAs rail transit system, via an enclosed walkway. The neighborhood includes retail, housing, and a variety of restaurants. East 4th Street is a restaurant and entertainment street near Progressive Field. It is home to Clevelands House of Blues, Iron Chef Michael Symons Lola Bistro, comedy club/restaurant Pickwick and Frolic, as well as a dozen other dining, the neighborhood is home to hundreds of residents who live in the apartments and loft condominiums above the storefronts. The neighborhood also houses the Cleveland Arcade, the first indoor shopping mall in the United States, home to the second-largest performing arts complex in the U. S. Playhouse Square Center in the Cleveland Theater District is downtowns cultural heart. Additionally, the smaller theaters include the 14th Street Theater, Kennedys Theater, Westfield Insurance Studio Theater, Second Stage, residents of the district include Cleveland Playhouse and Cleveland State University performing arts
13.
Calder Cup
–
The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the champions of the American Hockey League. It is the second oldest actively awarded professional ice hockey playoff trophy after the NHLs Stanley Cup, the Calder Cup was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars. The trophy is named after Frank Calder, who was the first president of the National Hockey League, the Calder Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually to the Rookie of the Year in the National Hockey League, was also named after Calder. The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany, in its current shape, the trophy has a two-tiered square base with commemorative plaques for each of the AHLs 20 most recent champions -12 on the bottom tier and 8 on the top tier. Each time a new plaque is added, the oldest plaque is retired. The Hershey Bears have won the Cup more times than any other team, the Cleveland Barons come in second with nine, the Springfield Indians/Kings are third with seven. Eight teams have won championships, the Springfield Indians of 1960-62 is the only team to have won three straight Calder Cup championships
14.
2016 Calder Cup playoffs
–
The 2016 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League started on April 20,2016, with a changed playoff format. After the 2015–16 AHL regular season,16 teams qualified for the playoffs, the top eight teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. Note 2, Game times in italics signify games to be played if necessary. Note 3, Home team is listed first and these are the top ten skaters based on points. If there is a tie in points, goals take precedence over assists, the table is initially sorted by goals against average, with the criterion for inclusion in bold. GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, SA = Shots against, GA = Goals against, GAA = Goals against average, SV% = Save percentage, SO = Shutouts, TOI = Time on ice AHL official site
15.
Cleveland Cavaliers
–
The Cleveland Cavaliers, also known as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the leagues Eastern Conference Central Division, the team began play in 1970. Many past and present top NBA players, including LeBron James, Mark Price, Brad Daugherty, the franchise has won five Central Division championships, three Eastern Conference championships, one NBA championship, and have reached the playoffs 20 times in their 46-year history. The 2016 NBA Finals victory over the Golden State Warriors marked the first time in Finals history a team had come back to win the series after trailing three games to one, the Cavaliers began play in 1970 as an expansion team. Their 46-year history has been marked by stretches of strong play and periods of poor play. In the 1970s, under the ownership of Nick Mileti, the team won its first division title in 1976 and they won Game 7, 87–85, on a shot by Snyder with four seconds to go. Injuries, particularly an ankle injury to Chones, led to this teams demise, as the Cavaliers would lose the Eastern Conference Finals to the Boston Celtics, 4–2. It is widely believed among both Cavaliers fans and players that the Miracle team would have won the 1976 NBA Championship had Chones stayed healthy, the remainder of the 1970s were marked by early playoff losses and eventually Fitchs resignation. The early 1980s were marked by Ted Stepiens ownership, Stepien also oversaw the hiring and firing of a succession of coaches and was involved in making a number of poor trade and free agent signing decisions. The ensuing chaos had an effect on both the Cavaliers on-court performance and lack of local support, losing over 50 games in three straight years. The 1981–82 and 1982–83 combined to lose 24 straight games, which at the time was the NBAs all-time longest losing streak, george and Gordon Gund purchased the Cavaliers from Stepien in 1983. The team was in a transition as they went through nine head coaches from 1980 to 1986, during the 1986 offseason, the Cavaliers acquired Brad Daugherty, Mark Price, Ron Harper and Larry Nance. The Cavaliers entered into a period of decline from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s, the team appeared in the playoffs the next two years, but could not get past the first round. In the 1997 off-season, the team added Shawn Kemp and Wesley Person, as well as a class that included Derek Anderson, Cedric Henderson, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas. This team lost in the first round of the playoffs in 1998, in the early 2000s, the team added Andre Miller, Lamond Murray, Chris Mihm and Carlos Boozer, but could not make it to the playoffs. The 2002–03 season saw the Cavaliers finish 17–65, tied for the worst record in the NBA, the Cavaliers luck changed as they landed the number 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft. With it, the team selected heralded forward and future NBA MVP LeBron James, in 2005, the team would be sold to businessman Dan Gilbert. That year, the team also hired head coach Mike Brown, over the next few years, the Cavaliers built a team around James and Žydrūnas Ilgauskas by adding players including Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, and Anderson Varajao
16.
Quicken Loans
–
Quicken Loans Inc. is a mortgage lending company headquartered in the One Campus Martius building in the heart of the financial district of downtown Detroit, Michigan. In 2012, it became the second largest overall retail lender in the U. S, unlike other large mortgage lenders that depend on deposits, Quicken Loans relies on wholesale funding to make its loans and uses online applications rather than a branch system. Title Source and One Reverse Mortgage are also part of the Quicken Loans Family of Companies, Quicken Loans closed $79 billion in home loan volume in 2015. Quicken Loans, originally Rock Financial, was founded in 1985 by Dan Gilbert, Ron Berman, Gary Gilbert, in July 1987 the name was changed to Rock Financial Corp. As RFC grew so did the head count, hitting 50 employees in August 1991, in May 1998, Gilbert took Rock Financial public, launching an IPO underwritten by Bear Stearns and Prudential Securities. In December 1999, Intuit Inc. purchased Rock Financial Corp. for $532M, the company was renamed Quicken Loans. In June 2002, Dan Gilbert led a group of private investors in purchasing the Quicken Loans subsidiary back from Intuit for $64M. The company started to change course in the late 1990s, shifting from a traditional mortgage provider to an online-focused lender, traditionally, the home mortgage business in America has been fragmented due to varying regulations in each state and locality. Gilbert challenged this orthodoxy, however, by offering loan applications online that were reviewed by experts versed in the regulations of each region, on November 12,2007, Gilbert announced a development agreement with the city of Detroit to move the company headquarters downtown, consolidating suburban offices. The construction sites reserved for development by the agreement included the location of the former Statler Hotel on Grand Circus Park, Quicken Loans moved into its downtown headquarters in August 2010. The initial move brought 1,700 employees to the city, since 2009, Quicken has leased office space in the Compuware building facing Campus Martius Park in Detroit. In 2014, Quicken Loans has grown to be the 2nd largest mortgage lender in the United States, the company employs 13,000 people, with more than 11,000 now working in the city of Detroit. In the spring of 2008, Rock Holdings entered the reverse mortgage market with the acquisition of One Reverse Mortgage, the company saw a small drop in employment levels following the 2008 financial crisis. In August 2007, the mortgage industry faced a crisis in obtaining new credit from banking institutions. In response, Quicken Loans discontinued, Second mortgages Home equity lines of credit Alt-A products Deferred interest loans In 2004 and this was filed against the company on behalf of employees who had worked as loan consultants for any Quicken office within the past three years. The claimants alleged that Quicken violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay the overtime for working beyond a 40-hour work week. Quicken Loans denied these claims, and said it is not aware of any violations of the FLSA. On March 17,2011, a jury found in favor of Quicken Loans
17.
Worcester, Massachusetts
–
Worcester /ˈwʊstər/ WUUSS-tər local pronunciation /ˈwᵻstə/ is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the citys population was 181,045, Worcester is located approximately 40 miles west of Boston,50 miles east of Springfield and 40 miles north of Providence. Due to its location in Central Massachusetts, Worcester is known as the Heart of the Commonwealth, thus, however, the heart symbol may also have its provenance in lore that the mass-produced Valentines Day card was invented in the city. S. Census Combined Statistical Area, or Greater Boston, the city features many examples of Victorian-era mill architecture. The area was first inhabited by members of the Nipmuc tribe, the native people called the region Quinsigamond and built a settlement on Pakachoag Hill in Auburn. In 1673 English settlers John Eliot and Daniel Gookin led an expedition to Quinsigamond to establish a new Christian Indian praying town and identify a new location for an English settlement. On July 13,1674, Gookin obtained a deed to eight miles of land in Quinsigamond from the Nipmuc people. In 1675, King Philips War broke out throughout New England with the Nipmuc Indians coming to the aid of Indian leader King Philip, the English settlers completely abandoned the Quinsigamond area and the empty buildings were burned by the Indian forces. The town was abandoned during Queen Annes War in 1702. Finally in 1713, Worcester was permanently resettled for a time by Jonas Rice. Named after the city of Worcester, England, the town was incorporated on June 14,1722, on April 2,1731, Worcester was chosen as the county seat of the newly founded Worcester County government. Between 1755 and 1758, future U. S. president John Adams worked as a schoolteacher, in the 1770s, Worcester became a center of American revolutionary activity. British General Thomas Gage was given information of patriot ammunition stockpiled in Worcester in 1775, also in 1775, Massachusetts Spy publisher Isaiah Thomas moved his radical newspaper out of British occupied Boston to Worcester. Thomas would continuously publish his paper throughout the American Revolutionary War, on July 14,1776, Thomas performed the first public reading in Massachusetts of the Declaration of Independence in front of the Worcester town hall. He would later go on to form the American Antiquarian Society in Worcester in 1812, during the turn of the 19th century Worcesters economy moved into manufacturing. Factories producing textiles, shoes and clothing opened along the nearby Blackstone River, however, the manufacturing industry in Worcester would not begin to thrive until the opening of the Blackstone Canal in 1828 and the opening of the Worcester and Boston Railroad in 1835. The city transformed into a hub and the manufacturing industry flourished. Worcester was officially chartered as a city on February 29,1848, immigrants moved into new triple-decker houses which lined hundreds of Worcesters expanding streets and neighborhoods
18.
Colorado Avalanche
–
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League, the Avalanche are the only team in their division not based in the Central Time Zone, the team is situated in the Mountain Time Zone. Their home arena is Pepsi Center and their general manager is Joe Sakic. The Avalanche were founded in 1972 as the Quebec Nordiques and were one of the franchises of the World Hockey Association. The franchise joined the NHL in 1979 as a result of the NHL–WHA merger, following the 1994–95 season, they were sold to the COMSAT Entertainment Group and relocated to Denver. Among teams in the major North American professional sports leagues, only the National Football League s Washington Redskins have also accomplished the feat and this was the first major professional sports championship a Denver-based team would bring to the city. In the 2001 Stanley Cup Finals, the Avalanche defeated the New Jersey Devils 4–3 to win their second, as a result, they are the only active NHL team that has won all of its Stanley Cup Final appearances. Coincidentally, the Devils had preceded the Avalanche in Denver, they were called the Colorado Rockies, the Avalanche have won nine division titles and qualified for the playoffs in each of their first ten seasons in Denver, this streak ended in 2007. The Quebec Nordiques were one of the World Hockey Associations original teams when the league play in 1972. Though first awarded to a group in San Francisco, the team moved to Quebec City when the California deal soured because of financial. During their seven WHA seasons, the Nordiques won the Avco World Trophy once, in 1977 and lost the finals once, in 1979, the franchise entered the NHL, along with the WHAs Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, and Winnipeg Jets. After making the postseason for seven years, from 1981 to 1987. From 1987–88 to 1991–92, the finished last in their division every season. This included a dreadful 12-win season in 1989-90 that is still the worst in franchise history, as a result, the team earned three consecutive first overall draft picks, used to select Mats Sundin, Owen Nolan and Eric Lindros. Lindros made it clear he did not wish to play for the Nordiques, to the extent that he did not wear the jersey for the press photographs. On advice from his mother, he refused to sign a contract, on June 30,1992, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for five players, the rights to Swedish prospect Peter Forsberg, two first round draft picks and US$15 million. The Eric Lindros trade turned the moribund Nordiques into a Stanley Cup contender almost overnight, in the first season after the trade, 1992–93, the Nordiques reached the playoffs for the first time in six years. Two years later, they won the Northeast Division and had the second best regular-season record during the strike-shortened season, while the team experienced on-ice success, it spent most of its first 23 years struggling financially
19.
Lake Erie
–
Lake Erie is the fourth-largest lake of the five Great Lakes in North America, and the thirteenth-largest globally if measured in terms of surface area. It is the southernmost, shallowest, and smallest by volume of the Great Lakes, at its deepest point Lake Erie is 210 feet deep. Lake Eries northern shore is bounded by the Canadian province of Ontario, with the U. S. states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and these jurisdictions divide the surface area of the lake by water boundaries. The lake was named by the Erie people, a Native Americans people who lived along its southern shore and that Iroquoian tribe called it Erige because of its unpredictable and sometimes violently dangerous nature. It is a matter of whether the lake was named after the tribe. Situated below Lake Huron, Eries primary inlet is the Detroit River, Lake Erie has a mean elevation of 571 feet above sea level. It has an area of 9,990 square miles with a length of 241 statute miles. The warm summer of 1999 caused lake temperatures to come close to the 85 °F limit necessary to keep the plants cool, also because of its shallowness, and in spite of being the warmest lake in the summer, it is also the first to freeze in the winter. The waves build very quickly, according to other accounts, after being trapped for an hour-and-a-half, Baker was back on dry land, exhausted and battered but alive. This area is known as the thunderstorm capital of Canada with breathtaking lightning displays. Lake Erie is primarily fed by the Detroit River and drains via the Niagara River, navigation downstream is provided by the Welland Canal, part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway. Other major contributors to Lake Erie include the Grand River, the Huron River, the Maumee River, the Sandusky River, the Buffalo River, the drainage basin covers 30,140 square miles. Point Pelee National Park, the southernmost point of the Canadian mainland, is located on a peninsula extending into the lake. Several islands are found in the end of the lake, these belong to Ohio except for Pelee Island and eight neighboring islands. Major cities along Lake Erie include Buffalo, Erie, Pennsylvania, Toledo, Ohio, Islands tend to be located in the western side of the lake and total 31 in number. The island-village of Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island attracts young crowds who sometimes wear red hats and are prone to break off cartwheels in the park. Pelee Island is the largest of Eries islands, accessible by ferry from Leamington, Ontario and Sandusky, songbirds migrate to Pelee in spring, and monarch butterflies stop over during the fall. Lake Erie has a retention time of 2.6 years
20.
Turner Cup
–
The Turner Cup was the championship trophy of the International Hockey League from 1945 to 2001 and the renamed United Hockey League from 2007 to 2010. The Cup was named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League. Turner was killed in Belgium during World War II, while serving with the United States Army and it was the championship trophy to the incarnation of the IHL that existed from 1945 to 2001 before it was retired to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In July 2007, the United Hockey League officially changed its name to International Hockey League, the new IHL put forth a request to the Hockey Hall of Fame to take a controlling interest in the Turner Cup. The name Turner Cup was restored on September 24,2007 as a tribute to the original IHL, when the incarnation of the IHL that existed from 2007 to 2010 folded, the Cup was retired again and looked to be put back in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Turner Cup champions www. azhockey. com Intotheboards. net Playoffs
21.
Grand Rapids Griffins
–
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Van Andel Arena and they are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, and are the 2013 Calder Cup Champions. The franchise began in the now-defunct International Hockey League in 1996, the only player to have his number retired in team history is Travis Richards. After the 2010–11 season, General Manager Bob McNamara retired leaving the team without a general manager, the Griffins have since forgone a GM and rely instead on the Red Wings for support. Following the projects authorization, Amway executives Dave Van Andel and Dan DeVos formed West Michigan Hockey, the group promptly began discussions with the IHL, American Hockey League and East Coast Hockey League to gauge interest in the Grand Rapids market. Also that month, Bruce Saurs, owner of the IHLs Peoria Rivermen, the league ultimately was swayed by the communitys response, which included over 8,000 season ticket requests, and the new, fully financed arena. A name the team contest was held in June 1995, at the announcement, with a personality, that we can translate into a mascot of some sort. Grand Rapids Griffins was chosen as the entry, and the logo. The logo was designed by Sean Michael Edwards Design, Inc. a New York firm whose portfolio includes logos for the Florida Panthers and Seattle Mariners. In keeping with the traditional theme desired by the club, navy blue and gold were chosen as the colors, along with hunter green, red. We didnt want to be trendy in any way, DeVos said, former IHL goaltender and Cleveland Lumberjacks assistant general manager Bob McNamara was hired in January 1996 as general manager. His first move was to hire Dave Allison, who had coached the Ottawa Senators that season. Among the first players to join the team were defensemen Todd Nelson and Travis Richards and goaltender Pokey Reddick, on the business side, the Griffins secured a deal with WOOD-AM to broadcast all regular season and playoff games in their inaugural season. Rich Kincaide then left his position at WJR in Detroit to become the Griffins play-by-play announcer. The team also signed agreements with WZZM and WWMT to televise a handful of games each, following lengthy negotiations with the City of Grand Rapids, a DeVos-owned company took over operations of Belknap Ice Arena, which was then renovated for use as the Griffins practice facility. McNamara filled the Griffins 1996–97 inaugural season roster with IHL and AHL veterans and he also signed affiliation agreements with the Muskegon Fury of the Colonial Hockey League and the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL. The Griffins won their game on the road against the Indianapolis Ice. The Griffins were paced by the top line of Picard, Jeff Nelson and Demitra
22.
Manitoba Moose
–
The Manitoba Moose are a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that plays in the American Hockey League. The team plays its games at the MTS Centre, the home arena of its parent club. The franchise was founded as the Minnesota Moose of the International Hockey League in 1994, during their first tenure in Winnipeg, the Manitoba Moose played five seasons in the IHL and ten in the AHL. This was followed by four seasons in St. Johns, Newfoundland and Labrador, the team returned to Winnipeg prior to the 2015–16 season. After the departure of the original Winnipeg Jets franchise to Phoenix, Arizona in 1996, the team was relocated to Winnipeg in order to provide a new tenant for the Winnipeg Arena and keep professional hockey in the city. The teams first season in Winnipeg was a disaster, former Montreal Canadiens coach Jean Perron was brought in to replace Frank Serratore as head coach and general manager. The Moose won only 16 of 50 games under Perron before he was fired on January 4,1997, upon his dismissal, Perron lashed out at team ownership, the media, and the players, including a personal attack on team captain Randy Gilhen. Perron threatened legal action against the team, but nothing came of it, Carlyle served as the head coach and general manager for remainder of the teams tenure in the IHL. The Moose had moderate regular season success and qualified for the Turner Cup playoffs three out of the four seasons, making it as far as the second round. Carlyle was named the leagues General Manager of the Year for the 1998–99 season, during their five seasons in the IHL, the Moose remained independent and did not affiliate with any NHL teams, although several did loan players to the Moose. The Moose and five other IHL teams were accepted into the AHL after the IHLs demise in 2001, the Moose were required to affiliate with an NHL club and became the top affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, a partnership that would last ten seasons. In 2002–03, Smyl led the team to the round of the Calder Cup playoffs. After the team missed the playoffs the season, Smyl was reassigned within the Canucks organization. Following the departure of Smyl, Carlyle returned as Moose head coach for the 2004-05 season, the Moose made it to the conference final for the first time in team history, but were swept in four games by their old IHL rivals, the Chicago Wolves. Mark Chipman was awarded the James C, hendy Memorial Award for AHL Executive of the Year. After the season, Carlyle was hired by the Anaheim Ducks as their new head coach, former Canadiens head coach Alain Vigneault was brought in as the new head coach for the 2005–06 season. The Moose signed Winnipeg native and three-time Stanley Cup champion Mike Keane, Keane quickly became a fan favorite and the team had another great year, but again lost in the second round of the playoffs. After the season, Vigneault was promoted by the Canucks to fill their vacant head coaching position when Marc Crawford was let go, former Moose captain and assistant coach Scott Arniel was selected to replace Vigneault
23.
Rockford IceHogs
–
The Rockford IceHogs are a professional ice hockey team based in Rockford, Illinois. They are members of the American Hockey League, having begun play in the League starting in the 2007–08 season, the team plays their home games at the BMO Harris Bank Center, and they serve as the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League s Chicago Blackhawks. The current Rockford IceHogs were founded in 1995 as the Baltimore Bandits, the franchise was later renamed the Cincinnati RailRaiders, but failed to reach a goal of 2,000 season tickets to re-enter the AHL for the 2006–07 season. On March 19,2007, the AHL announced that the team had purchased and relocated them to Rockford to become the present-day Rockford IceHogs. The franchise was known as Baltimore Bandits Cincinnati Mighty Ducks The market was previously served by Rockford IceHogs UHL Updated March 23,2017
24.
Ontario Reign
–
The Ontario Reign are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League which began play in the 2015-16 season. Based in Ontario, California and affiliated with the National Hockey Leagues Los Angeles Kings and it is a relocation of the former Manchester Monarchs AHL franchise, joining several other AHL franchises to form a new AHL Pacific Division. The Reign replaced the ECHL team of the name, which played from 2008 until 2015, after which they moved to Manchester. The team retained the Reign nickname from its ECHL predecessor, the Reigns AHL logo was unveiled on Wednesday, February 11. In October 2016, due to injuries among the parent LA Kings team. Dusty was a consultant with the Kings. Jonah made his AHL debut on a tryout contract, both the Imoos had grown up in Surrey, British Columbia
25.
Hershey Bears
–
The Hershey Bears are an American professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The current Bears club has played in the American Hockey League since the 1938-39 season making it the longest continuously operating member club of the still playing in its original city. The Bears currently serve as the primary development club for the NHLs Washington Capitals and have been since the 2005-06 season. Since the 2002–03 season the clubs home games have been played at Giant Center, located less than half a mile west of Hersheypark Arena. The Bears have won 11 Calder Cups, more than any other AHL team and they won their most recent title in 2010. Chocolate manufacturer Milton S. Hershey first established the Hershey Hockey Club in 1932 to manage pro hockey teams based in Hershey, now in its ninth decade, it has operated four different teams in three pro leagues, including the AHL Bears. Now called the Hershey Bears Hockey Club, it is a subsidiary of the Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company, the entertainment and hospitality division of the Hershey Trust Company. Gordie Howe, who was selected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and is known as Mr. Hockey, once remarked, the history of Hershey hockey goes back to a series of amateur hockey matches played in Hershey between college teams beginning in early 1931. The first such formal hockey game played in Hershey took place on February 18,1931. The popularity of amateur hockey matches prompted chocolate-maker and amusement park-operator Milton Hershey and his long-time entertainment and amusements chief. Sollenberger, to bring pro hockey to Hershey by sponsoring a permanent team, the first hockey team the organization iced was the Hershey Bars in the newly formed Tri-State Hockey League which included three other teams from Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Atlantic City. Since 2002 the AHL Bears have used Hersheypark Arena as their practice arena only, however, just a month into the season, the Buffalo Bisons were forced to fold when their arenas roof collapsed, leaving the I-AHL with seven teams. On June 28,1938, the Can-Am and IHL formally merged into a league under the I-AHL name. The new Bears took the Bisons place in the I-AHLs West Division, defenseman Henry J. Hank Lauzon, an original EAHL Bar, became the first player to sign with the new Bears. The former EAHL clubs coach, Herb Mitchell, would guide the I-AHL Bears for their first three seasons, the Bears made a very good account of themselves in their first I-AHL campaign, winning the West Division with a 31-18-5 record--the first of 16 regular-season division titles. However, they were defeated in the first round of the Calder Cup play-offs by the New York Rangers top farm team, the Philadelphia Ramblers, three-games-to-two. Defenseman Herb Kalbfleisch became the first Hershey player to be named a First Team All Star that year while goalie Alfie Moore took Second Team honors behind the Ramblers Bert Gardiner. Former Boston Bruins coach and Hockey Hall of Fame member Ralph Cooney Weiland guided Hershey throughout the War years winning regular season titles in 1942-43 and 1943-44
26.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
–
Oliver Bjorkstrand is a Danish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the National Hockey League. Bjorkstrand was selected by the Blue Jackets in the 3rd round of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, born and raised in Herning, he is the son of American hockey coach Todd Bjorkstrand and brother of Patrick Bjorkstrand. Bjorkstrand made his AL-Bank Ligaen debut playing with the Herning Blue Fox during the 2011–12 AL-Bank Ligaen season, during his second season in the Western Hockey League with the Portland Winterhawks, Bjorkstrand was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on December 26,2013. On March 16,2016, Bjorkstrand was recalled by the Blue Jackets and made his NHL debut the day, March 17. He scored his first and second NHL goals in his second NHL game on March 19,2016, career statistics and player information from NHL. com, or Eliteprospects. com, or Hockey-Reference. com, or The Internet Hockey Database
27.
Minnesota Moose
–
The Minnesota Moose were an American professional ice hockey team based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the International Hockey League from 1994 to 1996. Following the departure of the National Hockey Leagues Minnesota North Stars in 1993, to fill that void, the Minnesota Moose were founded the following year. The team began play in the IHL for the 1994-1995 season, after two years in the Twin Cities, the team was sold to a group of Canadian businessmen including Mark Chipman, who relocated the team to Winnipeg, Manitoba and renamed them the Manitoba Moose. The franchise has played in the American Hockey League since the demise of the IHL in 2001, the state of Minnesota welcomed a new NHL team, the Minnesota Wild, in 2000. The Wild play at the Xcel Energy Center, located on the site of the old Civic Center in St. Paul. Goals,38 Dave Christian Assists,81 Stephane Morin Points,114 Stephane Morin Penalty minutes,181 Brad Miller GAA,3.31 Parris Duffus SV%
28.
Philadelphia Phantoms
–
The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and played most of its games at the Spectrum. During schedule conflicts or some Calder Cup playoff games, games were moved to the adjacent Wachovia Center, the Phantoms won two Calder Cup titles during their tenure in Philadelphia. In anticipation of the closure and demolition of the Spectrum. The new owners moved the club to Glens Falls, New York, for the 2009–10 season, beginning in the 2014–15 season, the team moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, in a new 8, 500-seat arena, the PPL Center. The Phantoms were the fourth AHL franchise to call Philadelphia home, following the Ramblers/Rockets, Rockets, after two seasons of interlocking play, the two leagues formally merged on June 28,1938, and the circuit renamed itself the American Hockey League in 1940. By 1942, however, that original Philadelphia franchise fell on hard times, the 1946–47 Rockets in fact still hold the AHL mark for fewest wins in a season at five on a record of 5–52–7. In September 1996, however, the Flyers left their home arena, the Spectrum. To help achieve this end, the Flyers purchased an AHL expansion franchise in December 1995 which would begin operation in the 1996–97 season and this was the same tandem who were then coaching the Flyers prospects in Hershey. The Phantoms played their first ever regular season game on October 4,1996, the franchises first goal was scored by defenseman John Stevens, the teams first captain. By seasons end, the Phantoms had compiled a 49–18–3–10 record for a League-best 111 points, winger Mike Maneluk earned the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the playoff MVP while also being the Leagues leading post-season scorer with 34 points. Team captain John Stevens and his teammates paraded the Calder Cup around the ice as the Flyers had skated their first Stanley Cup 24 years earlier. On January 24,1999, the Phantoms hosted the 1999 AHL All-Star Game before a crowd of 14,120 at the then First Union Center, pelletier won the game’s MVP award with his outstanding period of work for PlanetUSA in their 5–4 win over Barbers Canadian squad. Stevens, the teams first captain, was joined by two more former Flyer players, defenseman Kjell Samuelsson and winger Don Nachbaur, to complete the new staff. In November 2003, long-time NHL tough guy and former Flyer left wing Craig Berube signed with the Phantoms to finish his 18-year professional career back in Philadelphia as a player/assistant coach. After 11 fights and 15 game misconducts, the game was called with eight seconds remaining due to a lack of remaining players on each team. When John Stevens was promoted to the Flyers as an assistant coach after the 2005–06 season, after Stevens was promoted to Flyers head coach, Berube left the Phantoms to join Stevens staff as an assistant coach. Berube returned to the Phantoms as head coach again with the 2007–08 season while Mullen joined former Phantoms mentor John Stevens with the Flyers as an assistant coach for the NHL club
29.
Chicago Wolves
–
The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the Central Division of the Western Conference of the American Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois and are owned by Chicago business owners Don Levin and they are the minor league affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. Originally a member of the International Hockey League, the Wolves joined the AHL after the IHL folded in 2001, the Wolves won the Turner Cup twice in the IHL and the Calder Cup twice. The Wolves qualified for all but five postseasons, appearing in six championship finals in their 22-year history. The teams great star was forward Steve Maltais, who until his retirement after the 2004–05 season, had played every season of the franchise and holds most of its scoring records. Other notable players include goaltender Wendell Young, ex-Pittsburgh star Rob Brown, long time Chicago Blackhawks stars Troy Murray, Chris Chelios, Al Secord, and defenseman Bob Nardella. The Wolves had their best season start in their 14-year history, during the 2007–08 season, winning 13 of the first 14 games, the Wolves finished the season with 111 points, and first in the Western Conference. The Wolves were the AHL affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers from 2001 to 2011, the Thrashers relocated to Winnipeg in June 2011 and added the St. Johns IceCaps as their new AHL affiliate, leaving the Wolves and the NHLs Vancouver Canucks to find new affiliates. On June 27,2011, the Wolves and Canucks agreed to an affiliation agreement. On April 23,2013, the Wolves and St. Louis Blues reached an affiliation agreement. The deal was struck after the Canucks decided not to renew their affiliation agreement. In November 2016, it was first reported the Blues would not renew their affiliation with the Wolves and were planning to move their affiliation to Kansas City for 2017, the Wolves are the only AHL team with a full television package. All 76 regular-season games, plus playoffs, are broadcast on Comcast cable, WPWR-TV, since 2008, Jason Shaver has handled the play-by-play duties for the Wolves, along with Gardner. This is a partial list of the last five completed by the Wolves. For the full history, see List of Chicago Wolves seasons Updated March 8,2017
2017–18 AHL season
.jpg)
