Johnstown Chiefs
history, | owner = Neil Smith and Ned Nakles | coach = Neil Smith | GM = Bill Bredin | captain = Mike Knight | media = The Tribune-Democrat, WNTJ 1490 AM, WNTW 990 AM, WJAC | affiliates = Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Houston Aeros (AHL) | name1 = Johnstown Chiefs | dates1 = 1988 to 2010 | name2 = Greenville, SC | dates2 = 2010 to future |reg_season_titles = None |division_titles = None |conf_titles = None |kelly_cups = None }}
The Johnstown Chiefs are a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, playing in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League (now just 'ECHL') when that league was formed. The Chiefs are the only original ECHL team still playing under its original name, and the only one still in its original city. The Chiefs will relocate to Greenville, South Carolina following the completion of the 2009-10 season.
Franchise history
The owners originally wanted to name the team the Jets in honor of a team that had played in Johnstown from 1950 to 1977, mostly in the Eastern Hockey League. However, the old Jets' former owners still held the trademark for the name and refused to allow the new team to use it. Fortunately, they had a second choice. A contest was held by the owners, allowing the people of Johnstown to vote for the new team name. The cult hockey movie Slap Shot had been filmed in Johnstown, and featured a minor league team called the Charlestown Chiefs. The fans readily jumped on the tie-in, and the Johnstown Chiefs were born.
The Chiefs play their home games in the historic 3,745 seat Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown, where most of the hockey scenes in the movie Slap Shot were filmed. The team colors are black, gold, and white (following an early affiliation with the Boston Bruins), and its uniforms were based on 1970s-era Bruins jerseys.
Among the franchise's notable players has been defenceman Brent Bilodeau; Dmitri Tarabrin (the career leader in games played with 427); Bruce Coles, who holds the career mark for points scored with 227, having played in only 132 games for the team; Scott Gordon, the team's goalie in 1988–89 who played for Team USA at the 1992 Winter Olympics, and became the first ECHL player to advance to the NHL when he suited up for the Quebec Nordiques in 1989–90; all-star defenceman Perry Florio, the franchise's career assist leader with 171; right wing Lukas Smital, the career goal scoring leader with 107; enforcer Jeff Sullivan, the career penalty minute leader with 1205; and goaltender Frederic Deschesnes, who leads the franchise in goaltending games with 152, wins with 69 and shutouts with 5. Goalie Arturs Irbe played for the Chiefs briefly in 2003–2004, going 10–3–1 with a GAA of 2.13 and a .927 save percentage.
Ian Herbers was named as the team's head coach on June 18, 2007.
On August 17, 2007, the Chiefs announced that they entered into an affiliation agreement with the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. During the 2007–08 season, the Chiefs served as the Avalanche's secondary minor league affiliate. The Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL being Colorado's primary affiliate. On September 18, 2007, the Chiefs announced they had also entered an affiliation agreement with the Boston Bruins for the 07–08 season.
Prior to the 2008–09 season the Chiefs renewed their affiliation with the Avalanche and entered into an affiliation agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets who replaced the Bruins on August 22, 2008.
For the 2009-10 season, the Chiefs will be the secondary minor league affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, under the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League.
The Chiefs along with the Wheeling Thunderbirds (now known as the Wheeling Nailers) played the role of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1995 film Sudden Death starring Jean Claude Van Damme. The premise was the Penguins playing the Chicago Blackhawks for the Stanley Cup when terrorists attempt to hold the Vice President hostage in the arena.
In February 2010, the Tribune-Democrat reported that television reports from Greenville, South Carolina stated that the Chiefs would be relocated to Greenville following the 2009-10 season and compete at the BI-LO Center. Greenville had previously been home to the Greenville Grrrowl, who played in the ECHL from 1998-06 when the ECHL revoked Greenville's franchise rights. On February 17, 2010, the league announced that the Chiefs would be relocating to Greenville after the league's Board of Governors voted unanimously in favor of the move.
Season-by-season record
Records as of 2007–08 season.
{| class="wikitable"
|- align="center" style="font-size: small; font-weight:bold; background-color:#dddddd; padding:5px;" |
|Season || League || Division || GP || W || L || T || OTL || SOL || Pts || PCT || GF || GA || PIM || Coach(es) || Result
|-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1988–89 || ECHL || || 60 || 32 || 22 || - || 6 || - || 70 || .583 || 295 || 251 || || Steve Carlson || Lost in Finals
|-
|1989–90 || ECHL || || 60 || 23 || 31 || - || 6 || - || 52 || .433 || 233 || 291 || 2047 || Steve Carlson || Out of playoffs
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1990–91 || ECHL || East || 64 || 32 || 29 || - || 3 || - || 67 || .523 || 324 || 287 || 1646 || Steve Carlson || Lost in round 2
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1991–92 || ECHL || West || 64 || 36 || 23 || - || 5 || - || 77 || .601 || 294 || 248 || 1750 || Steve Carlson || Lost in round 2
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1992–93 || ECHL || East || 64 || 34 || 23 || - || 7 || - || 75 || .585 || 281 || 264 || 1647 || Ed Johnstone || Lost in round 2
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1993–94 || ECHL || North || 68 || 37 || 27 || - || 4 || - || 78 || .573 || 323 || 308 || 1978 || Ed Johnstone || Lost in round 1
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1994–95 || ECHL || North || 68 || 31 || 32 || - || 5 || - || 67 || .492 || 256 || 297 || 1656 || Ed Johnstone || Lost in round 1
|-
|1995–96 || ECHL || North || 70 || 21 || 38 || - || 11 || - || 53 || .378 || 249 || 322 || 2481 || Nick Fotiu || Out of Playoffs
|-
|1996–97 || ECHL || North || 70 || 24 || 39 || 7 || - || - || 55 || .392 || 253 || 354 || 2287 || Nick Fotiu || Out of Playoffs
|-
|1997–98 || ECHL || Northeast || 70 || 23 || 41 || 6 || - || - || 52 || .371 || 219 || 297 || 2118 || Nick Fotiu
Scott Allen || Out of Playoffs
|-
|1998–99 || ECHL || Northeast || 70 || 27 || 34 || 9 || - || - || 63 || .450 || 218 || 265 || 1734 || Scott Allen || Out of Playoffs
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|1999–00 || ECHL || Northwest || 70 || 33 || 28 || - || 9 || - || 75 || .535 || 235 || 234 || 1959 || Scott Allen || Lost in round 3
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|2000–01 || ECHL || Northwest || 72 || 28 || 36 || 8 || - || - || 64 || .444 || 207 || 238 || 1865 || Scott Allen || Lost in round 2
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|2001–02 || ECHL || Northwest || 72 || 39 || 31 || 2 || - || - || 80 || .555 || 220 || 232 || 1688 || Scott Allen || Lost in round 3
|-
|2002–03 || ECHL || Northwest || 72 || 28 || 33 || 11 || - || - || 67 || .465 || 214 || 243 || 1700 || Toby O'Brien || Out of Playoffs
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|2003–04 || ECHL || Northern || 72 || 45 || 20 || 7 || - || - || 97 || .673 || 223 || 195 || 1491 || Toby O'Brien || Lost in Q/R
|-
|2004–05 || ECHL || North || 72 || 22 || 36 || 14 || - || - || 58 || .402 || 191 || 258 || 1421 || Toby O'Brien || Out of Playoffs
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|2005–06 || ECHL || North || 72 || 30 || 26 || 16 || - || - || 76 || .527 || 223 || 243 || 1119 || Frank Anzalone || Lost in round 2
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|2006–07 || ECHL || North || 72 || 33 || 33 || - || 3 || 3 || 72 || .500 || 216 || 232 || 1179 || Frank Anzalone || Lost in round 1
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|2007–08 || ECHL || North || 72 || 36 || 30 || - || 3 || 3 || 78 || .541 || 235 || 234 || 1568 || Ian Herbers || Lost in round 2
|-
|2008–09 || ECHL || North || 72 || 37 || 30 || - || 5 || 0 || 79 || .549 || 228 || 232 || 1472 || Ian Herbers || Out of Playoffs
|-
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, SOL = Shootout losses, Pts = Points, PCT = Winning percentage, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes'' |}
Current roster
As of February 9, 2010 »http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/roster.php?step=&sub=&season_id=13&team_id=12
,
{| width=90%
!colspan=6 |
{| width=90% !colspan=6 |
{| width=90% !colspan=6 |
{| width=85% !colspan=7 |
Chiefs alumni who have played in the NHL
{| width=65%
!colspan=6 |
|- bgcolor="#dddddd"
!width=5%|#
!width=5%|
|width=13%|Player
!width=2%|Position
!width=9%|Year(s) with Chiefs
!width=25%|NHL Team
!width=13%|Year(s) in NHL
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|31
|align=center|
|Scott Bailey
|align=center|G
|align=center|1992-93
|Boston Bruins
|1995-97
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Garrett Burnett
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1997-98
|Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
|2003-04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Shawn Byram
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1989-90
|Chicago Blackhawks
New York Islanders
|1990-91
1991-92
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|John Craighead
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1992-93
|Toronto Maple Leafs
|1996-97
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Andre Deveaux
|align=center|C
|align=center|2005-07
|Toronto Maple Leafs
|2008-09
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Benoit Dusablon
|align=center|C
|align=center|2000-01
|New York Rangers
|2003-04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Brian Eklund
|align=center|G
|align=center|2005-06
|New York Rangers
|2005-06
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|23
|align=center|
|Matt Glennon
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1991-92
|Boston Bruins
|1991-92
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|30
|align=center|
|Scott Gordon
|align=center|G
|align=center|1988-89
|Quebec Nordiques
New York Islanders(head coach)
|1989-91
2008-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|30
|align=center|
|David Gove
|align=center|C
|align=center|2001-02
|Carolina Hurricanes
|2005-07
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1
|align=center|
|Arturs Irbe
|align=center|G
|align=center|2003-04
|Carolina Hurricanes
|2003-04*
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|31
|align=center|
|Neil Little
|align=center|G
|align=center|1994-95
|Philadelphia Flyers
|2001-02
2003-04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Raymond Macias
|align=center|D
|align=center|2007-09
|Colorado Avalanche
|2008-09
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Marquis Mathieu
|align=center|D
|align=center|1995-96
|Boston Bruins
|1998–2001
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Brett McLean
|align=center|C
|align=center|1999–2000
|Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Florida Panthers
|2002-04
2005-07
2007-09
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|17
|align=center|
|Mitch Molloy
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1989-90
|Buffalo Sabres
|1989-90
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Doug O'Brien
|align=center|D
|align=center|2004-05
|Tampa Bay Lightning
|2005-06
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Wes O'Neill
|align=center|D
|align=center|2007-09
|Tampa Bay Lightning
|2008-09
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|17
|align=center|
|Greg Parks
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1989-90
|New York Islanders
|1990-93
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Dmitri Patzold
|align=center|G
|align=center|2003-04
|San Jose Sharks
|2007-08
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Jay Rosehill
|align=center|D
|align=center|2005-07
|Toronto Maple Leafs
|2009-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|30
|align=center|
|Dany Sabourin
|align=center|G
|align=center|2000-02
|Calgary Flames
Pittsburgh Penguins
Vancouver Canucks
|2003-04
2005-06, 2007-09
2006-07
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|8
|align=center|
|Ryan Savoia
|align=center|C
|align=center|1996-98
|Pittsburgh Penguins
|1998-99
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|15
|align=center|
|Jody Shelley
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1998–2000
|Columbus Blue Jackets
San Jose Sharks
New York Rangers
|2000-08
2008-10
2010-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Jason Simon
|align=center|LW
|align=center|1990-91
|New York Islanders
Phoenix Coyotes
|1993-94
1996-97
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|1
|align=center|
|Peter Skudra
|align=center|G
|align=center|1995-97
|Pittsburgh Penguins
Buffalo Sabres
Boston Bruins
Vancouver Canucks
|1997-2000
2000-01
2000-01
2001-03
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Radek Smolenak
|align=center|LW
|align=center|2006-07
|Tampa Bay Lightning
Chicago Blackhawks
|2008-09
2009-
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Grant Stevenson
|align=center|RW
|align=center|2004-05
|San Jose Sharks
|2005-06
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|Billy Tibbetts
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1995-96
|Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
New York Rangers
|2000-02
2001-02
2002-03
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|
|align=center|
|John Tripp
|align=center|RW
|align=center|1998–2000
|New York Rangers
Los Angeles Kings
|2002-03
2003-04
|-bgcolor="#eeeeee"
|align=center|4
|align=center|
|Derrick Walser
|align=center|D
|align=center|1998–2000
|Columbus Blue Jackets
|2001-04, 2006–07
|}
- - Irbe played for several teams prior to his assignment to Johnstown, but was eventually recalled to Carolina during the 2003-04 NHL season.
Retired numbers
The Chiefs have retired four numbers: The numbers of Don Hall, Dick Roberge, Galen Head and Reg Kent. Hall and Roberge numbers were retired in 1990, Galen Head in 2003 and Reg Kent in 2009. None of these players ever played for the Chiefs, but for the Johnstown Jets.
7 - Reg Kent 8 - Galen Head 9 - Don Hall 11 - Dick Roberge