Minnesota Iron Rangers
| Minnesota Iron Rangers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City |
Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota,  United States |
| League | Superior International Junior Hockey League |
| Founded | July 12, 2011 |
| Home arena | Hoyt Lakes Arena |
| Colors |
Blue, White, and Red |
| General manager | Chris Walby |
| Head coach | Chris Walby |
| Franchise history | |
| 2011-2012 | Iron Range Ironheads |
| 2012-present | Minnesota Iron Rangers |
The Minnesota Iron Rangers are an American Junior ice hockey team based in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Originally named Iron Range Ironheads, the Iron Rangers play in the Canadian-based Superior International Junior Hockey League.
History
On July 12, 2011, USA Hockey granted the Superior International Junior Hockey League an expansion team in the Iron Range Region of Northern Minnesota to begin play in September 2011.[1] The Iron Range Ironheads' coach and general manager was Steve Chelios,[2] brother of former NHL defenseman Chris Chelios. Steve was the franchise's managing partner, along with a group of investors from Vancouver, British Columbia.
With their first game being rescheduled twice, the Ironheads finally stepped on the ice for their inaugural game on October 8, 2011. Their first game was against the Dryden Ice Dogs in Dryden, Ontario. Shamus O'Neill scored the franchise's first goal at 18:51 of the first period, but the Ice Dogs went on to win the game 5-1.
On December 10, 2011, the Ironheads defeated the Fort Frances Lakers 3-2 at Northwoods Arena in Cloquet to win their first-ever SIJHL regular season game.
Iron Rangers (2012-present)
In June 2012, It was announced, Steve Chelios[3] had been let go, and the team would be renamed the Minnesota Iron Rangers.[4] With the name change came a move to Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, playing their games at Hoyt Lakes Arena.
Chris Walby was hired as the team's Head Coach/General Manager on June 19, 2012.
The team was close to another relocation just one season after moving from Cloquet.[5] Members of the community raised $30,000 to keep the team in Hoyt Lakes. The team would go on to their best season to-date falling in Game 7 of the 2014 Bill Salonen Cup Finals. Several players were honored by the SIJHL, winning post-season awards.
Alumni
Several players have moved on to college ice hockey programs. In June 2015 the Iron Ranges announced that eight members of the previous season would be playing for NCAA college hockey programs in the Fall.[6]
Season-by-season results
Please note: unless noted otherwise playoff rounds are played in "best of" series.
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | GF | GA | Pts | Results | Playoffs |
| 2011-12 | 56 | 9 | 45 | - | 2 | 155 | 432 | 20 | 7th of 7 | Lost Survivor Series, 0-2 (Clydesdales) |
| 2012-13 | 56 | 26 | 28 | - | 2 | 161 | 194 | 54 | 5th of 5 | Won Quarterfinals 2-1 (North Stars) Lost Semifinals, 0-4 (Wilderness) |
| 2013-14 | 56 | 36 | 14 | - | 6 | 237 | 168 | 78 | 3rd of 6 | Won Quarterfinals, 4-0 (Wilderness) Won Semifinals, 4-2 (North Stars) Lost Finals, 3-4 (Lakers) |
| 2014-15 | 56 | 30 | 20 | - | 6 | 246 | 198 | 66 | 2nd of 5 | Lost Semifinals, 2-4 (Ice Dogs) |
| 2015-16 | 56 | 21 | 31 | 2 | 2 | 178 | 223 | 46 | 4th of 5 | Lost Survivor Series, 2-3 (Miners) |
References
- ↑ "SIJHL expanding with Iron Range franchise". Fort Frances Times. 20 July 2011.
- ↑ "A look at the rest of SIJHL". Fort Frances Times. 14 September 2011.
- ↑ "SIJHL seeing changes galore". Fort Frances Times. 13 June 2012.
- ↑ "Around the SIJHL: SIJHL's 12th season begins Friday". SIJHL. 20 September 2012.
- ↑ "The magic at the end of the road". Hometown Focus. 1 November 2013.
- ↑ "Iron Rangers produce 8 NCAA commitments". Mesabi Daily News. 18 June 2015.