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| Johnstown Chiefs | |
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| City: | Johnstown, Pennsylvania |
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| League: | ECHL |
| Conference: | American Conference |
| Division: | North Division |
| Founded: | 1988 |
| Home Arena: | Cambria County War Memorial Arena |
| Colors: | black and gold |
| Owner(s): | Neil Smith and Ned Nakles |
| Head Coach: | Ian Herbers |
| Media: | The Tribune-Democrat, WNTJ, WNTW |
| Affiliates: | Boston Bruins (NHL), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Providence Bruins (AHL), Lake Erie Monsters (AHL) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1988 to present: | Johnstown Chiefs |
| Championships | |
| Regular Season Titles: | None |
| Division Championships: | None |
| Conference Championships: | 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 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. The cult hockey movie Slap Shot had been filmed in Johnstown, and featured a minor league team called the Charlestown Chiefs. The owners 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 Slap Shot were filmed. The team colors are black, gold and white (following an early affiliation with the Boston Bruins), and its current road uniforms are 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 new head coach in June 2007, and will make his pro coaching debut this season.
On August 17, 2007 The Chiefs announced that they entered into an affiliation agreement with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche. During the upcoming 2007–08 season, the Chiefs will serve as the Avalanche’s secondary minor league affiliate. The expansion Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL will be Colorado’s primary affiliate. On September 18, 2007, the Chiefs announced they had entered an affiliation agreement with the Boston Bruins for the 07–08 season.[1]
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.
Current roster as of March 29, 2008
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| # | Player | Catches | Place of Birth | ||
| 31 |  |
Andrew Penner | L | Scarborough, Ontario | |
| 35 | |
Ryan Nie | R | Nanticoke, Ontario | |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Player | Shoots | Place of Birth | ||
| 3 | |
Vincent Zaore | R | Sainte-Foy, Quebec | |
| 4 |  |
Brian Deeth | L | Gig Harbor, Washington | |
| 5 | |
Nathan Saunders | R | Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island | |
| 6 | |
Greg Gallagher | L | Framingham, Massachusetts | |
| 7 | |
Raymond Macias | R | Long Beach, California | |
| 20 | |
Wes O'Neil | L | Essex, Ontario | |
| 21 | |
Mike Knight | R | Toronto, Ontario | |
| 55 | |
Andrew Martens | L | Friendswood, Texas | |
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| # | Player | Position | Shoots | Place of Birth | ||
| 17 | |
Joey Olson | F | L | Peoria, Illinois | |
| 18 | |
Randy Rowe - C | LW | L | Burford, Ontario | |
| 22 | |
Jean Desrochers- A | C | R | Dalhousie, Quebec | |
| 27 | |
Joel Gasper | C | L | Crookston, Minnesota | |
| 32 | |
Jason Spence - A | LW | L | Windsor, Nova Scotia | |
| 33 | |
Alexandre Imbeault | C | L | Montreal, Quebec | |
| 44 | |
Mike Sgroi | F | L | Toronto, Ontario | |
| 46 | |
Domenic Maiani | F | R | Shelby Township, Michigan | |
| 74 | |
Mark Tobin | LW | L | St.John's, Newfoundland and Labrador | |
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| Title | Staff Member | |||||
| Head Coach | Ian Herbers | |||||
| Trainer | Mic Medderhoff | |||||
| Vice President | Kevin McGeehan | |||||
| Broadcaster | Ray Schmitt | |||||
| Mascot | Tom E. Hawk | |||||
References
External links
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| American Conference | North | Cincinnati Cyclones · Dayton Bombers · Elmira Jackals · Johnstown Chiefs · Reading Royals · Trenton Devils · Wheeling Nailers |
| South | Augusta Lynx · Charlotte Checkers · Florida Everblades · Gwinnett Gladiators · Mississippi Sea Wolves · South Carolina Stingrays | |
| National Conference |
Pacific | Bakersfield Condors · Fresno Falcons · Las Vegas Wranglers · Ontario Reign · Stockton Thunder |
| West | Alaska Aces · Idaho Steelheads · Phoenix Roadrunners · Utah Grizzlies · Victoria Salmon Kings | |
| Future teams | Columbia Inferno · Myrtle Beach, SC · Toledo Walleye · Reno Raiders | |
| Related articles: List of ECHL seasons · Kelly Cup · Brabham Cup · All-Star Game · Awards · Timeline · Defunct teams · Hall of Fame · Arenas · Other Professional Hockey leagues | ||
