The Minnesota Iron Rangers were an American junior ice hockey team based in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. Originally named Iron Range Ironheads, the Iron Rangers played in the Canadian-based Superior International Junior Hockey League.
| Minnesota Iron Rangers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota |
| League | Superior International Junior Hockey League |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Home arena | Hoyt Lakes Arena |
| Colors | Blue, white, and red |
| General manager | Todd Kreibich (2017-18) |
| Head coach | Todd Kreibich (2017-18) |
| Franchise history | |
| 2011–2012 | Iron Range Ironheads |
| 2012–2019 | Minnesota Iron Rangers |
Iron Range Ironheads (2011–2012)
editOn July 12, 2011, USA Hockey granted the Superior International Junior Hockey League an expansion team in Chisholm, Minnesota, 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 SIJHL game.
Iron Rangers (2012–2019)
editIn June 2012, Steve Chelios[3] was released and the team was renamed the Minnesota Iron Rangers.[4] With the name change came a move to Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, playing their games at Hoyt Lakes Arena. The Minnesota Iron Rangers name was previously used by a team playing in the American Hockey Association based in Hibbing, Minnesota.[5][6] Chris Walby was hired as the team's head coach and general manager on June 19, 2012.
The team was close to another relocation just one season after moving.[7] Members of the community raised $30,000 to keep the team in Hoyt Lakes. The team then had their best season, falling in game seven of the 2014 Bill Salonen Cup Finals. Several players were honored by the SIJHL, winning post-season awards.
In 2019, after several more seasons of ownership and player recruitment issues,[8] the Iron Rangers ceased operations for the 2019–20 season while the league searched for new owners.[9]
Alumni
editSeveral 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.[10]
Season-by-season results
edit| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | 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 | 5 | 1 | 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) |
| 2016–17 | 56 | 7 | 46 | 3 | 0 | 144 | 336 | 17 | 6th of 6 | Did not qualify |
| 2017–18 | 56 | 6 | 47 | 1 | 2 | 144 | 336 | 15 | 6th of 6 | Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 (North Stars) |
| 2018–19 | 56 | 3 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 91 | 478 | 6 | 6th of 6 | Lost Quarterfinals, 0–3 (Norskies) |
References
edit- ^ "SIJHL expanding with Iron Range franchise". Fort Frances Times. July 10, 2011.
- ^ "A look at the rest of SIJHL". Fort Frances Times. September 14, 2011.
- ^ "SIJHL seeing changes galore". Fort Frances Times. June 13, 2012.
- ^ "Around the SIJHL: SIJHL's 12th season begins Friday". SIJHL. September 20, 2012.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "American Hockey Association [1992-1993] history and statistics". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "1992–93 American Hockey Association [AHA] standings". www.hockeydb.com. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ "The magic at the end of the road". Hometown Focus. November 1, 2013. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
- ^ "The Death Pool – The End Is Near In Minnesota". The Junior Hockey News. May 27, 2019.
- ^ "MINNESOTA IRON RANGERS TO TAKE ONE YEAR LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM SIJHL". SIJHL. June 12, 2019.
- ^ "Iron Rangers produce 8 NCAA commitments". Mesabi Daily News. June 18, 2015.