Iowa Chops

Pro hockey team
text_color = #BEBEBE
bg_color = #CD2626
team = Iowa Chops

logosize = 200px
city = Des Moines, Iowa
league = American Hockey League
conference = Western Conference
division = West Division
founded = 2005
arena = Wells Fargo Arena
colors = Crimson, Grey, Black, White
owner = Kirby Schlegel
coach = Gord Dineen
GM = Bob Murray
media = Des Moines Register
Mediacom Cable
affiliates = Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Bakersfield Condors (ECHL)

name1 = Louisville Panthers
dates1 = 1999 to 2001
name2 = Iowa Stars
dates2 = 2005 to 2008
name3 = Iowa Chops
dates3 = 2008 to present
name4 =
dates4 =
name5 =
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name6 =
dates6 =
reg_season_titles =
division_titles =
conf_titles =
calder_cups =

The Iowa Chops are an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are based in Des Moines, Iowa, USA at the Wells Fargo Arena.

History

The Chops were founded by Howard Baldwin, of Hockey Holdings & Management Group, and Dallas businessman Bob Schlegel, who took the dormant Louisville Panthers AHL franchise and resurrected it for the 2005–06 season as the Iowa Stars. They had a five year affiliation agreement with the Dallas Stars and a one year agreement with the Edmonton Oilers.

In their inaugural season, the Stars made it to the Calder Cup playoffs first round, where they were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals. The Stars won their first playoff series the following season, defeating the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in six games.

In February 2008, the Dallas Stars announced they would be affiliating with the future Texas Stars pending the 2009 completion of the Cedar Park Entertainment Center in Cedar Park, Texas. After the 2007-2008 season the Dallas Stars left the Iowa scene, and the Anaheim Ducks announced an affiliation with the team.

On July 9, 2008, the team unveiled its new name and logo, featuring a "vicious boar’s head in the team colors of crimson, grey and black". [cite web|url=http://www.iowachops.com/news/index.html?article_id=1|title=It is Official! AHL Hockey Team is: IOWA CHOPS |accessdate=2008-07-09|publisher=IowaChops.com]

On July 24, 2008, Chops President Steve Nitzel announced on the Chops website that the organization had offered NFL superstar quarterback Brett Favre a contract to play for the team. The position and dollar amount was undisclosed, however, Nitzel said in the announcement that “We can offer him plenty of bone-crushing hits, read-and-react plays, and thousands of fans cheering for him, so what’s not to like about that? All we have to do is sharpen his skating skills and after that, his athletic instincts will take over and he’ll be one heck of a hockey player.” [cite web|url=http://www.iowachops.com/news/index.html?article_id=13|title=Iowa Chops to offer contract to Brett Favre |accessdate=2008-07-24|publisher=Iowachops.com]

Portland Pirates' assistant Gord Dineen was named Head Coach of the Iowa Chops on August, 19 2008.

eason-by-season results

Regular season

Playoffs

Team records

ingle game

:Goals: 4 flagicon|Czech Republic Vojtech Polak (2006–07)

ingle season

:Goals: 35 flagicon|Sweden Loui Eriksson (2005–06):Assists: 47 flagicon|USA Toby Petersen (2005–06):Points: 73 flagicon|USA Toby Petersen (2005–06):Penalty Minutes: 129 flagicon|CAN Krys Barch (2005–06):GAA: 2.5 flagicon|CAN Mike Smith (2005–06):SV%: .917 flagicon|CAN Mike Smith (2005–06)

Career

:Career Goals: 49 flagicon|USA Toby Petersen (2005–08):Career Assists: 83 flagicon|USA Toby Petersen (2005–08):Career Points: 132 flagicon|USA Toby Petersen (2005–08):Career Penalty Minutes: 129 flagicon|CAN Krys Barch (2005–06) :Career Goaltending Wins: 25 flagicon|CAN Mike Smith (2005–06):Career Shutouts: 3 flagicon|CAN Mike Smith (2005–06):Career Games: 132 flagicon|SWE Yared Hagos (2005–07)

References

External links

* [http://www.iowachops.com Iowa Chops Official Website]