- Niagara IceDogs
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Niagara IceDogs 
City St. Catharines, Ontario League Ontario Hockey League Conference Eastern Division Central Founded 1997–98 Home arena Jack Gatecliff Arena Colours Red, black, white
General manager 
Marty WilliamsonHead coach Marty WilliamsonAffiliate(s) St. Catharines Falcons
Website
www.niagaraicedogs.netFranchise history 1998–2007 Mississauga IceDogs 2007–present Niagara IceDogs The Niagara IceDogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was originally known as the Mississauga IceDogs and founded in 1996. The team was relocated to St. Catharines and played its inaugural season in the Niagara region during the 2007–08 OHL season after spending 9 seasons in Mississauga. The team is owned by Bill and Denise Burke.
Contents
History
Niagara IceDogs in action at home versus Barrie Colts.
On July 12, 2006, Eugene Melnyk, who owned the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, bought the Mississauga IceDogs. After the 2006–07 season, Melnyk sold the IceDogs, and moved the Majors to the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. The team approached the City of St. Catharines about moving the team into Jack Gatecliff Arena. St. Catharines City Council voted on a leasing arrangement on April 23, 2007, which passed. The OHL Board of Governors approved the deal on June 5, 2007.[1][2]
- Early Years (1998-2006)
The IceDogs inaugural season began in 1998-99, and the team struggled, winning only 4 of 68 games. In their first three seasons, the IceDogs won a total of 16 games, in 204 games played.
- 2007–08 season
The IceDogs entered their first season in Niagara ranked in the CHL's top ten, but soon fell out of the league's top rankings. The team played their first regular season home game against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in front of a sellout crowd on September 21, 2007. The IceDogs won the game, defeating the Majors 4-1. Over the course of the season, the IceDogs developed a major rivalry with the Mississauga Majors. In December, right-winger Stefan Legein represented Team Canada at the 2008 World Junior Ice Hockey Tournament and earned a gold medal in the process.
On January 8, 2008, the IceDogs acquired goaltender Sebastian Dahm from the Sudbury Wolves in exchange for goaltender Andrew Loverock, defenceman Chris van Laren, a 3rd round draft pick in 2009 and a sixth round draft pick in 2010. Dahm finished the season with the IceDogs, earning a record of 20-6-0-0, a GAA of 2.53 and a save percentage of 0.917.
After selling out (3,145) their first home game, attendance figures remained low until Christmas. After Christmas, however, attendance increased significantly. The IceDogs finished the year averaging 2,722 fans and led the league with 15 sellout crowds.
The IceDogs finished the regular season with 82 points, three shy of Brampton for the central division title. Luca Caputi finished the season with 111 points (4th in league scoring) while Michael Swift's 100 points put him 8th in league scoring. The team total in penalty minutes (1463) led the league.
- 2008–09 season
The IceDogs began the 2008–09 season considerably younger than they ended the previous season. Gone were the likes of goaltenderSebastian Dahm Michael Swift (age), defenceman Matt Corrente (AHL), leading scorer Luca Caputi, Stefan Legein and Alex Pietrangelo. The core of the roster was made up of 16, 17, and 18 year olds and the team was plagued by inconsistent play at the start of the year.
On November 13 (21 games into the season) it was announced the St. Louis Blues were returning 4th overall selection Alex Pietrangelo to the Niagara IceDogs for an additional year of development at the junior level.[3] He had played a total of eight games with St. Louis prior to being reassigned. On April 10, 2009, he was assigned to the Blues' top minor-league affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen in the American Hockey League.[4]
The IceDogs hosted one of two Ontario games in the ADT Canada-Russia Challenge on November 22. The IceDogs were represented by draft-eligible forward Andrew Agozzino and defenceman Alex Pietrangelo, while Coach Mario Cichillo was selected to serve as the team's assistant coach. The OHL squad won the game 3-2 in front of a sellout crowd. The winning goal was scored by Agozzino.
In December, forward Marco Insam represented Italy at the World Junior Championships ('B' Pool), while Pietrangelo was named to Canada's World Junior team, which won a fifth straight gold medal. The Dogs were once again active at the trade deadline, acquiring Patrick Lee and former World Junior goalie and Nashville draft pick Jeremy Smith from Plymouth for three draft picks. The Dogs had previously traded defenceman Scott Fletcher to Plymouth for a draft pick, which was sent back to Plymouth as a part of the Smith trade. After acquiring Smith, the Dogs shipped goalie John Cullen to the Kingston for a draft pick. In two separate trades with divisional rivals Brampton, Niagara acquired Mike Hasson and two draft picks for Andrew Merrett, Josh Day, and a draft pick.
- 2009-10 season
The IceDogs began the season without Alex Pietrangelo, who spent the first part of the season playing in the NHL with the St. Louis Blues, and without a 2009 first round draft pick. The IceDogs selected forward Lucas Lessio with the 7th overall pick, but Lessio refused to sign with the IceDogs and was sent to the Oshawa Generals in early September for a compensatory first round pick, a second round pick, and a conditional draft pick. Despite not having Lessio in the line-up, the team broke came with a young roster including three sixteen-year-olds.
In November, fan favorite Chris DeSousa and defenceman Jay Gilbert quit the team and demanded a trade. In advance of the trade deadline, the IceDogs dealt Gilbert to the Plymouth Whalers, and in a blockbuster trade, sent DeSousa, goalie Petteri Simila, and Alex Pietrangelo (who had yet to be reassigned to the OHL) to the conference leading Barrie Colts for first-round pick Ryan Strome, defenceman Simon Gronvaldt, and a package of draft picks. Following the trade, the IceDogs had five sixteen-year-olds on the roster, making them the youngest team in the league and providing a solid core for the teams rebuilding process.
- 2010-11 season
In May, the IceDogs became the first team in OHL history to have two first round picks, their own (6th overall), plus an additional compensatory pick they received for being unable to sign 2009 first round pick Lucas Lessio. The IceDogs used those picks to select two defencemen, Jesse Graham and Luke Mercer. However, two days after the draft, the team announced that it had fired General Manager Dave Brown and was letting go of Head Coach Mike McCourt and his assistants. In July, the IceDogs announced that they had signed Marty Williamson to a five-year contract as both Head Coach and General Manager. Former NHL defenceman Mike Van Ryn was later added as the team's assistant coach. Days prior to the opening game, the IceDogs acquired forward Steven Shipley (Buffalo's 4th round selection in 2010) from the Owen Sound Attack in exchange for Andrew Shaw, Matt Petgrave, and draft picks. Within a week, Niagara added three more NHL draftees: overage defenceman Tim Billingsley, a former Phoenix Coyotes draft pick, was picked up from the St. Michael's Majors for a 4th round draft pick, New York Rangers draft pick Jason Wilson was acquired from Owen Sound in exchange for Andrew Fritsch, and David Pacan, a Chicago Blackhawks pick, was signed by the IceDogs after leaving the NCAA.
Coaches
Mario Cicchillo was promoted from assistant coach in 2006–07 for Mississauga, to become the first coach of the Niagara IceDogs after it was announced that head coach Mike Kelly resigned to accept a senior advisory position with the team.[5] In August 2009, Cicchillo was fired and assistant coach Mike McCourt was named interim head coach. In early May 2010, the IceDogs announced that the team would not be renewing the contracts McCourt and his assistants. Former Barrie Colt coach/general manager Marty Williamson was named coach and general manager of the IceDogs in late May 2010.
- 2007-2009 Mario Cicchillo
- 2009-2010 Mike McCourt
- 2010–present Marty Williamson
Players
NHL Alumni
NHL Draft Picks
- 2008 - Alex Pietrangelo, 1st round (4th overall) St. Louis
- 2010 - Mark Visentin, 1st round (27th overall) Phoenix
- 2010 - Freddie Hamilton, 5th round (129th overall) San Jose
- 2010 - Alex Friesen, 6th round (172nd overall) Vancouver
- 2011 - Ryan Strome, 1st round (5th overall) New York Islanders
- 2011 - Dougie Hamilton, 1st round (9th overall) Boston
- 2011 - Mitchell Theoret, 7th round (185th overall) New York Islanders
- Stefan Legein (2nd round, CLB, 2007), Drew Shiestel (2nd round, BUF, 2007), and Luca Caputi (4th round, PIT, 2007) were drafted two weeks after the IceDogs franchise moved from Mississuaga to Niagara. Matt Corrente (1st round, NJ, 2006), Aaron Snow (3rd round, DAL 2006), Jeremy Smith (2nd round, NSH, 2007), Petteri Simila (7th round, MON 2009), Stephen Shipley (4th round, BUF 2010), Jason Wilson (5th round, NYR 2010), David Pacan (6th round, CHI 2009) and Tim Billingsley (7th round, PHX 2008) played for the Niagara IceDogs, but were drafted while playing for other teams.
Award winners
- 2007–08 – Michael Swift, Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy – Overage Player of the Year
- 2007–08 – Denise Burke (Team President), OHL Executive of the Year
- 2007–08 – Alex Friesen, Ivan Tennant Memorial Award – Top High School Academic Player
- 2008–09 – Freddie Hamilton, Ivan Tennant Memorial Award – Top High School Academic Player
- 2009–10 – Dougie Hamilton, Ivan Tennant Memorial Award – Top High School Academic Player
- 2010–11 – Dougie Hamilton, Bobby Smith Trophy – Top Scholastic Player
- 2010–11 – Mark Visentin, OHL Goaltender of the Year Award- Top Goaltender
Roster
Goalies Number Player Catches Position Birth year Place of birth Acquired NHL Status 1 Mike Gallardi L G 1994 St. Catharines, Ontario 14th round (2010) Eligible (2012) 30 Christopher Festarini L G 1993 Oakville, Ontario Trade Erie Otters (2011) Eligible (2011) 29 Mark Visentin L G 1992 Waterdown, Ontario 3rd round (2008) 1st round Phoenix (2010) Defencemen Number Player Shoots Position Birth year Place of birth Acquired NHL Status 2 Jesse Graham L D 1994 Toronto, Ontario 1st round (2010) Eligible 2012 4 Broderick Kelly L D 1995 St. Catharines, Ontario 4th round (2011) Eligible 2013 5 Jimmy Sheehan R D 1993 St. Catharines, Ontario Trade SUD (2011) Free Agent 6 Luke Mercer R D 1994 Toronto, Ontario 1st round (2010) Eligible 2012 11 Shayne Rover L D 1992 Newmarket, Ontario 2nd round (2008) Free Agent 17 
Milan Doudera L D 1993 Horní Bezdekov, Czech Republic 2nd round import (2010) Free Agent 25 Brock Beukeboom R D 1992 Uxbridge, Ontario Trade SSM (2011) 3rd round Tampa Bay (2010) 27 Dougie Hamilton R D 1993 Toronto, Ontario 2nd round (2009) 1st round Boston (2011) Forwards Number Player Shoots Position Birth year Place of birth Acquired NHL Status 8 Alex Friesen L C 1991 Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario 2nd round (2007) 6th round Vancouver (2010) 9 Andrew Agozzino L LW 1991 Kleinburg, Ontario 1st round (2007) Free Agent 10 Steven Shipley L C 1992 Ilderton, Ontario Trade OWE (2010) 4th round Buffalo (2010) 12 Myles Doan L C 1992 LaSalle, Ontario Trade OWE (2010) Free Agent 13 Freddie Hamilton R LW 1992 Toronto, Ontario 1st round (2008) 5th round San Jose (2010) 14 Joel Wigle R RW 1994 Brantford, Ontario 2nd round (2010) Eligible 2012 16 Trevor Petersen L LW 1994 Thornhill, Ontario Free Agent Eligible (2013) 18 Ryan Strome R RW 1993 Mississauga, Ontario Trade BAR (2010) 1st round N.Y. Islanders (2011) 19 
Tom Kuhnhackl L LW 1992 Landshut, Germany Trade WND (2011) 4th Round Pittsburgh Penguins (2010) 20 Billy Jenkins R C 1994 Ottawa, Ontario 2nd round (2010) Eligible 2012 21 Carter Verhaeghe L C 1995 Waterdown, Ontario 2nd round (2011) Eligible 2013 22 David Pacan R C 1991 Ottawa, Ontario 14th round (2007) 6th round Chicago (2009) 23 Mitchell Theoret L C 1993 Montreal, Quebec 8th round (2009) 7th round N.Y. Islanders (2011) 24 Mitch Bennett R RW 1992 Fenelon Falls, Ontario Trade BAR (2011) Free Agent Team records
Single season records
Team records for a single season Statistic Total Season Most points 96 2010-11 Least points 60 2009-10 Most wins 45 2010-11 Least wins 26 2008–09 and 2009–10 Most goals for 273 2010-11 Least goals for 191 2009-10 Most goals against 264 2008–09 Least goals against 197 2010-11 Individual player records for a single season Statistic Player Total Season Most goals Luca Caputi 51 2007–08 Most assists Ryan Strome 73 2010-11 Most points Luca Caputi 111 2007–08 Most points, rookie Marco Insam 41 2008–09 Most points, defenceman Dougie Hamilton 58 2010-11 Most penalty minutes Jordan Foreman 155 2007–08 Most wins, goalie Mark Visentin 30 2010-11 Best GAA, goalie Mark Visentin 2.52 2010-11 Goalie GAA = minimum 15 games played Career scoring and goalie leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed OHL regular season.
Player GP G A Pts Seasons Andrew Agozzino 251 119 99 218 2007–08 to 2010-11 Alex Friesen 230 65 108 173 2007–08 to 2010-11 Freddie Hamilton 197 73 93 166 2008–09 to 2010-11 Ryan Strome 92 36 83 119 2009–10 to 2010-11 Chris DeSousa 160 66 48 114 2007–08 to 2009-10 Luca Caputi 66 51 60 111 2007–08 Michael Swift 68 38 62 100 2007–08 Drew Shiestel 131 18 67 85 2007–08 to 2008-09 Alex Pietrangelo 96 21 61 82 2007–08 to 2008-09 Dougie Hamilton 131 15 59 74 2009-10 to 2010-11 These are the top-five goalies (ranked by wins) in franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed OHL regular season.
Player Mins W L OTL SOL GAA SVP SO Seasons Mark Visentin 7022 59 46 4 10 3.01 .907 4 2008–09 to 2010-11 Sebastien Dahm 1517 20 6 0 0 2.53 .917 2 2007–08 Andrew Loverock 2091 16 17 0 1 3.56 .891 1 2007–08 Jeremy Smith 1488 12 9 1 2 3.18 .913 2 2008–09 Dalton McGrath 830 10 4 0 0 2.67 .913 1 2010-11 Season-by-season results
Regular season
Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss
Season Games Won Lost OTL SL Points Pct % Goals
ForGoals
AgainstStanding 2007–08 68 42 25 0 1 85 .625 272 214 2nd Central 2008–09 68 26 31 5 6 63 .463 213 264 4th Central 2009–10 68 26 34 2 6 60 .441 191 233 4th Central 2010–11 68 45 17 2 4 96 .706 273 197 2nd Central Playoffs
Season 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals 2007-08 W, 4–0, Mississauga Majors L, 4–2, Oshawa Generals — — 2008-09 W, 4-3, Ottawa 67s L, 4-1, Belleville Bulls — — 2009-10 L, 4-1, Ottawa 67s — — — 2010-11 W, 4-0, Brampton Battalion W, 4–1, Oshawa Generals L, 4-1, Mississauga Majors — Uniforms and logos
The IceDogs colours are red, black and white. The Home jersey is black with red, black and white diagonal stripes on the sleeves with two crossed dog bones on each shoulder. The Away jersey is white with red, black and white diagonal stripes on the sleeves with two crossed dog bones on each shoulder. The Niagara logo is a Bull Terrier (modelled after former team part-owner Don Cherry's famous dog, "Blue") playing hockey in hockey gear. The team wears red and black CCM gloves and CCM helmets (black or white, depending upon their jersey colour). In 2008–09, the IceDogs launched a third jersey, which is currently being worn by the team during warmups. It is a red jersey, featuring the Bull Terrier logo on top of a large N.
Arena
The Gatorade Garden City Complex, formerly known as the Garden City Arena and the Jack Gatecliff arena, is a publicly owned and operated facility and is the main arena in St. Catharines. It is located at 8 Gale Crescent and features two ice surfaces (the Rex Stimers arena and the Jack Gatecliff arena). The IceDogs play in the Jack Gatecliff Arena of the complex. The arena's capacity is 3,145 including standing room, making it smaller than most CHL arenas. With an ice surface of 190 x 85 feet, its dimensions are also smaller than the typical CHL ice surface. It is commonly referred to by fans as 'the Jack.'
The original arena was built in 1932 and became the oldest arena currently used in the CHL following the Windsor Spitfires move to the WFCU Centre in 2008–09. It was previously used by the St. Catharines Teepees, St. Catharines Black Hawks, St. Catharines Fincups and the St. Catharines Saints and is also the home to the St. Catharines Jr. B Falcons. Renovated in 1996, it was named after local sportswriter Jack Gatecliff. The Jack Gatecliff Arena name has now been applied to the pad that the IceDogs play on, while the name of the facility itself was changed on September 19, 2007.[6] The IceDogs typically play home games on either Thursday or Saturday nights, while the Falcons play their home games on Friday nights.
On March 1, 2009, the Niagara IceDogs hosted a home game at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena in nearby Niagara Falls, Ontario. The arena, slated to close in 2010, was the former home to both the Niagara Falls Flyers and the Niagara Falls Thunder. The game was billed as the last OHL game in the arena. The announced crowd of 3,167 was the largest home crowd in franchise history.
See also
References
- ^ ::The Official Mississauga St. Michael's Majors Website::
- ^ St. Catharines Standard - Ontario, CA
- ^ http://blues.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=392246&page=NewsPage&service=page
- ^ Blues Assign Pietrangelo to Peoria, (Apr. 10)
- ^ Niagara IceDogs :: OHL Major Junior Hockey Team
- ^ Niagara IceDogs :: OHL Major Junior Hockey Team
External links
- Niagara IceDogs Official web site
- Ontario Hockey League Official web site
- Canadian Hockey League Official web site
- Niagara IceDogs Fans Site Unofficial web site
- Niagara IceDogs on Twitter Official Twitter feed
Arenas Hershey Centre • Jack Gatecliff ArenaConference Championships [2003-04 OHL seasonDivision Championships 2004-05Ontario Hockey League East Division Central Division Barrie Colts · Brampton Battalion · Mississauga St. Michael's Majors · Niagara IceDogs · Sudbury WolvesMidwest Division West Division Defunct teams Brantford Alexanders · Cornwall Royals · Detroit Compuware Ambassadors · Detroit Junior Red Wings · Detroit Whalers · Guelph Platers · Hamilton Dukes · Hamilton Steelhawks · Kingston Canadians · Kingston Raiders · Mississauga IceDogs · Newmarket Royals · Niagara Falls Thunder · North Bay Centennials · Owen Sound Platers · Toronto Marlboros · Toronto St. Michael's MajorsCHL · Memorial Cup · J. Ross Robertson Cup · OHL history · OHL seasons · OHA standings · OHL Awards · CHL Awards · QMJHL · WHLCategories:- Sport in St. Catharines
- Ontario Hockey League teams
- Sports clubs established in 1997
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