Indiana Ice Miners

Pro hockey team
text_color = silver
bg_color = #000000
team = Indiana Ice Miners

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logosize = 150px
city = Indiana, Pennsylvania
league = Mid-Atlantic Hockey League
conference =
division =
founded = 2007
arena = S&T Bank Arena
colors = black, red, silver
owner = Fidel Jenkins
coach = Christian Panaia
GM = Bob Yusko
media = Indiana Gazette
affiliates =
name1 = Indiana Ice Miners
dates1 = 2007-2008
dates2 =
name3 =
dates3 =
dates4 =
reg_season_titles = 1

The Indiana Ice Miners were a professional ice hockey team in the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League. Based in Indiana, Pennsylvania, the team was a founding member of the MAHL, first playing in 2007. The team played at the S&T Bank Arena

History

A Mid-Atlantic Hockey League team was announced for Indiana, Pennsylvania by league president Andrew Haines in 2007. The league held a contest to name the team, and the "Ice Miners" nickname, a reference to the coal mining regions of Central and Western Pennsylvania, was picked in June. cite news |first=Rick |last=Weaver |title=Hockey team adopts 'Ice Miners' moniker, names coach |url=http://www.indianagazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6322&Itemid=76 |publisher=Indiana Gazette |date=6-21-2007]

On June 21, 2007 the team announced the hiring of head coach Brian Gratz . Gratz previously played goaltender at Penn State University, where he won four ACHA National Championships. In the year before taking the position with the Ice Miners, Gratz served as a volunteer assistant for the Reading Royals of the ECHL. He later returned to play with the Wheeling Nailers. He was called up to the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins, and finished the year in the ECHL playoffs with the Cincinnati Cyclones. [cite news |title=MAHL's name Brian Gratz head coach |url=http://www.indianaiceminers.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=1 |publisher= [http://www.indianaiceminers.com Indiana Ice Miners] ]

The league announced the ownership of the team would be acquired by Robert Eger in December. The team had been run by the league since starting play. [cite news |first=Rick |last=Weaver |title=League OKs Ice Miners ownership |url=http://www.indianagazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17255&Itemid=76 |publisher=Indiana Gazette |date=12-30-2007] In February, the league announced that it would immediately suspend operations, citing financial reasons.cite news |first=Rick |last=Weaver |title=MAHL puts Ice Miners, league's season on ice |url=http://www.indianagazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20055&Itemid=76 |publisher=Indiana Gazette |date=2-13-08] Over the course of the season, the Ice Miners recorded a professional hockey record 26-game winning streak. The team was named champions of the league, with a 31-1-0 record, 18 games before the season was scheduled to end. [cite news |first=Rick |last=Weaver |title=Ice Miners named MAHL champs |url=http://www.indianagazette.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20124&Itemid=76 |publisher=Indiana Gazette |date=2-14-2008]

The team was purchased by real estate developer Fidel Jenkins on March 7, 2008. cite news |title=Fidel Jenkins named new owner of the Indiana Ice Miners |url=http://www.mahlhockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=282&Itemid=1 |publisher= [http://www.mahlhockey.com MAHL] ] Head coach Brian Gratz left the team in March, to explore other coaching opportunities. The Ice Miners later introduced new coach, Christian Pania. [cite news |title=Ice Miners get new bench boss |url=http://www.mahlhockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=291&Itemid=1 |publisher= [http://www.mahlhockey.com MAHL] ]

The team also made a change of General Manager, hiring Bob Yusko in April. Yusko previously served as the director of operations with the Mon Valley Thunder. [cite news |title=Ice Miners name Bob Yusko new GM |url=http://www.mahlhockey.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=292&Itemid=1 |publisher= [http://www.mahlhockey.com MAHL] ] Despite the sucesses of the Ice Miners franchise, the MAHL folded in late September 2008, ending hopes of a second season for the league and a chance for the Ice Miners to defend the only MAHL Championship.

References

External links

[http://www.indianaiceminers.com/ Indiana Ice Miners]
[http://www.mahlhockey.com/ Mid-Atlantic Hockey League]