The Amarillo Gorillas were a minor league hockey team based in Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo, Texas

Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...

. The team was affiliated with the Central Hockey League

Central Hockey League

The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....

. The Gorillas began play in the Western Professional Hockey League

Western Professional Hockey League

The Western Professional Hockey League is a defunct minor professional ice hockey league.It operated in the United States from 1996 to 2001, with teams in the southern United States, mainly Texas. The league started with six teams in the 1996-1997 season and grew to 18 teams in 1999-2000...

 in 1996 as the Rattlers, the name they would carry until an ownership change in 2002. As the Rattlers, the team frequently finished at the bottom of the WPHL and CHL divisions, but they made the playoffs four straight years as the Gorillas through the 2006-2007 season. The Amarillo Gorillas played in the Amarillo Civic Center

Amarillo Civic Center

The Amarillo Civic Center is a multi-purpose convention center in Amarillo, Texas. Built in 1964, it consists of multiple facilities including:* A 2,848-seat auditorium with 2,324 permanent seats and used for concerts, Broadway shows and other events....

. The team's most recent head coach was Brian Pellerin.

On May 19, 2010, the Gorillas announced they had ceased operations. However, hockey will remain in Amarillo, as the North American Hockey League

North American Hockey League

The North American Hockey League is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is enterting its 36th season in 2011-12. It is currently the only Junior A Tier II league, sanctioned by USA Hockey. The NAHL currently acts as an alternative to the United States Hockey League...

, a Junior A league affiliated with USA Hockey, named the Amarillo Bulls

Amarillo Bulls

The Amarillo Bulls are a Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based out of Amarillo, Texas. A member of the North American Hockey League's South Division, the team play their home games in the Amarillo Civic Center...

will start play for the 2010-2011 season.

Season records

Season	W	L	OTL	Pts	Win %	Result
2003-04	37	24	3	77	.602	Lost in Semifinals
2004-05	31	20	9	71	.592	Lost in Semifinals
2005-06	35	26	3	73	.570	Lost in Quarterfinals
2006-07	32	28	4	68	.531	Lost in Quarterfinals
2007-08	22	32	10	54	.422	No Playoffs
2008-09	19	42	3	41	.320	No Playoffs
2009-10	21	34	9	51	.381	No Playoffs