Lonnie Loach
Encyclopedia
Lonnie Loach is a Canadian
former professional ice hockey
player. Loach spent the majority of his career in the IHL but also played briefly in the NHL
with the Ottawa Senators
, Los Angeles Kings
, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He played left wing and shot left-handed.
of the OHL
Loach was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks
in the 5th round, 98th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
. After being drafted Loach returned to the Platers and played another 2 years with the team. Loach then turned pro and played the next 3 years in the IHL. During the 1990–1991 season Loach led the IHL with 131 points in 81 games and helped lead the Fort Wayne Komets
to the Turner Cup
Finals.
Following the 1990–1991 season Loach signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings
. He spent one year with the Red Wings' minor league affiliate Adirondack Red Wings
, scoring 86 points in 67 games during the 1991–1992 season. In 1992 Loach was claimed in the Expansion Draft by the Ottawa Senators
.
The 1992–1993 season saw Loach finally make his NHL debut. He appeared in 3 games with the Senators early in the season, but was eventually released. Loach was quickly picked up by the Los Angeles Kings
however, and he earned a spot on the Kings roster. He played in 50 games, scoring 23 points. Following the season Loach was again claimed in the Expansion Draft, this time by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He was unable to crack the Mighty Ducks roster for the 1993–1994 season, spending the majority of the year with the San Diego Gulls while appearing in 3 games with the Mighty Ducks. This would be the last time Loach would play in the NHL.
Loach spent the next 5 years in the IHL. His most successful season during this time was during the 1995–1996 season when he scored 86 points with the Detroit Vipers
. Loach would also make stops with the San Antonio Dragons
, Long Beach Ice Dogs, and Kansas City Blades
.
Loach then played from the 1999–2000 season until the 2002–2003 season with the Missouri River Otters
of the UHL
. Over 4 seasons he scored 310 points in 238 games with the River Otters. During the 2002–2003 season Loach also made an appearance with the Los Angeles Kings
minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs
, playing 3 games. Loach retired from hockey following the 2002–2003 season. For the 2003–2004 season Loach was hired as the head coach of the River Otters and coached the team for the majority of the year, but was replaced after 70 games and a dismal 16–47–7 record.
Loach came out of retirement for the 2005–2006 season with the River Otters, skating in 21 games with the team before retiring again in 2006. He had his #33 retired by the River Otters, the only player to have his number retired by the team.
Lonnie's hockey school was a huge success amongst the Northern Ontario crowd. It ran for three years and even spawned one professional NHL hockey player, Fellow Hockey Heritage North Alumni, "The Zack Morris" of KLCVI. Kurtis McLean
.
Lonnie has also helped raise money for local charities in Northern Ontario by lending his services to charity hockey tournaments in Northern Ontario. One in particular is the Canadian Tire Rino Robazza Memorial Hockey tournament.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
former professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player. Loach spent the majority of his career in the IHL but also played briefly in the NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
with the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
, Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He played left wing and shot left-handed.
Playing career
After one season with the Guelph PlatersGuelph Platers
The Guelph Platers were a junior ice hockey team in theOntario Hockey Association from 1975 to 1982, and the Ontario Hockey League from 1982 to 1989, based in Guelph, Ontario.-History:...
of the OHL
Ontario Hockey League
The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Loach was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
in the 5th round, 98th overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft
1986 NHL Entry Draft
The 1986 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 21, 1986 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1985–86 NHL season and playoff standings...
. After being drafted Loach returned to the Platers and played another 2 years with the team. Loach then turned pro and played the next 3 years in the IHL. During the 1990–1991 season Loach led the IHL with 131 points in 81 games and helped lead the Fort Wayne Komets
Fort Wayne Komets
The Fort Wayne Komets are a minor league ice hockey franchise currently a member of the Central Hockey League in the Northern Conference. The team was previously a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010...
to the Turner Cup
Turner Cup
The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...
Finals.
Following the 1990–1991 season Loach signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
. He spent one year with the Red Wings' minor league affiliate Adirondack Red Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
, scoring 86 points in 67 games during the 1991–1992 season. In 1992 Loach was claimed in the Expansion Draft by the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
The 1992–1993 season saw Loach finally make his NHL debut. He appeared in 3 games with the Senators early in the season, but was eventually released. Loach was quickly picked up by the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
however, and he earned a spot on the Kings roster. He played in 50 games, scoring 23 points. Following the season Loach was again claimed in the Expansion Draft, this time by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. He was unable to crack the Mighty Ducks roster for the 1993–1994 season, spending the majority of the year with the San Diego Gulls while appearing in 3 games with the Mighty Ducks. This would be the last time Loach would play in the NHL.
Loach spent the next 5 years in the IHL. His most successful season during this time was during the 1995–1996 season when he scored 86 points with the Detroit Vipers
Detroit Vipers
The Detroit Vipers was an International Hockey League team. The team was founded in 1994, and played at The Palace of Auburn Hills.-Beginning:...
. Loach would also make stops with the San Antonio Dragons
San Antonio Dragons
The San Antonio Dragons were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League for two seasons in 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Dragons were based in San Antonio, Texas and played at the Freeman Coliseum and occasionally the Alamodome....
, Long Beach Ice Dogs, and Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
.
Loach then played from the 1999–2000 season until the 2002–2003 season with the Missouri River Otters
Missouri River Otters
The now defunct Missouri River Otters was a minor pro team in the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2006. They were located in St. Charles, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Mike Shanahan Jr. was the owner and president when the team ceased operations. Frank Buonomo served as General Manager. They...
of the UHL
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
. Over 4 seasons he scored 310 points in 238 games with the River Otters. During the 2002–2003 season Loach also made an appearance with the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
minor league affiliate Manchester Monarchs
Manchester Monarchs
The Manchester Monarchs are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League . They play in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Verizon Wireless Arena. They have been the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings since 2001.-History:...
, playing 3 games. Loach retired from hockey following the 2002–2003 season. For the 2003–2004 season Loach was hired as the head coach of the River Otters and coached the team for the majority of the year, but was replaced after 70 games and a dismal 16–47–7 record.
Loach came out of retirement for the 2005–2006 season with the River Otters, skating in 21 games with the team before retiring again in 2006. He had his #33 retired by the River Otters, the only player to have his number retired by the team.
Awards
- 1986: OHLOntario Hockey LeagueThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Rookie of the Year - 1991: IHL Second All-Star Team
- 1991: Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy (leading scorer in IHL)
Community involvement
For several years during the mid 90's Lonnie Loach had helped hundreds and hundreds of children across Northern Ontario by running his own hockey school for kids. He started this while playing for the Detroit Red Wings and brought along with him former teammate Keith Primeau.Lonnie's hockey school was a huge success amongst the Northern Ontario crowd. It ran for three years and even spawned one professional NHL hockey player, Fellow Hockey Heritage North Alumni, "The Zack Morris" of KLCVI. Kurtis McLean
Kurtis McLean
Kurtis McLean , is a professional Canadian ice hockey centre who plays for SM-liiga club Lukko.-Playing career:...
.
Lonnie has also helped raise money for local charities in Northern Ontario by lending his services to charity hockey tournaments in Northern Ontario. One in particular is the Canadian Tire Rino Robazza Memorial Hockey tournament.
Career statistics
--- Regular season --- ---- Playoffs ----
Season Team Lge GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1985-86 Guelph Platers OHL 65 41 42 83 63 20 7 8 15 16
1986-87 Guelph Platers OHL 56 31 24 55 42 5 2 1 3 2
1987-88 Guelph Platers OHL 66 43 49 92 75 -- -- -- -- --
1988-89 Saginaw Hawks IHL 32 7 6 13 27 -- -- -- -- --
1988-89 Flint Spirits IHL 41 22 26 48 30 -- -- -- -- --
1989-90 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 54 15 33 48 40 5 4 2 6 15
1989-90 Indianapolis Ice IHL 3 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --
1989-90 Canadian National Team Intl 9 3 1 4 2 -- -- -- -- --
1990-91 Fort Wayne Komets IHL 81 55 76 131 45 19 5 11 16 13
1991-92 Adirondack Red Wings AHL 67 37 49 86 69 19 13 4 17 10
1992-93 Los Angeles Kings NHL 50 10 13 23 27 1 0 0 0 0
1992-93 Ottawa Senators NHL 3 0 0 0 0 -- -- -- -- --
1992-93 Phoenix Roadrunners IHL 4 2 3 5 10 -- -- -- -- --
1993-94 San Diego Gulls IHL 74 42 49 91 65 9 4 10 14 6
1993-94 Mighty Ducks of Anaheim NHL 3 0 0 0 2 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 San Diego Gulls IHL 13 3 10 13 21 -- -- -- -- --
1994-95 Detroit Vipers IHL 64 32 43 75 45 3 2 1 3 2
1995-96 Detroit Vipers IHL 79 35 51 86 75 11 1 5 6 8
1996-97 San Antonio Dragons IHL 70 24 37 61 45 9 1 3 4 10
1997-98 San Antonio Dragons IHL 52 7 29 36 22 -- -- -- -- --
1998-99 Kansas City Blades IHL 22 9 5 14 6 3 1 0 1 0
1998-99 Long Beach Ice Dogs IHL 30 12 9 21 18 -- -- -- -- --
1999-00 Chicago Wolves IHL 1 0 0 0 0 8 0 3 3 0
1999-00 Missouri River Otters UHL 58 29 56 85 20 3 3 2 5 2
2000-01 Chicago Wolves IHL -- -- -- -- -- 2 0 0 0 0
2000-01 Missouri River Otters UHL 56 27 37 64 29 4 2 6 8 2
2001-02 Missouri River Otters UHL 56 35 49 84 26 4 3 2 5 2
2002-03 Missouri River Otters UHL 68 29 48 77 48 3 0 1 1 0
2002-03 Manchester Monarchs AHL 3 0 1 1 0 -- -- -- -- --
2005-06 Missouri River Otters UHL 21 4 7 11 12 -- -- -- -- --
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NHL totals 56 10 13 23 29 1 0 0 0 0
International
| Year | Team | Comp | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989–90 | Canada | Nat. Team | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
Coaching statistics
Season Team Lge Type GP W L T OTL Pct
2003-04 Missouri River Otters UHL Head Coach 70 16 47 0 7 0.279