Texas Wildcatters
Encyclopedia
The Texas Wildcatters, who took their name from Texas wildcatters
, were an ECHL
team based in Beaumont, Texas
. They played their home games at the Ford Arena
. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers
in 2004–2005. The team played in Huntington, West Virginia
and were known as the Huntington Blizzard from 1993–2000. The Wildcatters began play in 2003.
The Wildcatters ceased their existence in Beaumont with a 4–1 loss to the Columbia Inferno on April 25, 2008 at Ford Arena.
Commissioners announced that the team would not be allowed to use Ford Arena for the 2005–2006 season because the site was being used for Hurricane Rita
relief. The team was forced to cancel the season, but resumed gameplay in 2006–2007. During the 2007-2008 season they were affiliated with the Minnesota Wild
of the NHL
and the AHL
's Houston Aeros
. After the 2007-2008 season, they ceased operations and moved to Ontario, California, where they play as the Ontario Reign
and are affiliated with the Los Angeles Kings
.
According to a Beaumont TV report there was a local group attempting to secure a Central Hockey League
franchise for Beaumont starting in the 2008–2009 season . After the Austin Ice Bats
ceased operations in Austin, there was an attempt to move that franchise to Ford Arena for 2008-9. However, there was insufficient time to do this before the CHL needed a commitment to play. The depressed economy of the Golden Triangle
makes a relocation to Beaumont unlikely in the near future.
Texas Wildcatters
The Texas Wildcatters, who took their name from Texas wildcatters, were an ECHL team based in Beaumont, Texas. They played their home games at the Ford Arena. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers in 2004–2005. The team played in Huntington, West Virginia and were known as the Huntington...
, were an ECHL
ECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
team based in Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont is a city in and county seat of Jefferson County, Texas, United States, within the Beaumont–Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's population was 118,296 at the 2010 census. With Port Arthur and Orange, it forms the Golden Triangle, a major industrial area on the...
. They played their home games at the Ford Arena
Ford Arena (Beaumont)
The Ford Arena is a 9,737-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas, USA. It is part of a larger suburban municipal complex called Ford Park. Ford Arena is formerly home to the Beaumont Drillers, an indoor football team and an ice hockey team, the Texas Wildcatters...
. They were the affiliate of the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
in 2004–2005. The team played in Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington, West Virginia
Huntington is a city in Cabell and Wayne counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at...
and were known as the Huntington Blizzard from 1993–2000. The Wildcatters began play in 2003.
The Wildcatters ceased their existence in Beaumont with a 4–1 loss to the Columbia Inferno on April 25, 2008 at Ford Arena.
History
On October 7, 2005, the Jefferson County, TexasJefferson County, Texas
Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas, United States. As of 2000, the population was 252,051. Its county seat is Beaumont, and it is named for the former U.S...
Commissioners announced that the team would not be allowed to use Ford Arena for the 2005–2006 season because the site was being used for Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
relief. The team was forced to cancel the season, but resumed gameplay in 2006–2007. During the 2007-2008 season they were affiliated with the Minnesota Wild
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
of 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...
and the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
's Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros
The Houston Aeros are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team plays in Houston, Texas, at the Toyota Center. They are the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild.- History :...
. After the 2007-2008 season, they ceased operations and moved to Ontario, California, where they play as the Ontario Reign
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
and are affiliated 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...
.
According to a Beaumont TV report there was a local group attempting to secure a 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....
franchise for Beaumont starting in the 2008–2009 season . After the Austin Ice Bats
Austin Ice Bats
The Austin Ice Bats were a professional minor-league ice hockey team based in Austin, Texas, United States. They played in Austin from 1996 to 2008. Affiliated with the Central Hockey League, the team was named in honor of the Mexican Free-tailed Bats which nest under the Ann W. Richards Congress...
ceased operations in Austin, there was an attempt to move that franchise to Ford Arena for 2008-9. However, there was insufficient time to do this before the CHL needed a commitment to play. The depressed economy of the Golden Triangle
Golden Triangle (Texas)
The Golden Triangle is an area of Southeast Texas between the cities of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange. The "golden" refers to the wealth that came from the Spindletop oil strike in Beaumont in 1901...
makes a relocation to Beaumont unlikely in the near future.
Regular season
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Standing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | 72 | 22 | 44 | 6 | — | — | 50 | 196 | 287 | 7th, Central | |
| 2004–05 | 72 | 17 | 44 | 11 | — | — | 45 | 178 | 260 | 6th, South | |
| 2005–06 | Involuntary Suspension of Season (Hurricane Rita) | ||||||||||
| 2006–07 | 72 | 41 | 22 | — | 5 | 4 | 91 | 265 | 222 | 2nd, South | |
| 2007–08 | 72 | 52 | 9 | — | 4 | 7 | 115 | 266 | 177 | 1st, South | |
Playoffs
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003–04 | Out of playoffs. | ||||
| 2004–05 | Out of playoffs. | ||||
| 2005–06 | Involuntary suspension of season. | ||||
| 2006–07 | — | W, 3–2, GWT Gwinnett Gladiators The Gwinnett Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Gladiators play their home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.... |
L, 2–4, FLA Florida Everblades The Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998... |
— | |
| 2007–08 | W, 3–1, MIS Mississippi Sea Wolves The Mississippi Sea Wolves were a professional hockey team based in Biloxi, Mississippi and playing in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Sea Wolves were members of the ECHL.... |
L, 2–3, CBA Columbia Inferno The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the... |
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