San Antonio Dragons

Ice hockey team in San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio Dragons

City| San Antonio, Texas
League| IHL
Conference| Western
Division| Midwest
Founded| 1982
Operated| 1996–1998
Home arena| Freeman Coliseum
Colors| Black, white, silver, and green

Franchise history
1982–1984| Peoria Prancers
1984–1996| Peoria Rivermen
1996–1998| San Antonio Dragons

The San Antonio Dragons were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League (IHL) 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.

The franchise was previously known as the Peoria Rivermen. The team was co-owned by Bruce Saurs, who owned the Rivermen franchise and had been planning on folding the IHL franchise due to financial losses, and Don Levin, the co-owner of the Chicago Wolves, and relocated the franchise to San Antonio even though Freeman Coliseum was already home to a Central Hockey League (CHL) team, the San Antonio Iguanas.[1] The team then hired the Iguanas' former general manager Jim Goodman as general manager and the Iguanas' head coach John Torchetti as an assistant coach.[2]

For the first month of the 1996–97 season, the Dragons wore temporary white with green trim and logo (home) and black with green and white trim and logo (road) jerseys because the new jerseys had not come in yet.[citation needed] The Dragons won the division championship in their first season in San Antonio.

Although the Iguanas were established, the Dragons drew more fans than the Iguanas and also captured a larger share of the corporate support of San Antonio, leading to the Iguanas losing their lease for the 1997–98 season. Following an overhaul of the front office and the loss of Torchetti, the Dragons floundered in their second season by finishing in last place in the league. At the end of the season, ownership relinquished its lease at the coliseum following losses of about $7 million over the two seasons. The lease was then given back to the Iguanas who returned to the CHL for the 1998–99 season.[3]

## Notable players

[edit]

* Dave Archibald
* Len Barrie
* Mike Craig
* Davis Payne
* Grigorijs Pantelejevs
* Daniel Shank
* Joe Kocur
* Louie DeBrusk
* Bruce Racine

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "IHL's Peoria to move to San Antonio". United Press International. August 8, 1996.
2. ^ "San Antonio Gets IHL Team Rivermen Challenge Iguanas". The Oklahoman. July 4, 1996.
3. ^ "San Antonio Gets New Lease on Life in CHL". The Oklahoman. August 19, 1998.

* v
* t
* e

International Hockey League (1945–2001)

Teams|

* Akron Americans
* Albany Choppers
* Atlanta Knights
* Chatham Maroons
* Chicago Wolves
* Cincinnati Cyclones
* Cincinnati Mohawks
* Cleveland Lumberjacks
* Colorado Rangers
* Columbus Checkers
* Columbus Golden Seals
* Columbus Owls
* Dayton Gems
* Dayton Owls
* Denver Grizzlies
* Denver Mavericks
* Denver Rangers
* Des Moines Capitols
* Des Moines Oak Leafs
* Detroit Auto Club
* Detroit Bright's Goodyears
* Detroit Hettche
* Detroit Jerry Lynch
* Detroit Metal Mouldings
* Detroit Vipers
* Flint Generals
* Flint Spirits
* Fort Wayne Komets
* Grand Rapids Griffins
* Grand Rapids Owls
* Grand Rapids Rockets
* Houston Aeros
* Huntington Hornets
* Indianapolis Checkers
* Indianapolis Chiefs
* Indianapolis Ice
* Johnstown Jets
* Kalamazoo Wings
* Kansas City Blades
* Lansing Lancers
* Las Vegas Thunder
* Long Beach Ice Dogs
* Los Angeles Ice Dogs
* Louisville Blades
* Louisville Rebels
* Louisville Shooting Stars
* Manitoba Moose
* Marion Barons
* Michigan K-Wings
* Milwaukee Admirals
* Milwaukee Chiefs
* Milwaukee Clarks
* Milwaukee Falcons
* Minneapolis Millers
* Minnesota Moose
* Muncie Flyers
* Muskegon Lumberjacks
* Muskegon Mohawks
* Muskegon Zephyrs
* Omaha Knights
* Orlando Solar Bears
* Peoria Prancers
* Peoria Rivermen
* Phoenix Roadrunners
* Port Huron Flags
* Port Huron Wings
* Quebec Rafales
* Russian Penguins
* Saginaw Gears
* Saginaw Generals
* Saginaw Hawks
* Salt Lake Golden Eagles
* San Antonio Dragons
* San Diego Gulls
* San Francisco Spiders
* Sarnia Sailors
* St. Paul Saints
* Toledo Blades
* Toledo Goaldiggers
* Toledo Hornets
* Toledo Mercurys
* Toledo-Marion Mercurys
* Toledo-St. Louis Mercurys
* Troy Bruins
* Utah Grizzlies
* Windsor Bulldogs
* Windsor Gotfredsons
* Windsor Hettche Spitfires
* Windsor Ryan Cretes
* Windsor Spitfires
* Windsor Staffords

Trophies and
awards|

* Turner Cup
* Fred A. Huber Trophy
* Commissioner's Trophy
* Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy
* James Gatschene Memorial Trophy
* Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy
* Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy
* Ken McKenzie Trophy
* Governor's Trophy
* James Norris Memorial Trophy
* John Cullen Award
* Ironman Award
* IHL Man of the Year

This American ice hockey team-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

This article about a sports team in Texas is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

|

* v
* t
* e

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template