City Odessa, Texas Home arena Ector County Coliseum Ray Miron President's Cup None Founded 1997 | Operated 1997–2011 Conference Championships 1 (2001–02) Arena Ector County Coliseum Regular season titles 1 (2001–2002) | |
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Division Championships 3 (2001–02, 2002–03, 2005–06) Location Odessa, Texas, United States Affiliates New York Islanders (National Hockey League), Bridgeport Sound Tigers (American Hockey League) | ||
The Odessa Jackalopes were a minor professional ice hockey team based in Odessa, Texas. The team played in the Central Hockey League (CHL), and was an affiliate of the New York Islanders. The Jackalopes played their home games at Ector County Coliseum.
Contents
All Jackalopes games were broadcast live on KMCM from the franchise's inaugural year until the 2009–10 season when KFZX took over the broadcasting rights to the live games and the Monday talk show called Hockey Talk.
History
In October 1997, Odessa joined the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL). In their first season the home games drew an average of 4,000 spectators. Over the next couple of seasons that number leveled off, and the team now averages just over 3,200 hockey fans each game. The team mascot, a jackalope, quickly became one of the most popular in hockey's minor leagues, and team merchandise featuring the snarling, antlered rabbit, has sold well throughout the United States and Canada.
Leagues
The Jackalopes continued playing in the WPHL until 2001 when the league merged with the Central Hockey League. Since the 2001–02 season the Jackalopes have played in the CHL.
On March 23, 2011, the ownership group confirmed that they would be leaving the CHL and joining the North American Hockey League (NAHL), by purchasing an existing NAHL franchise and moving it to Odessa and adopting the same name.
Captains
Captain - Sebastian Thinel
Alternate - Philippe Plante
Alternate - Mike Ramsay
Note: Thinel named as Captain replacing injured David van Drunen & Ramsay named Alternate.