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{{about|the former [[Central Hockey League|CHL]] and [[ECHL]] franchise|the former [[All American Hockey League (2008–2011)|All American Hockey League]] franchise|Evansville IceMen (2008–2010)}}
{{Infobox Pro hockey team
| current =
| text_color = black
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#6495ED 5px solid; border-bottom:#003153 5px solid;
| team = Evansville IceMen
| logo = EvansvilleIceMenCHL.PNG
| logosize = 180px
| city = [[Evansville, Indiana]]
| league = [[ECHL]]
| conference = Western
| division = Midwest
| founded = {{Start date|1992}} (In the [[United Hockey League|CoHL]])
| operated =2010–2016
| arena = [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]]
| colors = black, navy, white<br />{{color box|#000000}} {{color box|#003153}} {{color box|#ffffff}}
| owner = Ron Geary
| coach = [[Al Sims]]
| captain = Jarret Lukin
| media = [[ESPN Radio]]
| affiliates =
| website = {{URL|www.evansvilleicemen.com|Evansville IceMen.com}}

| name1 = [[Muskegon Fury]]
| dates1 = 1992–2008
| name2 = [[Muskegon Lumberjacks (1992–2010)|Muskegon Lumberjacks]]
| dates2 = 2008–2010
| name3 = Evansville IceMen
| dates3 = 2010–2016
| name4 = [[Jacksonville Icemen]]
| dates4 = 2017–present

| reg_season_titles =
| division_titles =
| conf_titles =
| kelly_cups =
}}

The '''Evansville IceMen''' were a minor league [[ice hockey]] team in the [[ECHL]] in [[Evansville, Indiana]]. The franchise was originally a member of the [[United Hockey League]] before it merged into the [[Central Hockey League]] in 2010. The franchise has won four post-season championship titles in the [[United Hockey League|UHL]] in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2005. The franchise played one season at [[Swonder Ice Arena]] before moving to the [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]] beginning in the [[2011–12 ECHL season|2011–12 season]].

The IceMen were formerly known as the [[Muskegon Lumberjacks (1992–2010)|Muskegon Fury]] from 1992 to 2008, and [[Muskegon Lumberjacks (1992–2010)|Muskegon Lumberjacks]] from 2008 to 2010. The IceMen franchise replaced the original [[Evansville IceMen (2008–2010)|Evansville IceMen]] that were a part of the [[All American Hockey League (2008–2011)|All American Hockey League]] before folding in 2010.

The franchise went dormant after the [[2015–16 ECHL season|2015–16 season]] and were replaced at the Ford Center by the [[Evansville Thunderbolts]] in the [[Southern Professional Hockey League]]. The IceMen franchise had ECHL approval to relocate to [[Owensboro, Kentucky]], pending a complete renovation of the [[Owensboro Sportscenter]]. However, the team's ownership was unable to obtain the financing for the renovations and the deal with Owensboro was voided in September 2016. In January 2017, part of the franchise was sold to an ownership group based out of [[Jacksonville, Florida]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Rodriguez|first=Jacob|date=January 24, 2017|title=Reports: Minor league hockey team sold to Jacksonville group|url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/sports/reports-minor-league-hockey-team-sold-to-jacksonville-group/392344699|access-date=January 25, 2017|website=[[WTLV]]|publisher=}}</ref> and approved by the league on February 8.<ref>{{cite web|date=February 8, 2017|title=ECHL Approves IceMen Transfer of Home Territory to Jacksonville|url=http://www.echl.com/echl-approves-icemen-to-jacksonville|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310031800/http://www.echl.com/echl-approves-icemen-to-jacksonville|archive-date=March 10, 2017|access-date=February 8, 2017|website=[[ECHL]]}}</ref> The league announced it would return to play in the 2017–18 season and became the [[Jacksonville Icemen]].<ref name="JvilleIceMen">{{cite web|date=February 8, 2017|title=Meet the Jacksonville Icemen, our new hockey team|url=https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/sports/meet-the-jacksonville-icemen-our-new-hockey-team/77-403573454|access-date=February 8, 2017|website=[[WTLV]]|publisher=}}</ref>

==History==
On February 8, 2010, it was announced that the Muskegon Lumberjacks would move to [[Evansville, Indiana]] as the Evansville IceMen at the conclusion of the 2009–10 [[United Hockey League|International Hockey League]] season, replacing the team with the [[Evansville IceMen (2008–2010)|same name]], and played their home games at [[Swonder Ice Arena]]. The [[United States Hockey League]] would then award an expansion team to Muskegon taking on the name [[Muskegon Lumberjacks]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Rop|first=Ron|date=February 2, 2010|title=It's official Lumberjacks hockey in Muskegon|url=http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/02/its_official_lumberjacks_hocke.html|access-date=February 2, 2010|website=[[Muskegon Chronicle]]}}</ref>

On July 13, 2010, the International Hockey League merged with the [[Central Hockey League]], retaining the name [[Central Hockey League]]. The merger had the [[Bloomington PrairieThunder]], [[Dayton Gems (2009–2012)|Dayton Gems]], Evansville IceMen, [[Fort Wayne Komets]] and [[Quad City Mallards]] IHL franchises move to the Northern Conference of the CHL.

In 2011, the IceMen moved their home games to the new [[Ford Center (Evansville)|Ford Center]] in Evansville, playing in the inaugural event for the arena.

On May 17, 2012, the IceMen were formally were accepted into the ECHL, with membership to begin in the [[2012–13 ECHL season|2012–13]] season.<ref>{{cite web|last=|date=May 17, 2012|title=Expansion Membership Approved for Evansville|url=http://echl.com/expansion-membership-approved-for-evansville--p177538|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222140510/http://echl.com/expansion-membership-approved-for-evansville--p177538|archive-date=February 22, 2014|access-date=May 17, 2012|website=[[ECHL]]}}</ref> On June 15, 2012, the IceMen announced an affiliation with the NHL's [[Columbus Blue Jackets]] and its primary [[American Hockey League|AHL]] affiliate, the [[Springfield Falcons]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lintner|first=Jonathan|date=June 15, 2012|title=IceMen will be affiliated with NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618000721/http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/jun/15/icemen-will-be-affiliated-nhls-columbus-blue-jacke/|url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/jun/15/icemen-will-be-affiliated-nhls-columbus-blue-jacke/|archive-date=June 18, 2012|access-date=15 June 2012|website=[[Evansville Courier & Press]]|publisher=}}</ref> Before the resumption of the new season on August 30, 2012, the [[Peoria Rivermen (AHL)|Peoria Rivermen]] announced that the IceMen would be their ECHL farm club, cutting ties with the [[Alaska Aces (ECHL)|Alaska Aces]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Eminian|first=Dave|date=August 30, 2012|title=Rivermen cut ties with Alaska, sign Evansville as ECHL farm club|newspaper=[[Peoria Journal Star]]|url=http://www.pjstar.com/rivermen/x55384861/Rivermen-cut-ties-with-Alaska-sign-Evansville-as-ECHL-farm-club|url-status=dead|access-date=August 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223211503/http://www.pjstar.com/x55384861/Rivermen-cut-ties-with-Alaska-sign-Evansville-as-ECHL-farm-club|archive-date=February 23, 2014}}</ref>

The IceMen announced on June 5, 2014, that they had hired Dwight Mullins as the new head coach and was joined by former IceMen player Josh Beaulieu as assistant coach. Prior to the [[2014–15 ECHL season|2014–15 season]], the IceMen agreed to a new affiliation contract with the [[Ottawa Senators]] and their AHL affiliate, the [[Binghamton Senators]], after losing their Blue Jackets affiliation. In January 2015, Mullins was replaced by [[Al Sims]] due to a poor start to the season (9-16-4).

On November 16, 2015, team owner Ron Geary wrote a letter to the IceMen fans that the team's operating lease with the Ford Center was ending after the 2015–16 season. Despite attempts to negotiate a lease extension with the city since February 2015, the two parties had not yet come to an agreement on new terms with the upcoming December 1 deadline (later extended to Dec. 15 and then again to January 6 when the 15th deadline was not met).<ref>{{cite web|last=Geary|first=Ron|date=November 16, 2015|title=A Letter To IceMen Fans, From Team Owner Ron Geary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118122831/http://www.evansvilleicemen.com/news-stats/?article_id=49|url=http://www.evansvilleicemen.com/news-stats/?article_id=49|archive-date=November 18, 2015|access-date=November 18, 2015|website=Evansville IceMen|publisher=}}</ref> Evansville had been reported to have been paying the highest rent in the ECHL since moving to the Ford Center in 2011, with as much as $650,000 per season compared to the league median of about $152,000.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 16, 2015|title=Evansville's Hockey Team in Jeopardy|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=5071028|access-date=November 16, 2015|website=OurSports Central|publisher=}}</ref> The City of Evansville and Geary were unable to come to an agreement before the final ECHL deadline and Geary began relocation discussions with the City of [[Owensboro, Kentucky]]. On January 19, it was announced that Geary had agreed to terms with Owensboro and intended to relocate the team to the [[Owensboro Sportscenter]] if the IceMen were forced to leave the Ford Center.<ref>{{cite web|last=Harding|first=Matthew|date=January 19, 2016|title=BREAKING: Evansville IceMen Announce Move|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122234459/http://thesinbin.net/breaking-evansville-icemen-announce-move/|url=http://thesinbin.net/breaking-evansville-icemen-announce-move/|archive-date=January 22, 2016|access-date=January 22, 2016|website=The Sin Bin|publisher=}}</ref> On February 8, 2016, the City of Evansville announced that it had secured an [[Evansville Thunderbolts|expansion team]] in the [[Southern Professional Hockey League]] to play at the Ford Center beginning in the [[2016–17 SPHL season|2016–17 season]], thus displacing the IceMen franchise from Evansville.<ref>{{cite news|date=February 8, 2016|title=Evansville will be home to Southern Professional Hockey League franchise|newspaper=[[Evansville Courier & Press]]|url=http://www.courierpress.com/topstories/Evansville-Mayor-Lloyd-Winnecke-hockey-press-conference-368072581.html|access-date=February 8, 2016}}</ref> Finally, on March 14, the IceMen and the ECHL announced the franchise's relocation to Owensboro has been approved but the franchise would have to go dormant for the [[2016–17 ECHL season|2016–17 season]] to allow time for the necessary renovations on the Owensboro Sportscenter to be completed.<ref>{{cite web|date=March 14, 2016|title=ECHL Approves IceMen Move to Owensboro|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/echl-approves-icemen-move-to-owensboro/n-5111015|access-date=March 14, 2016|website=OurSportsCentral|publisher=}}</ref> However, by September 2016, Geary still had not taken over management of the Sportscenter and the City of Owensboro announced a different management company would take over the Sportscenter on October 1.<ref>{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Shaelie|date=September 12, 2016|title=Owensboro finds backup plan for Sportscenter|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917084144/http://www.wave3.com/story/33076421/owensboro-finds-backup-plan-for-sportscenter|url=http://www.wave3.com/story/33076421/owensboro-finds-backup-plan-for-sportscenter|archive-date=September 17, 2016|access-date=September 17, 2016|website=[[WAVE 3]]|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=August 17, 2016|title=Back Up Plan in Place for Owensboro Sportscenter|url=http://www.tristatehomepage.com/news/local-news/back-up-plan-in-place-for-owensboro-sportscenter|access-date=August 17, 2016|website=Tristate Homepage|publisher=}}</ref> On the September 30 deadline, Geary sent a letter to Mayor Ron Payne stating he would not be purchasing the Sportscenter because of too much cost to convert and refurbish the arena.<ref>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=John T.|date=September 30, 2016|title=IceMen won't play in Owensboro|newspaper=[[Evansville Courier & Press]]|url=http://www.courierpress.com/story/news/2016/09/30/icemen-wont-play-owensboro/91335584/|access-date=September 30, 2016}}</ref>

In January 2017, Geary sold the sold part of the franchise to an ownership group based out of [[Jacksonville, Florida]], and the relocation was approved by the ECHL on February 8, 2017. Geary remained as the primary owner.<ref name = "JvilleIceMen"/>

==Seasons==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[Season (sports)|Season]] !! GP !! W !! L !! OTL !! SOL !! Pts !! GF !! GA !! PIM !! Playoffs
|-
|colspan=20 style="text-align:center; background:#cedff2;"|'''Central Hockey League'''
|-
| [[2010–11 CHL season|2010–11]] || 66 || 21 || 32 || 8 || 5 || 55 || 181 || 242 || 1240 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2011–12 CHL season|2011–12]] || 66 || 40 || 22 || 1 || 3 || 84 || 215 || 192 || 1390 || Lost 1st Round, 0-4 vs. [[Missouri Mavericks]]
|-
|colspan=20 style="text-align:center; background:#cedff2;"|'''ECHL'''
|-
| [[2012–13 ECHL season|2012–13]] || 72 || 25 || 40 || 3 || 4 || 57 || 207 || 272 || 1256 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2013–14 ECHL season|2013–14]] || 72 || 31 || 30 || 4 || 7 || 73 || 226 || 237 || 1059 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2014–15 ECHL season|2014–15]] || 72 || 15 || 48 || 6 || 3 || 39 || 169 || 271 || 1184 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2015–16 ECHL season|2015–16]] || 72 || 29 || 33 || 7 || 3 || 68 || 207 || 242 || 1028 || Did not qualify
|}

==See also==
*[[Sports in Evansville]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==

* [http://www.evansvilleicemen.com/ Evansville IceMen official site]

{{ECHLdefunct}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Evansville Icemen}}
[[Category:Defunct ECHL teams]]
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Indiana]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2016]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 2010]]
[[Category:Sports in Evansville, Indiana]]
[[Category:Columbus Blue Jackets minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Ottawa Senators minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:2010 establishments in Indiana]]
[[Category:2016 disestablishments in Indiana]]

Evansville IceMen - Revision history

WikiDwarfBOT at 09:17, 22 July 2023