Know An AHL Team: St. John’s IceCaps

There are 30 AHL member clubs, affiliated with 30 NHL teams.  Here we take a look, a snapshot if you will, at those cities and teams that makeup the American Hockey League.  Let’s take a look at the St. John’s IceCaps.

Since 2011, the city of St. John’s has been home to the top affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets.  In that time the IceCaps have a franchise record of 43-25-0-5-3.  Their inaugural season was quite the impressive one, reaching the Eastern Conference Final.  Before moving to St. John’s, the franchise was based in Manitoba and known as the Moose.  Additionally, the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers, had previously housed their top prospects in Chicago.

Their predecessors the St. John’s Maple Leafs, called the Province home from 1991-2005.  Those Leafs made the playoffs eleven times, including one Calder Cup Final appearance in their inaugural campaign.

Name: St. John’s IceCaps

NHL Parent Club: Winnipeg Jets

Conference/Division: Eastern/Atlantic

2011-12 Record: 43-25-5-3 (94 points), first place in Atlantic Division.  Defeated Syracuse in first round, defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in second round, lost to Norfolk in Eastern Conference Final.

Coach: Keith McCambridge

Notable Alumni: David Aebischer, Patrice Cormier, Brett Festerling, Mark Flood, Aaron Gagnon, Jason Jaffray, Jason King, Carl Klingberg, Arturs Kulda, Spencer Machacek, Ben Maxwell, Kenndal McArdle, Paul Postma.

Calder Cup(s): 0

Arena: Mile One Centre.  Capacity, 6,287

Mascot: Buddy the Puffin

Team colors: Polar Night Blue, White, Aviator Blue and Silver

Top Rival: Worcester Sharks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaZT37A1CLk