Louisiana IceGators (ECHL)
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| Louisiana IceGators | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Lafayette, Louisiana |
| League | ECHL |
| Operated | 1995–2005 |
| Home arena | Cajundome |
| Colors | green, black, white |
| Championships | |
| Regular season titles | 2 (1997–98, 2001–02) |
| Division titles | 8 (1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04) |
| Conference titles | 2 (1996–97, 1999–2000) |
| Kelly Cups | None |
The Louisiana IceGators were an ECHL team based in Lafayette, Louisiana, from 1995 until the end of the 2004–05 season.[1][2] The team played its home games at the Cajundome and were last an affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Houston Aeros.[1]
The team holds the top four regular-season average attendance numbers in ECHL history: 11,433 in 1996-97, 11,196 in 1997-98, 9,857 in 1998-99 and 9,776 in 1995-96.[2] The IceGators also hosted the eighth-largest and nine of the 10 largest postseason crowds in ECHL history, including four capacity crowds of 11,800 in 1997.[2] The team won division titles in eight of its ten seasons.
The team never won an ECHL championship, and toward the end of its existence attendance dropped. The 2004–05 season was plagued with team financial issues; drops in attendance led the Cajundome to no longer allow seating in the 300 level seats. The final game only had an attendance of only 4,228. In January 2006, Cajundome officials announced that no investors had responded to a request for proposals that would have returned a hockey team to the dome for the 2006–07 season.
Season-by-season records
| Season | Division | GP | W | L | T | OTL | SOL | PTS | PCT | GF | GA | PIM | Coach | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–96 | South | 70 | 43 | 21 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 92 | 0.657 | 312 | 261 | 2930 | Doug Shedden | Lost in Round 1 |
| 1996–97 | South | 70 | 38 | 28 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 0.571 | 292 | 244 | 3099 | Doug Shedden | Lost in Finals |
| 1997–98 | Southwest | 70 | 43 | 17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 0.686 | 298 | 232 | 2726 | Doug Shedden | Lost in Round 3 |
| 1998–99 | Southwest | 70 | 46 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 0.700 | 297 | 205 | 2425 | Doug Shedden | Lost in Round 2 |
| 1999–00 | Southwest | 70 | 43 | 18 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 95 | 0.679 | 281 | 241 | 2177 | Don Murdoch | Lost in Finals |
| 2000–01 | Southwest | 72 | 42 | 24 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 90 | 0.625 | 237 | 209 | 1989 | Dave Farrish | Lost in Round 4 |
| 2001–02 | Southwest | 72 | 56 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 116 | 0.806 | 261 | 156 | 1683 | Dave Farrish | Lost in Round 2 |
| 2002–03 | Southwest | 72 | 40 | 20 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 92 | 0.639 | 249 | 210 | 2292 | Dave Farrish | Lost in Round 2 |
| 2003–04 | Central | 72 | 48 | 22 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 0.681 | 235 | 167 | 1629 | Dave Farrish | Lost in Round 2 |
| 2004–05 | South | 72 | 26 | 40 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 0.403 | 192 | 266 | 1549 | Todd Gordon | Did not qualify |
Playoffs results
- 1995–96: Lost to Jacksonville 3-2 in first round.
- 1996–97: Defeated Mobile 3-0 in first round; defeated Birmingham 3-2 in quarterfinals; defeated Peoria 3-1 in semifinals; lost to South Carolina 4-1 in finals.
- 1997–98: Defeated Mobile 3-0 in first round; defeated Pee Dee 3-0 in quarterfinals; lost to Pensacola 4-2 in semifinals.
- 1998–99: Lost to New Orleans 3-2 in first round.
- 1999–00: Defeated Mississippi 3-1 in first round; defeated South Carolina 3-0 in quarterfinals; defeated Greenville 4-2 in semifinals; lost to Peoria 4-2 in finals.
- 2000–01: Defeated New Orleans 3-2 in first round; defeated Pee Dee 3-2 in quarterfinals; lost to South Carolina 4-0 in semifinals.
- 2001–02: Lost to Jackson 3-2 in first round.
- 2002–03: Defeated Arkansas 3-0 in first round; lost to Mississippi 3-0 in quarterfinals.
- 2003–04: Defeated Pensacola 3-2 in first round; lost to Gwinnett 3-1 in quarterfinals.
- 2004–05: Did not qualify.