Amarillo Bulls

The Amarillo Bulls were a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Amarillo, Texas. They were a member of the North American Hockey League's South Division and played home games in the Amarillo Civic Center.[2]

Amarillo Bulls
CityAmarillo, Texas
LeagueNorth American Hockey League
Founded2008
Home arenaAmarillo Civic Center
ColorsScarlet red, navy blue, and gold
     
Owner(s)F&S Management Company LLC (Alberto Fernandez, majority owner)
Head coachRocky Russo[1]
Franchise history
2008–2010Albert Lea Thunder
2010–2021Amarillo Bulls
2021–presentNorth Iowa Bulls
Championships
Robertson Cups1 (2013)

History

The franchise joined the NAHL as the Albert Lea Thunder, located in Albert Lea, Minnesota, in 2008. During the second season, issues with ownership forced the league to step in to keep the team playing.[3] On May 11, 2010, it was reported that the team had found new owners and would relocate to Texas for the 2010–11 season.[4] Their franchise and roster were officially sold to the Amarillo ownership on May 26, 2010. On June 18, the team announced the new name, logo and colors of the team after a name-the-team contest.[5]

The Amarillo Bulls announced their inaugural coach as Denis Williams, former NCAA Division I coach at Bowling Green.[6] On May 13, 2013, the Bulls captured their first Robertson Cup Championship defeating the Wenatchee Wild 5–0 in the championship game. Following the 2013–14 season, coach Williams was named as the head coach of the expansion Bloomington Thunder of the United States Hockey League, a Tier I team and a recent addition to the Consolidated Sports Holdings portfolio.

In 2019, the team was sold to F&S Management Company LLC led by majority owner Alberto Fernandez.[7] On March 5, 2021, it was announced that the team would relocate to Mason City, Iowa, starting in the 2021–22 season[8] as the North Iowa Bulls, an organization that had been operating in the North American 3 Hockey League and also owned by Fernandez.[9][10]

The Bulls were replaced in Amarillo by the Amarillo Wranglers in the 2021–22 season.[11]

Season-by-season records
SeasonGPWLOTLPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
2010–115836166782091711,6372nd of 6, SouthLost Robertson Cup Semifinal
2011–12604677992631361,5501st of 7, SouthLost Robertson Cup Semifinal
2012–13604677992481181,2681st of 6, SouthRobertson Cup Champions
2013–146040156862071201,3951st of 7, SouthLost in Division Finals
2014–156025314541742221,4937th of 8, SouthDid not qualify
2015–166013434301332181,2116th of 6, SouthDid not qualify
2016–1760222810541732069176th of 7, SouthDid not qualify
2017–1860232611571661931,3335th of 6, SouthDid not qualify
2018–19604686982631361,3321st of 6, SouthLost Robertson Cup Semifinals
2019–205439105831851015972nd of 7, SouthSeason cancelled
2020–215629189671591661,0034th of 6, South
7th of 23, NAHL		Lost Division Semifinals

Playoffs
  • 2011
Division Semifinals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Texas Tornado, 3-games-to-1
Division Finals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Topeka RoadRunners, 3-games-to-2
Robertson Cup Round Robin – Amarillo Bulls (2–1) - Qualify for Semifinal Game (W, 5–2 vs. Warriors; W, 5-3 vs. RoadRunners; L, 1–2 vs. Ice Dogs)
Robertson Cup Semifinal Game – Michigan Warriors defeated Amarillo Bulls, 6–2
  • 2012
Division Semifinals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Odessa Jackalopes, 3-games-to-1
Division Finals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Topeka RoadRunners, 3-games-to-1
Robertson Cup Round Robin – Amarillo Bulls (1–2) - Qualify for Semifinal (OTW, 3–2 vs. Tornado; L, 1-3 vs. Ice Dogs; L, 2-6 vs. Bobcats)
Robertson Cup Semifinal Game – St. Louis Bandits defeated Amarillo Bulls, 3–2
  • 2013
Division Semifinals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Corpus Christi IceRays, 3-games-to-1
Division Finals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Texas Tornado, 3-games-to-0
Robertson Cup Round Robin – Amarillo Bulls (2–1) - Qualify for Championship Game (OTW, 2–1 vs. Ironmmen; OTW, 2–1 vs. Bobcats; L, 0-7 vs. Wild)
Robertson Cup Final – Amarillo Bulls defeated Wenatchee Wild, 5-0
Robertson Cup Champions
  • 2014
Division Semifinals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Wichita Falls Wildcats, 3-games-to-0
Division Finals – Topeka RoadRunners defeated Amarillo Bulls, 3-games-to-2
  • 2019
Division Semifinals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Corpus Christi IceRays, 3-games-to-2
Division Finals – Amarillo Bulls defeated Shreveport Mudbugs, 3-games-to-2
Robertson Cup Semifinals – Aberdeen Wings' defeated Amarillo Bulls, 2-games-to-1
  • 2021
Division Semifinals – Shreveport Mudbugs defeated Amarillo Bulls, 3-games-to-1

References
  1. "ROCKY RUSSO NAMED 4TH BULLS HEAD COACH IN FRANCHISE HISTORY". Amarillo Bulls. June 16, 2017.
  2. "NAHL approves Amarillo, Texas membership". NAHL. May 20, 2010.
  3. "NAHL finds Thunder guilty of pay-to-play". Albert Lea Tribune. November 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 31, 2009.
  4. "Albert Lea, Mason City Lose NAHL Teams". KIMT. May 11, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011.
  5. "Bulls stampede into Amarillo". NAHL. June 18, 2010.
  6. "Williams named head coach in Amarillo". NAHL. June 16, 2010.
  7. "Amarillo Bulls announce new ownership ahead of 10th anniversary season". KFDA-TV. September 27, 2019.
  8. "A LETTER TO AMARILLO BULLS FANS". Amarillo Bulls. March 5, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  9. "NAHL announces relocation of Amarillo Bulls to Mason City, Iowa". NAHL. March 5, 2021.
  10. "NORTH IOWA BULLS ANNOUNCE MOVE TO NAHL". North Iowa Bulls. March 5, 2021.
  11. "Kansas City Scouts sold and relocated to Amarillo, Texas". NHL. May 21, 2021.
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