Coulee Region Chill (NA3HL)

The Coulee Region Chill was a Tier III junior ice hockey team that played at the Green Island Ice Arena in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The team played in the North American 3 Hockey League. The franchise was previously known as the Flint Jr. Generals based in Flint, Michigan, and the La Crosse Freeze. Due to the loss of the Chill's home arena, the team ceased operations and the franchise was sold to the Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers organization in 2020.

Coulee Region Chill
CityLa Crosse, Wisconsin
LeagueNA3HL
DivisionCentral
Founded1998
Home arenaGreen Island Ice Arena
ColorsBlack, ice blue, white
     
Owner(s)Michelle Bryant[1]
General managerDon Babineau[2]
Head coachDon Babineau
Franchise history
1998–2014Flint Jr. Generals
2014–2018La Crosse Freeze
2018–2020Coulee Region Chill
2020–2021Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers
2021–2022Oklahoma City Ice Hawks
2022–presentNew Mexico Ice Wolves

History

Flint Junior Generals

In 1998, Gale and Kelly Cronk, a father and son, purchased the team placing it in the Flint area. The team played at the Iceland Arena in Clayton Township.[3]

Despite on-ice success and their age, the Jr. Generals attendance dwindled, causing long-time owners Kelly and Gale Cronk to pursue selling the team. In 2013, the Cronks declined to sell to a buyer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as they wanted the team to stay in Michigan and handed over operations to Fairland Management, managing company of the Michigan Warriors and Perani Arena. That season, the Generals were the NA3HL playoffs runner-up and won the East Division. With no Michigan-based interest, the Cronks sold the franchise to the owners of the Coulee Region Chill of the North American Hockey League.[3]

La Crosse Freeze/Coulee Region Chill

With the league's approval of the sale to Michelle Bryant on May 6, 2014, the Flint Junior Generals became the La Crosse Freeze and relocated to the Green Island Ice Arena in La Crosse, Wisconsin.[3] In 2018, Bryant sold her Tier II North American Hockey League team, the Coulee Region Chill and it was relocated to become the Chippewa Steel. Bryant then renamed the Freeze to the Coulee Region Chill.[4] In early April 2020, Bryant announced the team would not play during the 2020–21 season due to the city's decision to no longer operate Green Island Ice Arena.[5]

On May 19, 2020, the NA3HL announced the purchase and relocation of the Chill to become the Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers.[6]

Season records
SeasonGPWLOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMRegular Season FinishPlayoffs
Flint Jr. Generals
2006–07453114006218012911321st of 7, East
3rd of 14, CSHL		Won Hurster Cup Qualifier series, 2–0 vs. Michigan Ice Dogs
1–2–0 in Hurster Cup Round Robin
(W, 4–2 vs. Cherokee; L, 0–4 vs. Thunderbirds; L, 2–4 vs. Jr. Blues)
2007–08483414006820913311232nd of 13, CSHL1–2–0 in Hurster Cup Round Robin
(W, 3–2 vs. Steam; OTL, 2–3 vs. Mustangs; L, 2–8 vs. Cherokee)
2008–09451727103517722813599th of 12, CSHLDid not qualify
2009–10481631103318823512649th of 13, CSHLDid not qualify
2010–11452121124517518010349th of 12, NA3HLDid not qualify
2011–12483510307320712715261st of 4, East
1st of 16, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Pittsburgh Jr. Penguins
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks
1–2–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin
(W, 2–1 vs. Cherokee; L, 3–4 vs. Jr. Blues; L, 2–3 vs. Lumberjacks)
2012–13482717225816814114263rd of 6, East
7th of 17, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 3–0 vs. Three Rivers Vengeance
0–2–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin
(L, 0–5 vs. Bulls; L, 2–5 vs. Lumberjacks)
2013–14484242—862168010801st of 6, East
2nd of 21, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Metro Jets
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Cleveland Jr. Lumberjacks
2–1–0 in Silver Cup Round Robin
(W, 3–1 vs. Jr. Blues; W, 5–2 vs. Jr. Stars; L, 3–7 vs. Bulls)
Lost Championship game, 0–3 vs. North Iowa Bulls
La Crosse Freeze
2014–154728145—611601559133rd of 6, Central
11th of 31, NA3HL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Wisconsin Whalers
2015–164732150—6420012511612nd of 5, Central
13th of 34, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Wisconsin Whalers
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
2016–174723222—4819916910792nd of 5, Central
27th of 48, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Wisconsin Whalers
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls
2017–1847341210692401248472nd of 5, Central
10th of 42, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Wisconsin Whalers
Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. North Iowa Bulls
2–1–0 in Fraser Cup round-robin Pool B
(L, 1–4 vs. Jets; OTW, 3–2 vs. Brahmas; OTW, 4–3 vs. Stars)
Lost Fraser Cup Semifinal game, 0–5 vs. St. Louis Jr. Blues
2018–19473691174340987451st of 7, Central
7th of 36, NA3HL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Peoria Mustangs
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. St. Louis Jr. Blues
2019–2047291800581921596403rd of 6, Central
13th of 34, NA3HL		Playoffs cancelled

References
  1. Brown, Jeff (May 5, 2014). "JUNIOR POWER PLAY, Chill owners add another franchise; move it to La Crosse". La Crosse Tribune. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. "Chill name Babineau as team's new Head Coach". NA3HL. May 23, 2019.
  3. McMann, Aaron (May 9, 2014). "Flint Junior Generals hockey team sold, moving to La Crosse, Wis". The Flint Journal. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  4. "Coulee Region Chill sold and relocated to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin". North American Hockey League. April 30, 2018. Archived from the original on 2018-05-01.
  5. Kosirowski, Ken (April 6, 2020). "Coulee Region Chill won't play in 2020-21 NA3HL season". WKBT. Archived from the original on 2020-04-09.
  6. "NA3HL announces new team in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma". North American 3 Hockey League. May 19, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-05-24.
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