Vermilion County Bobcats

The Vermilion County Bobcats were a professional ice hockey team in Danville, Illinois, that began play in the 2021–22 season as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League. They ceased operations effective February 9, 2023.

Vermilion County Bobcats
CityDanville, Illinois
LeagueSouthern Professional Hockey League
Founded2021
Folded2023
Home arenaDavid S. Palmer Arena
ColorsRed, black, sand, white
       
Owner(s)Ellen Tully
Head coachN/A
Websitewww.vcbobcats.com
Franchise history
2021–2023Vermilion County Bobcats

History

Danville has a history of hosting hockey teams going back to the Danville Dashers of the semi-professional Continental Hockey League of the early 1980s, the junior Danville Wings of the United States Hockey League between 1994 and 2004, and another Danville Dashers of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) between 2011 and 2020. The FPHL Dashers elected to not participate in the 2020–21 season due to the ongoing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 9, 2021, the operators of the David S. Palmer Arena held a meeting to determine whether to keep the FPHL Dashers as a tenant or give a contract to a new team.[1] The operators decided to void their contract with the Dashers and go forward with a new team owned by Ellen Tully, a local business owner and hockey photographer,[2] called the Vermilion County Bobcats in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).[3][4][5] The SPHL announced the Bobcats as an expansion franchise on March 10.[6]

The team initially hired Brent Hughes as head coach in June 2021,[7] but by August he still could not travel out of Canada due to border crossing restrictions during the pandemic.[8] They then hired former National Hockey League player Mike Watt as its head coach.[9] The Bobcats had to postpone their opening weekend set of games scheduled for October 15 and 16 at home against the Peoria Rivermen after the ice conditions at Palmer Arena were deemed unsuitable.[10] The Bobcats played their inaugural game on the road in a 3–2 loss to the Quad City Storm on October 23.[11] Head coach Watt left the team on October 28 after a 0–4 start and was replaced by Nick Niedert on November 2 before the team's home opener on November 4.[12][13]

The Bobcats replaced Niedert with David Ayres in April 2022.[14] Ayres made his professional coaching debut at the Ford Center against the Evansville Thunderbolts in a 7–4 loss.

On February 5, 2023, the Bobcats were scheduled to host the Quad City Storm, but no Bobcats players or coaches were in the arena.[15] The Storm were awarded a forfeit win.[16] This was the 77th loss in the Bobcats' 86 total games to date.[15]

The Bobcats officially ceased operations on February 9, 2023.[17]

Vermillion County finished with a 9-70-7 record, the worst record in SPHL history, and one of the worst in the entire history of professional hockey.

References
  1. Mitchell, Michelle (March 8, 2021). "Arena Could End Relationship with Dashers". Vermilion County First. Neuhoff Corp. (Neuhoff Media Danville, LLC).
  2. "About the owner... Ellen Tully". Vermilion County Bobcats. October 16, 2021.
  3. Mitchell, Michelle (March 9, 2021). ""Vermilion County Bobcats" Are New Hockey Team at Palmer Arena". Vermilion County First. Neuhoff Corp. (Neuhoff Media Danville, LLC).
  4. Holman, Marvin (March 9, 2021). "Danville Dashers out, Bobcats take over at Palmer". Commercial-News. Danville, Illinois.
  5. "A Message to Dasher Nation". OurSports Central (Press release). Danville Dashers. March 12, 2021.
  6. "SPHL Expanding to Danville, IL for 2021-2022 Season". OurSports Central (Press release). Southern Professional Hockey League. March 10, 2021.
  7. Harrison, Brad (June 7, 2021). "Hughes Tapped as Bobcats First Head Coach". Field Pass Hockey.
  8. Holman, Marvin (August 12, 2021). "SPHL HOCKEY: Bobcats hire new coach". Commercial-News. Danville, Illinois.
  9. "Mike Watt Named Head Coach of Bobcats for 2021-22 Season". OurSports Central (Press release). Southern Professional Hockey League. August 12, 2021.
  10. "SPHL announces postponement of Bobcats' opening weekend". SPHL (Press release). Southern Professional Hockey League. October 14, 2021.
  11. "Vermilion County Falls To Quad City 3-2 In Inaugural Game". Vermilion County Bobcats. October 25, 2021.
  12. "Bobcats Update Coach Situation". Vermilion County Bobcats. October 28, 2021.
  13. Holman, Marvin (November 4, 2021). "SPHL HOCKEY: Bobcats finally ready for home opener". Commercial-News. Danville, Illinois.
  14. Laskaris, Adam (April 6, 2022). "Ex-Zamboni driver David Ayres that beat the Leafs lands pro hockey coaching gig". Daily Hive.
  15. "Minor league hockey game a forfeit after home team no-shows". ESPN.com. Associated Press. February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  16. "SPHL announces forfeiture". SPHL (Press release). Southern Professional Hockey League. Retrieved February 6, 2023.
  17. Vermilion County Bobcats [@VCBobcats] (February 9, 2023). "The Vermillion County Bobcats of the SPHL announced today that they have ceased operations, effective immediately" (Tweet). Retrieved February 9, 2023 – via Twitter.
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