Worcester IceCats

The Worcester IceCats were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Worcester, Massachusetts, at the Worcester Centrum. In 2005 the team was renamed the Peoria Rivermen and moved to Peoria, Illinois.

Worcester IceCats
CityWorcester, Massachusetts
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
Operated1994–2005
Home arenaWorcester Centrum
ColorsTeal, blue, silver
     
AffiliatesSt. Louis Blues (NHL),
Ottawa Senators (NHL),
New York Islanders (NHL)
Franchise history
1932–1935Quebec Beavers
1935–1951Springfield Indians
1951–1954Syracuse Warriors
1954–1967Springfield Indians
1967–1974Springfield Kings
1974–1994Springfield Indians
1994–2005Worcester IceCats
2005–2013Peoria Rivermen
2013–2021Utica Comets
2021–presentAbbotsford Canucks
Championships
Regular season titles1: (2000–01)
Division titles2: (1996–97, 2000–01)

History

The IceCats got their start when original New York Islanders owner Roy Boe purchased the Springfield Indians AHL franchise and moved it to Worcester in the summer of 1994. The team began play in the Fall of 1994 with a collection of free-agent players but as yet with no National Hockey League team affiliation. Late in the 1994–95 season, Boe and head coach/General Manager Jim Roberts negotiated a deal with the St. Louis Blues. From that point on the IceCats would be the Blues' premier minor league team. The Peoria Rivermen of the East Coast Hockey League, in turn, became the IceCats' minor league affiliate in 1998, having been with St. Louis before the 1994 Worcester deal. During the 2000–01 season, Boe sold the IceCats to the St. Louis Blues. The team celebrated its tenth season in the AHL in fall 2003.

On November 9, 2004, the St. Louis Blues announced the sale of the IceCats to the owners of their ECHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen. The new owners moved the franchise to Peoria, Illinois, for the 2005–06 season.[1]

This franchise was previously known as: Springfield Indians (1926–1994)
The franchise became known as: Peoria Rivermen (2005–2013)
This franchise was replaced by: Worcester Sharks (2006–2015)

Affiliates

Season-by-season results

Regular season
SeasonGamesWonLostTiedOTLSOLPointsGoals
for		Goals
against		Standing
1994–95802445110—592343006th, North
1995–96803628124—882422442nd, North
1996–9780432395—1002562341st, New England
1997–9880343196—832672684th, New England
1998–9980343682—782372604th, New England
1999–00803431114—832492503rd, New England
2000–0180482093—1082642051st, New England
2001–0280393371—862452183rd, North
2002–03803527153—882352203rd, North
2003–04803727133—902071863rd, Atlantic
2004–0580393434—852122235th, Atlantic

Playoffs
Season1st round2nd round3rd roundFinals
1994–95Did not qualify
1995–96L, 1–3, Portland———
1996–97L, 2–3, Providence———
1997–98W, 3–1, SpringfieldL, 3–4, Hartford——
1998–99L, 1–3, Providence———
1999–00W, 3–1, PortlandL, 1–4, Hartford——
2000–01W, 3–1, LowellL, 3–4, Providence——
2001–02†L, 1–2, Manitoba†———
2002–03L, 0–3, Binghamton———
2003–04W, 4–2, ManchesterL, 0–4, Hartford——
2004–05Did not qualify

† Lost in preliminary round.

Team records

Single season

Career
  • Career goals: 79 Marc Brown
  • Career assists: 154 Terry Virtue
  • Career points: 210 Terry Virtue
  • Career penalty minutes: 1083 Terry Virtue
  • Career goaltending wins: 65 Curtis Sanford
  • Career shutouts: 10 Curtis Sanford
  • Career games: 455 Terry Virtue

Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top ten point-scorers in IceCat's franchise history.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points;

PlayerPosGPGAPts
Terry VirtueD45556154210
Jame PollockD27063104167
Marc BrownLW3037981160
Eric BogunieckiC1416986155
Jeff PanzerC2106284146
Justin PapineauC1626677143
Stephane RoyC2086178139
Daniel CorsoC1875485139
Marty ReasonerC1225768125
Blake EvansC2535273125

Team captains

Notable IceCats

References
  1. "Blues Agree to Sell Worcester IceCats". OurSports Central. November 9, 2004. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
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