Niagara IceDogs

Niagara IceDogs

City	St. Catharines, Ontario
League	Ontario Hockey League
Conference	Eastern
Division	Central
Founded	1998 (1998)–99
Home arena	Meridian Centre
Colours	Red, black, white
General manager	Vacant
Head coach	Dave Bell
Affiliate(s)	St. Catharines Falcons
Website	www.niagaraicedogs.net
Franchise history
1998–2007	Mississauga IceDogs
2007–present	Niagara IceDogs

The Niagara IceDogs are a major junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League based in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The franchise was originally known as the Mississauga IceDogs and founded in 1996. The team was relocated to St. Catharines and played its inaugural season in the Niagara region during the 2007–08 OHL season after spending 9 seasons in Mississauga. The team is owned by Bill and Denise Burke

History

Niagara IceDogs in action at home versus Barrie Colts.

Early Years, 1998-2007

The Mississauga IceDogs inaugural season began in 1998-99, and the team struggled, winning only 4 of 68 games. In their first three seasons, the IceDogs won a total of 16 games, in 204 games played. The nine season tenure in Mississauga saw the IceDogs finish with a .301 win percentage in 612 regular season games and win one Central Division and Eastern Conference Championship.

Relocation

On July 12, 2006, Eugene Melnyk, who owned the Toronto St. Michael's Majors, bought the Mississauga IceDogs. After the 2006–07 season, Melnyk sold the IceDogs, and moved the Majors to the Hershey Centre in Mississauga. The team approached the City of St. Catharines about moving the team into Jack Gatecliff Arena. St. Catharines City Council voted on a leasing arrangement on April 23, 2007, which passed. The OHL Board of Governors approved the deal on June 5, 2007.^[1]^[2]

Jack Gatecliff Arena Era

The Niagara IceDogs spent their first seven seasons in St. Catharines in the Jack Gatecliff arena. In six of the seven years at the Jack Gatecliff arena, the IceDogs led the OHL as the best attended team based on capacity percentage. During this time, the IceDogs qualified for the playoffs in every year, making it to the Eastern Conference finals twice. The IceDogs most successful year was in 2011-12 when they won both the Emms Trophy and Bobby Orr Trophy as Central Division and Eastern Conference Champions. They would ultimately fall in the finals, however, to the London Knights in five games. While playing at the Jack Gatecliff arena, Niagara’s line-ups featured a number of eventual high NHL draft picks and NHL alumni. First round draft picks included Alex Pietrangelo, Mark Visentin, Ryan Strome, Dougie Hamilton, and Brendan Perlini. Other notable players to lace-up for the IceDogs at the Jack Gatecliff are Stefan Legein, Luca Caputi, Andrew Agozzino, Brett Ritchie, Jamie Oleksiak, Freddie Hamilton, and Andrew Shaw, who was the first Niagara IceDogs alumni to win the Stanley Cup.

Meridian Centre Era

The IceDogs entered a new era when they relocated to the brand new Meridian Centre in St. Catharines. On Thursday October 16, 2014, the IceDogs won their first game at the Meridian Centre by a score of 7-4 against the visiting Belleville Bulls. The first goal at the new Meridian Centre was scored by Mikkel Aagaard from Denmark. While the arena's initial season saw the IceDogs go down in 5 games in the second round to the eventual Memorial Cup Champions Oshawa Generals, the organization went all in during the 2015-16 season. While adding key veteran acquisitions as the season went on, including star goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic, a 2nd round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, the IceDogs once again battled their way to the OHL Finals. Niagara went on to face the London Knights, a rematch of the 2012 OHL Finals, but once again came up short, losing the series in 4 games. With the organization facing a rebuild after a disappointing finish to the season, the IceDogs parted ways with Head Coach and General Manager Marty Williamson, commencing a new era for the organization after 6 seasons that featured two conference championships, one division championship, and six consecutive years of playoffs.

Championships

Emms Trophy
Central Division Championship

2011-12

Bobby Orr Trophy
Eastern Conference Championship

2011-12
2015-16

J. Ross Robertson Cup
Ontario Hockey League Championship

2011-12 : Lost to London Knights
2015-16 : Lost to London Knights

Coaches

Mario Cicchillo was promoted from assistant coach in 2006–07 for Mississauga, to become the first coach of the Niagara IceDogs after it was announced that head coach Mike Kelly resigned to accept a senior advisory position with the team.^[3] In August 2009, Cicchillo was fired and assistant coach Mike McCourt was named interim head coach. In early May 2010, the IceDogs announced that the team would not be renewing the contracts McCourt and his assistants. Former Barrie Colts coach/general manager Marty Williamson was named coach and general manager of the IceDogs in late May 2010. With a rebuild about to begin, the IceDogs decided to part ways with Williamson in 2016 after six successful years and promoted assistant Dave Bell to head coach.

2007-2009 Mario Cicchillo
2009-2010 Mike McCourt (Interim)
2010–2016 Marty Williamson
2016–Present Dave Bell

Players

NHL Alumni

NHL Draft Picks

2008 - Alex Pietrangelo, 1st round (4th overall) St. Louis
2010 - Mark Visentin, 1st round (27th overall) Phoenix
2010 - Freddie Hamilton, 5th round (129th overall) San Jose
2010 - Alex Friesen, 6th round (172nd overall) Vancouver
2011 - Ryan Strome, 1st round (5th overall) New York Islanders
2011 - Dougie Hamilton, 1st round (9th overall) Boston
2011 - Mitchell Theoret, 7th round (185th overall) New York Islanders
2012 - Jesse Graham, 6th round (155th overall) New York Islanders
2013 - Carter Verhaeghe, 3rd round (82nd overall) Toronto
2014 - Brendan Perlini, 1st round (12th overall) Arizona
2014 - Blake Siebenaler, 3rd round (77th overall) Columbus
2014 - Brent Moran, 4th round (115th overall) Dallas
2014 - Aaron Haydon, 6th round (154th overall) Dallas
2015 - Graham Knott, 2nd round (54th overall) Chicago
2015 - Vince Dunn, 2nd round (56th overall) St. Louis
2016 - Christopher Paquette, 5th round (148th overall) Tampa Bay

Award Winners

Ontario Hockey League

Bobby Smith Trophy
Scholastic Player of the Year

2010-11 – Dougie Hamilton

Dave Pinkney Trophy
Lowest Team G.A.A.

2011-12 – Mark Visentin
& Christopher Festarini

Ivan Tennant Memorial Award
Top High School Academic Player

2007-08 – Alex Friesen
2008-09 – Freddie Hamilton
2009-10 – Dougie Hamilton
2014-15 – Stephen Dhillon

Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy
Overage Player of the Year

2007-08 – Michael Swift
2011-12 – Andrew Agozzino

Max Kaminsky Trophy
Most Outstanding Defenceman

2011-12 – Dougie Hamilton

Mickey Renaud Captain's Trophy
Captain of the Year

2011-12 – Andrew Agozzino

OHL Executive of the Year

2007-08 – Denise Burke

OHL Goaltender of the Year

2010-11 – Mark Visentin

Canadian Hockey League

CHL Defenceman of the Year

2011-12 – Dougie Hamilton

CHL Scholastic Player of the Year

2010-11 – Dougie Hamilton

Current Roster

Goaltenders
Number	Player	Catches	Position	Birth year	Place of birth	Acquired	NHL Status
30	Stephen Dhillon	L	G	1998	Buffalo, New York	3rd round (2014)	Eligible 2016
31	Alex Nedeljkovic	L	G	1996	Parma, Ohio	Trade FLI (2015)	2nd round CAR (2014)

Defencemen
Number	Player	Shoots	Position	Birth year	Place of birth	Acquired	NHL Status
2	Jack Wieringa	L	D	1998	Woodstock, Ontario	4th round (2014)	Eligible 2016
4	Vince Dunn	L	D	1996	Peterborough, Ontario	6th round (2012)	2nd round STL (2015)
5	Blake Siebenaler	R	D	1996	Fort Wayne, Indiana	15th round (2012)	3rd round CBL (2014)
6	Hayden Davis	R	D	1999	Hamilton, Ontario	1st round (2015)	Eligible 2017
17	William Lochead	L	D	1998	London, Ontario	Free Agent	Eligible 2016
20	Josh Wesley	R	D	1996	Raleigh, North Carolina	Trade FLI (2015)	4th round CAR (2014)
22	Ryan Mantha	R	D	1996	Clarkston, Michigan	Trade SSM (2014)	4th round NYR (2014)
28	Aaron Haydon	R	D	1996	Plymouth, Michigan	1st round (2012)	6th round DAL (2014)
29	Aleksandar Mikulovich	L	D	1996	Chelyabinsk, Russia	2nd round - Import (2013)	Free Agent

Forwards
Number	Player	Shoots	Position	Birth year	Place of birth	Acquired	NHL Status
3	Ben Jones	L	C	1999	Waterloo, Ontario	1st round (2015)	Eligible 2017
9	Jordan Maletta	R	RW	1995	St. Catharines, Ontario	Trade WIN (2013)	Free Agent CBJ (2016)
10	Anthony DiFruscia	L	LW	1995	Thorold, Ontario	2nd round (2011)	Free Agent
11	Brendan Perlini	L	LW	1996	Guildford, England	Trade BAR (2013)	1st round ARZ (2014)
12	Stephen Harper	L	C	1995	Burlington, Ontario	Trade HAM (2016)	Free Agent
13	Graham Knott	L	LW	1997	Holland Landing, Ontario	3rd round (2013)	2nd round CHI (2015)
14	Christopher Paquette	R	C	1998	Kingston, Ontario	2nd round (2014)	Eligible 2016
15	Matt Gillard	L	LW	1996	Welland, Ontario	4th round (2012)	Free Agent
21	Pavel Jenys	L	RW	1996	Brno, Czech Republic	Trade SBY (2015)	7th round MIN (2014)
23	Johnny Corneil	L	C	1997	Lindsay, Ontario	4th round (2013)	Free Agent
24	Nick Pastorious	R	RW	1996	Toronto, Ontario	Waivers BAR (2015)	Free Agent
26	Josh Ho-Sang	R	RW	1996	Thornhill, Ontario	Trade WIN (2014)	1st round NYI (2014)
27	Cal Davis	L	RW	1999	Peterborough, Ontario	2nd round (2015)	Eligible 2017

Team records

Single season records

Team records for a single season
Statistic	Total	Season
Most points	97	2011–12
Least points	57	2013–14
Most wins	47	2011–12
Least wins	24	2013–14
Most goals for	291	2011–12
Least goals for	191	2009–10
Most goals against	284	2013–14
Least goals against	169	2011–12

Individual player records for a single season
Statistic	Player	Total	Season
Most goals	Luca Caputi	51	2007–08
Most assists	Ryan Strome	73	2010–11
Most points	Luca Caputi	111	2007–08
Most points, rookie	David Pacan	62	2010–11
Most points, defenceman	Dougie Hamilton	72	2011–12
Most penalty minutes	Jordan Foreman	155	2007–08
Most wins, goalie	Mark Visentin	30	2010–11 and 2011–12
Best GAA, goalie	Mark Visentin	1.99	2011–12
Goalie GAA = minimum 15 games played

Career scoring and goalie leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in regular season franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed OHL regular season.

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	Seasons
Andrew Agozzino	318	159	147	306	2007–08 to 2011–12
Ryan Strome	191	100	181	281	2009–10 to 2012–13
Freddie Hamilton	258	108	144	252	2008–09 to 2011–12
Alex Friesen	292	91	153	244	2007–08 to 2011–12
Carter Verhaeghe	262	83	141	224	2011–12 to 2014-15
Dougie Hamilton	213	40	147	187	2009–10 to 2012–13
Brendan Perlini	185	92	94	186	2012–13 to 2015–16
Anthony DiFruscia	270	91	86	177	2012–13 to 2015–16
Steven Shipley	194	72	94	166	2010–11 to 2012–13
Jordan Maletta	221	73	86	159	2012–13 to 2015–16

These are the top-five goalies (ranked by wins) in regular season franchise history. Figures are updated after each completed OHL regular season.

Player	Mins	W	L	OTL	SOL	GAA	SVP	SO	Seasons
Mark Visentin	9429	89	55	4	12	2.75	.911	14	2008–09 to 2011–12
Brent Moran	6497	48	54	4	2	3.44	.888	2	2012–13 to 2015-16
Christopher Festarini	5412	42	40	3	4	3.08	.895	5	2011–12 to 2014-14
Sebastian Dahm	1517	20	6	0	0	2.53	.917	2	2007–08
Brandon Hope	1801	19	7	1	2	2.93	.905	1	2014-15

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Legend: OTL = Overtime loss, SL = Shootout loss

Season	Games	Won	Lost	OTL	SL	Points	Pct %	Goals For	Goals Against	Standing
2007–08	68	42	25	0	1	85	.625	272	214	2nd Central
2008–09	68	26	31	5	6	63	.463	213	264	4th Central
2009–10	68	26	34	2	6	60	.441	191	233	4th Central
2010–11	68	45	17	2	4	96	.706	273	197	2nd Central
2011–12	68	47	18	0	3	97	.713	291	169	1st Central
2012–13	68	30	34	2	2	64	.471	227	250	4th Central
2013–14	68	24	35	3	6	57	.419	223	284	4th Central
2014–15	68	37	27	2	2	78	.574	274	237	3rd Central
2015–16	68	35	26	4	3	77	.566	213	198	3rd Central

Playoffs

Season	1st round	2nd round	3rd round	Finals
2007–08	W, 4–0, Mississauga Majors	L, 4–2, Oshawa Generals	—	—
2008–09	W, 4–3, Ottawa 67s	L, 4–1, Belleville Bulls	—	—
2009–10	L, 4–1, Ottawa 67s	—	—	—
2010–11	W, 4–0, Brampton Battalion	W, 4–1, Oshawa Generals	L, 4–1, Mississauga Majors	—
2011–12	W, 4–2, Oshawa Generals	W, 4–0, Brampton Battalion	W, 4–1, Ottawa 67s	L, 4–1, London Knights
2012–13	L, 4–1, Oshawa Generals	—	—	—
2013–14	L, 4–3, North Bay Battalion	—	—	—
2014–15	W, 4–2, Ottawa 67's	L, 4–1, Oshawa Generals	—	—
2015-16	W, 4-1, Ottawa 67's	W, 4-0, Kingston Frontenacs	W, 4-0, Barrie Colts	L, 4-0, London Knights

Uniforms and logos

The IceDogs colours are red, black and white. The home jersey is black with red, black and white sleeves with two crossed dog bones on each shoulder. The away jersey is white with red, black and white sleeves with two crossed dog bones on each shoulder. The Niagara logo is a Bull Terrier (modelled after former team part-owner Don Cherry's famous dog, "Blue") playing hockey in hockey gear. The team wears red and black CCM gloves and CCM helmets (black or white, depending upon their jersey colour).

Arena

Meridian Centre

The IceDogs moved into the Meridian Centre on October 16, 2014. Located at 1 Ice Dogs Way in St. Catharines, the Meridian Centre features a combination of 5,300 permanent and retractable seats.

Jack Gatecliff Arena

The Gatorade Garden City Complex, formerly known as the Garden City Arena and the Jack Gatecliff Arena, is a publicly owned and operated facility in St. Catharines. It is located at 8 Gale Crescent and features two ice surfaces (the Rex Stimers Arena and the Jack Gatecliff Arena). The IceDogs played in the Jack Gatecliff Arena of the complex for 7 seasons. The arena's capacity is 3,145 including standing room, making it smaller than most CHL arenas. With an ice surface of 190 x 85 feet, its dimensions are also smaller than the typical CHL ice surface. It is commonly referred to by fans as 'the Jack'.

The original arena was built in 1932 and became the oldest arena currently used in the CHL following the Windsor Spitfires move to the WFCU Centre in 2008–09. It was previously used by the St. Catharines Teepees, St. Catharines Black Hawks, St. Catharines Fincups and the St. Catharines Saints. Renovated in 1996, it was named after local sportswriter Jack Gatecliff.

Niagara Falls Memorial Arena

On March 1, 2009, the Niagara IceDogs hosted a home game at Niagara Falls Memorial Arena in nearby Niagara Falls, Ontario. The arena, slated to close in 2010, was the former home to both the Niagara Falls Flyers and the Niagara Falls Thunder. The game was billed as the last OHL game in the arena. The announced crowd of 3,167 was the largest home crowd in franchise history.

References

External links

Niagara IceDogs Official web site
Ontario Hockey League Official web site
Canadian Hockey League Official web site
Niagara IceDogs Fans Site Unofficial web site
Niagara IceDogs on Twitter Official Twitter feed

Niagara IceDogs

Based in St. Catharines, Ontario Founded in 1998 Member of the Ontario Hockey League

The Franchise	Mississauga IceDogs History Records Players Staff

Arenas	Hershey Centre Jack Gatecliff Arena

Conference Championships	2003-04 2011-12 2015-16

Division Championships	2004-05 2011-12

Ontario Hockey League

East Division	Hamilton Bulldogs Kingston Frontenacs Oshawa Generals Ottawa 67's Peterborough Petes

Central Division	Barrie Colts Mississauga Steelheads Niagara IceDogs North Bay Battalion Sudbury Wolves

Midwest Division	Erie Otters Guelph Storm Kitchener Rangers London Knights Owen Sound Attack

West Division	Flint Firebirds Saginaw Spirit Sarnia Sting Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Windsor Spitfires

Defunct teams	Belleville Bulls Brampton Battalion Brantford Alexanders Cornwall Royals Detroit Compuware Ambassadors Detroit Junior Red Wings Detroit Whalers Guelph Platers Hamilton Dukes Hamilton Steelhawks Kingston Canadians Kingston Raiders Mississauga IceDogs Newmarket Royals Niagara Falls Thunder North Bay Centennials Owen Sound Platers Plymouth Whalers Toronto Marlboros Toronto St. Michael's Majors

CHL Memorial Cup J. Ross Robertson Cup OHL history OHL seasons OHA standings OHL Awards CHL Awards QMJHL WHL

Sports teams based in Ontario

Australian football	A.F.L.O. Broadview Hawks Central Blues Etobicoke Kangaroos Guelph Gargoyles Hamilton Wildcats High Park Demons Ottawa Swans Toronto Downtown Dingos Toronto Eagles Toronto Rebels

Baseball	MLB Toronto Blue Jays Can-Am Ottawa Champions IBL Barrie Baycats Brantford Red Sox Burlington Bandits Guelph Royals Hamilton Cardinals Kitchener Panthers London Majors Toronto Maple Leafs

Basketball	NBA Toronto Raptors NBA D-League Raptors 905 NBL London Lightning Niagara River Lions KW Titans Orangeville A's Windsor Express

Football	CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats Ottawa Redblacks Toronto Argonauts NFC Oakville Longhorns Sarnia Imperials Sault Ste. Marie Steelers Sudbury Spartans Toronto Raiders Toronto Titans Tri-City Outlaws CJFL Burlington Braves Hamilton Hurricanes London Beefeaters Northern Clansmen Ottawa Sooners Toronto Junior Argonauts Windsor AKO Fratmen QJFL Cumberland Panthers Ottawa Junior Riders

Ice hockey	NHL Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs AHL Toronto Marlies Belleville Senators (beginning in 2017–18) ECHL Brampton Beast FHL Cornwall Nationals OHL Barrie Colts Belleville Bulls Guelph Storm Hamilton Bulldogs Kingston Frontenacs Kitchener Rangers London Knights Mississauga Steelheads Niagara IceDogs North Bay Battalion Oshawa Generals Ottawa 67's Owen Sound Attack Peterborough Petes Sarnia Sting Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Sudbury Wolves Windsor Spitfires CWHL Brampton Thunder Toronto Furies

Soccer	MLS Toronto FC NASL Ottawa Fury FC USL Toronto FC II League1 Ontario ANB Futbol Cataraqui Clippers Durham United FC Master's Futbol Academy Oakville Blue Devils Pro Stars FC Sanjaxx Lions Sigma FC Toronto FC Academy Vaughan Azzurri Windsor Stars Woodbridge Strikers CSL Brampton United Burlington SC Kingston FC London City Milton FC Niagara United North York Astros SC Waterloo Region Serbian White Eagles Toronto Croatia Winstar Shooters FC York Region Shooters PDL Forest City London K-W United FC Toronto FC Academy Thunder Bay Chill

Lacrosse	NLL Toronto Rock

Roller derby	WFTDA Border City Brawlers Forest City Derby Girls Greater Toronto Area Rollergirls Hammer City Roller Girls Renegade Derby Dames Rideau Valley Roller Girls Royal City Roller Girls Toronto Roller Derby Tri-City Roller Derby

Rugby league	L1 Toronto Wolfpack

Rugby union	CRC Ontario Blues NWL Ontario Ontario U23 Ontario U20

Ringette	NRL Cambridge Turbos Gloucester Devils Ottawa Ice Richmond Hill Lightning Waterloo Wildfire Whitby Wild

Canadian Inter- university Sport	Brock University Badgers Carleton University Ravens University of Guelph Gryphons Lakehead University Thunderwolves Laurentian University Voyageurs (Men's)/Lady Vees (Women's) McMaster University Marauders Nipissing University Lakers University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Queen's University Golden Gaels Royal Military College of Canada Paladins Ryerson University Rams Trent Excalibur University of Toronto Varsity Blues University of Waterloo Warriors University of Western Ontario Mustangs Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks University of Windsor Lancers York University Lions

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