St. Louis Bandits

The St. Louis Bandits were a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The team played their home games at the 2,200-seat Hardee's Iceplex (previously Summit Center) in Chesterfield, Missouri.[1] Owners of the St. Louis Bandits include former St. Louis Blues Kelly Chase as well as Scott McCuaig, Ben Bishop, Jr., Jeff Cooper, Michael J. Brooks, and Jon Cooper.[2]

St. Louis Bandits
CityChesterfield, Missouri
LeagueNAHL
DivisionMidwest
Founded2003
Home arenaHardee's Iceplex
ColorsBlue, black, and white
Owner(s)Michael J. Brooks, Brett Hull, Scott McCuaig, Ben Bishop, Sr., Jeff Cooper and Kelly Chase.
General managerKelly Chase
Head coachJeff Brown
MediaB2 Networks
Franchise history
2003–2006Texarkana Bandits
2006–2012St. Louis Bandits
2013–presentMinnesota Wilderness
Championships
Division Championships2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11

In the Spring of 2013, their franchise rights were sold to the ownership group of the Minnesota Wilderness.

History

The franchise joined the North American Hockey League for the 2003–04 season as the Texarkana Bandits. The team played in Texarkana from 2003 until the summer of 2006 when the team moved to the Greater St. Louis Metro Area.[3] The team moved to the Summit Center in Chesterfield, Missouri, filling the void left when the St. Louis Heartland Eagles of the USHL ceased operations at the end of the 2005 season. In 2007 & 2008, head coach and general manager Jon Cooper coached the team to back-to-back Robertson Cup National Championships.

The team has made appearances in the NAHL playoff rounds each of their five years in the NAHL. In 2007 they claimed the South Division title and in 2008 claimed the North Division title. The Bandits moved back to the South Division for the 2008–09 season. They once again moved to the Central Division for the 2010–11 season. The team hosted the Robertson Cup Championships at the Hardee's IcePlex in May 2008 where they became back-to-back National Championships. The 2008–09 season the Bandits headed to Mason City, Iowa for the Robertson Cup Championships and yet again took home the most coveted award in the NAHL. The three-peat was clinched with a 3–2 overtime win against the West Division Champion, Wenatchee Wild.[4]

After going dormant in 2012, the Bandits' franchise rights were sold to the ownership of the Minnesota Wilderness of Cloquet, Minnesota in the Spring of 2013.

Season records

Regular season
The Bandits 2011.
The Bandits 2010.
SeasonGPWLOTLPTSGFGAPIMFinish
Texarkana Bandits
2003–045630240631671811,7274th, South Division
2004–055636150772181531,3292nd, South Division
2005–065842142862401451,2582nd, South Division
St. Louis Bandits
2006–076243145912281531,4371st, South Division
2007–08584792962501491,4291st, North Division
2008–09584297912131191,2281st, South Division
2009–105844113912111251,1032nd, South Division
2010–115841134862151207641st, North Division
2011–126042153872391488101st, Midwest Division

Playoffs
SeasonGPWLOTLGFGAPIMFinish
Texarkana Bandits
2004Statistics Not AvailableLost in 1st round
200594502527226Lost in 2nd round
200683502028196Lost in 2nd round
St. Louis Bandits
2007129305334180League Champions
2008119114725205League Champions
20091310303819182League Champions
20101477038371905th place/Nationals
201110550232092Lost in 2nd round
2012131021442091Lost Robertson Cup Final to Texas Tornado

On-ice successes

The team had seen many successes since the Bandits began in 2003. In their first season in the league the team was the only expansion team to make the playoffs and would continue to make the playoffs every season. In May 2007 the St. Louis Bandits became NAHL champions and Tier II Junior A Hockey National Champions. The Bandits remained strong for the 2007–08 season and won back-to-back Robertson Cup Champions when they hosted it at the Hardee's IcePlex in May 2008.[5] In 2009, the Bandits kept the winning tradition alive by capturing the Robertson Cup for a third consecutive season when St. Louis beat the Wenatchee Wild in the championship game by a score of 3-2 with an overtime goal by Clinton Bourbonais.[6]

NHL Draftees
The Olympic Arena.
Player Seasons Year Drafted NHL Team Current Team
Pat Maroon05–06, 06–072007 DraftPhiladelphia FlyersTampa Bay Lightning, (NHL).
Trent Vogelhuber06–072007 DraftColumbus Blue JacketsMiami University, (CCHA)
Erik Condra03–042006 DraftOttawa SenatorsNotre Dame University,(CCHA)
Ryan Turek03–042006 DraftSt. Louis BluesMichigan State University, (CCHA)
Kyle Lawson03–042005 DraftCarolina HurricanesFlorida Everblades,(ECHL)
John Ramage07–082010 DraftCalgary FlamesUniversity of Wisconsin,(WCHA)
Bandits Bench.

References
  1. http://www.hardees.com/company/releases/hardees-buying-naming-rights-to-the-summit-center/
  2. http://blues.nhl.com/club/page.htm?bcid=tea_fro_chase
  3. http://thehockeywriters.com/whatever-it-takes-flyers-prospect-patrick-maroon/
  4. http://www.robertsoncup.com/news/story.cfm?id=1005
  5. http://www.robertsoncup.com/news/story.cfm?id=484
  6. http://www.robertsoncup.com/news/story.cfm?id=1005
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