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Defunct U.S. junior ice hockey team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 | |
|---|---|
| |
| City | La Crosse, Wisconsin |
| League | NA3HL |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Home arena | Green Island Ice Arena |
| Colors | Black, ice blue, white |
| Owner(s) | Michelle Bryant[1] |
| General manager | Don Babineau[2] |
| Head coach | Don Babineau |
| Franchise history | |
| 1998–2014 | Flint Jr. Generals |
| 2014–2018 | La Crosse Freeze |
| 2018–2020 | Coulee Region Chill |
| 2020–2021 | Oklahoma City Jr. Blazers |
| 2021–2022 | Oklahoma City Ice Hawks |
| 2022–present | New Mexico Ice Wolves |
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]
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 | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint Jr. Generals | |||||||||||
| 2006–07 | 45 | 31 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 180 | 129 | 1132 | 1st 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) |
| 2007–08 | 48 | 34 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 209 | 133 | 1123 | 2nd of 13, CSHL | 1–2–0 in Hurster Cup Round Robin (W, 3–2 vs. Steam; OTL, 2–3 vs. Mustangs; L, 2–8 vs. Cherokee) |
| 2008–09 | 45 | 17 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 177 | 228 | 1359 | 9th of 12, CSHL | Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | 48 | 16 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 188 | 235 | 1264 | 9th of 13, CSHL | Did not qualify |
| 2010–11 | 45 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 2 | 45 | 175 | 180 | 1034 | 9th of 12, NA3HL | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | 48 | 35 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 73 | 207 | 127 | 1526 | 1st 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) |
| 2012–13 | 48 | 27 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 58 | 168 | 141 | 1426 | 3rd 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) |
| 2013–14 | 48 | 42 | 4 | 2 | — | 86 | 216 | 80 | 1080 | 1st 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 | |||||||||||
| 2014–15 | 47 | 28 | 14 | 5 | — | 61 | 160 | 155 | 913 | 3rd of 6, Central 11th of 31, NA3HL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Wisconsin Whalers |
| 2015–16 | 47 | 32 | 15 | 0 | — | 64 | 200 | 125 | 1161 | 2nd of 5, Central 13th of 34, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Wisconsin Whalers Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
| 2016–17 | 47 | 23 | 22 | 2 | — | 48 | 199 | 169 | 1079 | 2nd of 5, Central 27th of 48, NA3HL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Wisconsin Whalers Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. North Iowa Bulls |
| 2017–18 | 47 | 34 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 69 | 240 | 124 | 847 | 2nd 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 |
| 2018–19 | 47 | 36 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 74 | 340 | 98 | 745 | 1st 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 |
| 2019–20 | 47 | 29 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 58 | 192 | 159 | 640 | 3rd of 6, Central 13th of 34, NA3HL | Playoffs cancelled |
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