UNITED HOCKEY LEAGUE

(1997 - Present)

The Colonial Hockey League was renamed the United Hockey League in 1997. The league grew steady in the late 1990's, and thrived at moving into markets vacated by other leagues. They took over two prominent IHL markets when they iced the Fort Wayne Komets and the Kalamazoo Wings. They also moved into Glens Falls, NY after the Adirondack Red Wings of the AHL suspended operations.

The first real signs of trouble surfaced in 2000. The Saginaw Gears relocated to Massillon, Ohio mideseason and since then has had numerous potential revivals (Massillon/Canton Arctic Xpress, Canton Ice Patrol) before acquiring the territorial rights to Port Huron and becoming the Beacons which was still technically an expansion team.

The Mohawk Valley Prowlers closed up shop midseason in 2001. Then the real wall was hit in 2002 when the Port Huron Border Cats, Knoxville Speed, New Haven Knights, Asheville Smoke and Binghamton BC Icemen all suspended operations.

 

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