The Chautauqua Hurricane were a basketball team in both the Premier Basketball League (PBL) and North American Basketball League (NABL). The team originally was based in Erie, Pennsylvania and competed as the Erie Hurricane before relocating to Dunkirk, New York in 2015.

Chautauqua Hurricane
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Folded2022; 2 years ago (2022)
LeaguePBL
2013–2017, 2022
NABL
2018–2019
Team historyErie Hurricane
2013–2015
Chautauqua Hurricane
2015–2022
Based inErie, Pennsylvania
2013–2015
Dunkirk, New York
2015–2022
ArenaEast High School
2013–2015
Dunkirk High School
2015–2022
ColorsViolet, black, white
     
OwnerTawan Slaughter
2013–2016
Sixto Rosario
2016–2022
Head coachCory Coleman
2013–2014
Steve Mackey
2014–2015
2021–2022
Jerome Moss
2015–2020
Championships1 (2020)
Division titles1 (2019)
Playoff berths2 (2019, 2021)

After their 2019–20 season ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was declared PBL Champions.

The franchise suspended operations following the 2021–22 PBL season.

History

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2013–2015: Erie Hurricane

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The Erie Hurricane were founded in 2013 by Buffalo 716ers owner Tawan Slaughter as a member of the Premiere Basketball League (PBL).[1] They played their games at East High School in Erie, Pennsylvania.[2]

In the team's second season, Slaughter began staging games in Jamestown, New York to test waters for a permanent move.[3]

2015–2022: Chautauqua Hurricane

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Following the 2014–15 PBL season, Tawan Slaughter announced the team would be renamed to Jamestown Hurricane.[4] This was short-lived, however, and the team began the 2015–16 PBL season as the Chautauqua Hurricane out of nearby Dunkirk, New York.[5]

Tawan Slaughter sold the team to Sixto Rosario following the 2015–16 PBL season.[6] After the PBL's closure, Rosario moved the team to the North American Basketball League (NABL) in 2018.[7]

The Hurricane announced in December 2019 that the team would return to a revived Premier Basketball League for the 2019–20 PBL season.[8]

After the 2019–20 PBL season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hurricane were declared PBL Champions as they were in first-place with an 11–3 record.[9] Kofi Mills was honored as League MVP and Jerome Moss was honored as PBL Coach of the Year following the truncated season.[10]

While a full 2020–21 PBL season was not held due to the ongoing pandemic, the team qualified for the 2021 PBL Championship Series tournament with a 3–2 record and was eliminated by the Lancaster Thunder.[11]

The Hurricane played their final 2021–22 season in the PBL before folding.[12]

Season-by-season record

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League champions Conference champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season Conference Finish Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards Head coach Ref.
2013–14 East 5th 1 15 .063 Did not qualify. Cory Coleman [13]
2014–15 East 4th 3 10 .231 Did not qualify. Troy Jackson (All-PBL) Steve Mackey [14]
2015–16 Northeast 6th 3 12 .200 Did not qualify. Jerome Moss [15]
2016–17 6 13 .316 Did not qualify. Edwin Ubiles (All-PBL)
Tyquan Stroman (All-PBL)
Jerome Moss [16]
2017–18 Northeast 2nd 4 2 .667 Did not qualify. Jerome Moss [17]
2018–19 Northeast 2nd 4 4 .500 Won quarterfinal (Dream) 108–62
Lost semifinal (Thunder) 110–116
Jerome Moss [18]
2019–20 Northeast 1st 11 3 .786 No playoffs held.
Won PBL Championship
Kofi Mills (League MVP)
Jerome Moss (Coach of the Year)
Jerome Moss [10][19]
2020–21 3 2 .600 Lost semifinal (Thunder) 87–100 Alex Crossan (All-PBL)
Larry Rivers (All-PBL)
Travonta Gatewood (All-PBL)
Steve Mackey [11]
2021–22 East 3rd 2 6 .250 Did not qualify. Joe Spencer (All-Star)
Larry Rivers (All-Star)
Marcus Feagin (All-Star)
Steve Mackey [12]

References

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  1. ^ "PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE ADDS TEAMS IN NORTHEAST". All Sports WNY. November 26, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "Rochester RazorSharks defeat Erie". Democrat and Chronicle. February 10, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  3. ^ Dudley, John (January 14, 2015). "Hurricane basketball team sends mixed signals about home base". GoErie.com. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Gazette, Jamestown (April 27, 2015). "Jamestown Hurricane Pro Basketball". Jamestown Gazette. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Gazette, Jamestown (September 8, 2015). "Chautauqua Hurricane Professional Basketball Team". Jamestown Gazette. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "Chautauqua Hurricane optimistic for upcoming PBL season". Observer Today. January 2, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "Chautauqua Hurricane set to open 3rd season". Observer Today. January 8, 2018. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  8. ^ "Hurricane season begins tonight". Observer Today. December 31, 2019.
  9. ^ "Hurricane, Jackals' basketball seasons put on hold by coronavirus precaution". Observer Today. March 13, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Hurricane's Moss, Mills combine for PBL's top honors". observertoday.com. April 21, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Positive outlook". observertoday.com. January 8, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Premier Basketball League 2022, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. May 11, 2022. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  13. ^ "Premier Basketball League 2014, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. April 16, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "Premier Basketball League 2015, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. May 25, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  15. ^ "Premier Basketball League 2016, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. April 25, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  16. ^ "Premier Basketball League 2017, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. April 24, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  17. ^ "North American Basketball League 2018, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. August 6, 2018. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "North American Basketball League 2019, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards". usbasket. July 16, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  19. ^ "Chautauqua Hurricane season is cut short while sitting atop the standings". observertoday.com. April 10, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2024.