Jamestown Vikings

(Redirected from Lake Erie Vikings)

The Jamestown Vikings were a professional ice hockey team that played in the now defunct Mid-Atlantic Hockey League. They were in Jamestown, New York at the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena.

Jamestown Vikings
CityJamestown, New York
LeagueMid-Atlantic Hockey League
Founded2007
Home arenaJamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena
Colorsnavy blue, light blue, gold
Owner(s)Vikings Professional Hockey Club, LLC
Head coachBrad Zangs
Franchise history
2007-2008Jamestown Vikings
2008Lake Erie Vikings
Championships
Regular season titles0

Team history

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The league canceled the remainder of the 2007-08 season and suspended operations on February 12, 2008. The MAHL planned to return with teams in new locations in 2008-09. The Vikings and Valley Forge Freedom, the league's two most fiscally solvent franchises, were expected to remain in the league if and when the league returns.[1] After the season ended, several Vikings players went on a drunken rampage at a local lodge in Jamestown, believing that league and team owner Andrew Haines owned the lodge (he did not) and causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage.[2] League officials originally said that they fully expected the Vikings to be a part of a renewed league in 2008-09.[3] However, on March 18, the league announced that the Jamestown team would move to Ohio, and play as the Lake Erie Vikings, citing the vandalism incident as the primary reason for the departure.[4] It was later revealed that the Jamestown Savings Bank Ice Arena had revoked the Vikings' lease because of the league's financial problems.[5] The team later announced its intentions to begin play at "The Pond" in Auburn Township, Geauga County, Ohio, but after the folding of the MAHL in September 2008, the Vikings never played again.

A junior "A" hockey franchise named the Jamestown Jets replaced the Vikings in Jamestown.[5]

References

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  1. ^ Fanelli, Patrick. Mid-Atlantic Hockey League Suspends Play 80 Games Into Initial Season Archived 2008-03-06 at the Wayback Machine The Post-Journal. 13 February 2008.
  2. ^ Fanelli, Patrick. Vikings go on rampage at lodge Archived 2008-02-17 at the Wayback Machine. The Post-Journal. 15 February 2008.
  3. ^ Fanelli, Patrick. Mid-Atlantic Hockey League Officials Say Hockey Will Return To City Archived 2008-03-27 at the Wayback Machine. The Post-Journal. 24 February 2008.
  4. ^ "Vikings relocate for 2008/2009 season". Archived from the original on 2019-06-05. Retrieved 2008-03-21.
  5. ^ a b Fanelli, Patrick. Junior Hockey Coming To City[permanent dead link]. The Post-Journal. 20 March 2008.
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