The Rogue Valley Royals were a junior ice hockey team that played their home games at The RRRink in Medford, Oregon.
| Rogue Valley Royals | |
|---|---|
| City | Medford, Oregon |
| League | Northern Pacific Hockey League (2007–2012) Western States Hockey League (2012–2020) United States Premier Hockey League (2020) |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Colors | Grey, powderblue, white |
| Owner(s) | Bobby and Ali Ruddle |
| Head coach | Bobby Ruddle |
| Franchise history | |
| 2007–2010 | Rogue Valley Wranglers |
| 2010–2021 | Southern Oregon Spartans |
| 2022–present | Rogue Valley Royals |
History
editOn May 25, 2007, it was announced by the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac) that two expansion teams would begin play during the 2007–08 season, the Missoula Maulers and the Rogue Valley Wranglers.[1] When the Wranglers franchise was announced, the NorPac was a Tier III Junior B hockey league; however, on July 17, 2007, it was announced that the league and all its teams would be granted Tier III Junior A status.[2] Also on July 17, the team announced the signing of their first player, Robert Reiber, who was later traded to the Eugene Generals.[3][4]
After three seasons as the Wranglers, it was announced on February 20, 2010, that the team had been purchased by new ownership, led by Troy Irving and Forest Sexton,[5] and would be re-established as the Southern Oregon Spartans. The new ownership confirmed that Steve Chelios would be hired on as the general manager and head coach of the team. The team played that evening for the first time as the Spartans and revealed the new team and logo to a crowd of over 900 fans from throughout Southern Oregon.
Starting in the 2012–13 season, the Spartans joined the AAU-sanctioned Western States Hockey League (WSHL) and played out of the Northwest Division. In 2019, the Spartans' management posted the franchise was for sale.[6] The team was then sold to Dylan and Brie Martin in June 2019.[7]
In 2020, the Spartans left the WSHL and joined another independent junior hockey league, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), in the Premier Division.[8] Due to local capacity restrictions on indoor events amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spartans began their 2020–21 season playing in outdoor rinks with limited attendance. As restrictions increased, the team withdrew from the 2020–21 season after six games played on November 18, 2020.[9] Their home arena, The RRRink, then opted to not renew their lease with the Spartans in May 2021 and begin seeking a new junior hockey tenant.[10]
In August 2021, the WSHL granted a new team to Medford at the RRRink under a different ownership group, later called the Rogue Valley Royals,[11] and the Spartans had ceased operations.[12] However, the Royals also never played in the WSHL and the league ceased operations during the 2021–22 season.[13] The Royals then joined the USPHL in 2022.[14]
Season-by-season records
edit| Season | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rogue Valley Wranglers | ||||||||||||
| 2007–08 | 48 | 3 | 45 | — | — | — | 6 | 130 | 443 | 1,942 | 7th of 7, Pacific 13th of 13 NorPac |
Did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | 48 | 1 | 47 | — | — | — | 2 | 80 | 376 | 1,249 | 7th of 7, Pacific 13th of 13, NorPac |
Did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | 48 | 8 | 40 | — | — | — | 16 | 127 | 181 | 1,385 | 6th of 6, Pacific 12th of 12, NorPac |
Did not qualify |
| Southern Oregon Spartans | ||||||||||||
| 2010–11 | 50 | 36 | 14 | — | — | — | 72 | 280 | 149 | 1,668 | 2nd of 6, Pacific 3rd of 11, NorPac |
Won Div. Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Eugene Generals Lost Div. Finals, 0–3 vs. Seattle Totems |
| 2011–12 | 42 | 34 | 8 | — | — | — | 68 | 260 | 162 | 1,864 | 2nd of 7, NorPac | Won Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Yellowstone Quake Won Finals, 3–0 vs. Seattle Totems CASCADE CUP CHAMPIONS |
| 2012–13 | 46 | 26 | 19 | — | 1 | 0 | 53 | 172 | 172 | 1,758 | 2nd of 5, Northwest 8th of 22, WSHL |
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ogden Mustangs Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads 1–1 in Thorne Cup Round Robin (wild card) (L, 1–10 vs. Jr. Steelheads; W, 4–2 vs. Ice Jets) Lost Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads |
| 2013–14 | 46 | 12 | 30 | — | 2 | 2 | 28 | 141 | 209 | 1,003 | 5th of 6, Northwest 18th of 24, WSHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2014–15 | 46 | 34 | 11 | — | 1 | 0 | 79 | 229 | 120 | 1,575 | 3rd of 7, Northwest 6th of 28, WSHL |
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Seattle Totems Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Missoula Maulers |
| 2015–16 | 52 | 33 | 18 | — | 1 | — | 67 | 227 | 184 | 1,395 | 3rd of 8, Northwest 10th of 29, WSHL |
Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Seattle Totems Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Missoula Maulers |
| 2016–17 | 52 | 33 | 15 | — | 4 | — | 70 | 205 | 124 | 1,193 | 2nd of 7, Northwest 10th of 27, WSHL |
Div. Quarterfinals, Bye Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Butte Cobras |
| 2017–18 | 51 | 12 | 38 | — | 1 | — | 25 | 147 | 253 | 1,514 | 6th of 6, Northwest 20th of 23, WSHL |
Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Bellingham Blazers |
| 2018–19 | 51 | 18 | 29 | 2 | 2 | — | 60[a] | 214 | 216 | 1,197 | 3rd of 4, Northwest 14th of 23, WSHL |
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Bellingham Blazers |
| 2019–20 | 50 | 6 | 41 | 2 | 1 | — | 23[a] | 101 | 361 | 1,030 | 5th of 5, Northwest 19th of 20, WSHL |
Did not qualify |
| 2020–21 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 61 | 145 | 5th of 5, Pacific 61st of 61, USPHL Premier |
Did not finish[15] |
| Rogue Valley Royals - USPHL - Premier | ||||||||||||
| 2022–23 | 44 | 11 | 30 | 1 | 1 | — | 24 | 130 | 250 | 630 | 4th of 5, Northwest 58th of 70, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Vernal Oilers |
| 2023–24 | 44 | 13 | 29 | 2 | - | — | 28 | 119 | 227 | 612 | 4th of 5, Northwest 45th of 61, USPHL-Premier |
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Vernal Oilers |
References
edit- ^ "NORPAC Announces Addition of Two Teams". NPHL. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
- ^ "NORPAC Officially Granted Tier-III A Status". NPHL. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
- ^ "Wranglers Sign First Player". Rogue Valley Wranglers. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
- ^ "Stats & Standings". NPHL. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
- ^ "Wranglers under new ownership". Medford Mail Tribune. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011.
- ^ "Spartans for sale". Facebook. April 25, 2019.
- ^ "SOUTHERN OREGON LANDS NEW OWNERS". WSHL. June 28, 2019.
- ^ "United States Premier Hockey League Adds Eight New West Coast Member Organizations". USPHL. April 17, 2020.
- ^ "SOS COVID-19 RESPONSE". Southern Oregon Spartans. November 18, 2020.
- ^ "THE RRRINK CUTS TIES WITH SOUTHERN OREGON SPARTANS HOCKEY". KDRV. June 16, 2021.
- ^ "WSHL August Update". WSHL. August 9, 2021. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021.
- ^ "Spartans opt out of 2021-22 hockey season". Mail Tribune. May 19, 2021. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021.
- ^ "New Rogue Valley junior hockey announces 'dormancy' before playing a game". KDRV. November 5, 2021.
- ^ "The 'Rogue Valley Royals' junior hockey team makes debut in Medford". KOBI. September 30, 2022.
- ^ "2020–21 USPHL Premier Standings". USPHL. Retrieved August 29, 2023.