Wenatchee Wild (junior A)
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| Wenatchee Wild | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Wenatchee, Washington |
| League | NAHL |
| Division | West |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Home arena | Town Toyota Center |
| Colors | Blue, Black and White
|
| Mascot | Walt the Wolf |
| Owner(s) | Bill Stewart, Craig Patrick |
| General manager | Bliss Littler |
| Head coach | Bliss Littler |
| Media | 560am KPQ/1340am The Zone |
| Image:Wild-jersey.jpg | |
| Franchise history | |
| 2008-Present | Wenatchee Wild |
| Championships | |
| Division titles | 2 |
The Wenatchee Wild is a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's West Division based in Wenatchee, Washington. The team joined the NAHL as an expansion team for the 2008-09 season, the team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center. The Wild are well known for their rivalry with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
History
On September 12, 2006 ground was broken on a new multipurpose event center that would be home to a new ice hockey team. On February 22, 2008, the NAHL granted Wenatchee Junior Hockey LLC. with conditional approval for an expansion team. On May 20, 2008, Wenatchee Junior Hockey LLC. announced the franchise would be the "Wild." The name was chosen by a "name-the-team contest" held at local schools in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee. The name beat out other options being the Wranglers, Bombers, Wonders, Hockeyes, Winning Walruses and Ice Busters. The Wild played their first game on September 17, 2008 losing to the Motor City Metal Jackets 2-1 in overtime. The Wild made a championship run in that first season, winning the division title but losing the championship game 3-2 in overtime. They then came back and won the West Division championship in 2009-10 but was eliminated in the round-robin championship tournament. On June 18, 2010, the Wild announced a new secondary logo.
Cowbells
The team has created an identity for them by using cowbells. Similar to the Tampa Bay Rays of MLB and Sacramento Kings of the NBA, the Wild have fans ring cowbells in support of the team. After a Wenatchee goal, fans will ring their bells in support. Since 2008, the Wild have hosted a cowbell giveaway, where the first 2,000 fans through the door get a free cowbell. Many fans also bring their own bells to games.
Slogans
The Wenatchee Wild have used a slogan each year following the inaugural season.
2009-2010: Our team, our time, our house!
2010-2011: Unfinished Business
2011-2012: The Wolfpack is Back
2012-2013: Stronger
Season Records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | PTS | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2008-09 | 58 | 35 | 19 | 4 | 74 | 197 | 182 | 1,322 | 1st, West | lost in Finals |
| 2009-10 | 58 | 45 | 10 | 3 | 93 | 219 | 125 | 1,520 | 1st, West | lost in Round Robin |
| 2010-11 | 58 | 34 | 21 | 3 | 71 | 207 | 148 | 1,208 | 2nd, West | lost in 2nd Round |
| 2011-12 | 60 | 36 | 17 | 7 | 79 | 165 | 102 | 1,297 | 2nd, West | lost in 2nd Round |
| 2012-13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | TBD, West | TBD |
Robertson Cup
The Wenatchee Wild hosted the 2010 NAHL Pepsi Robertson Cup.
Head Coaches
On November 24, 2010 the Wenatchee Wild fired Paul Baxter, their inauagural head coach. It is unspecified exactly what led to the firing of Baxter who led the Wenatchee Wild to back-to-back West Division titles in 2008 and 2009 and an amazing finish of making it to the Robertson Cup Finals in The Wild's first year. Baxter was replaced in December 2010 by John Becanic. On April 27th, 2012, shortly after elimination from the 2012 West Division Playoffs, Coach Becanic resigned. USHL coach Bliss Littler was announced as the new Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations on May 23rd, 2012. Mr. Littler currently holds the record as the winningest coach in USA Hockey history (Jr. Tier 1 and 2). Littler was released from his duties as the Omaha Lancers USHL Head coach mid season 2011/12.
