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Port Huron Prowlers

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Port Huron Prowlers
CityPort Huron, Michigan
LeagueFederal Prospects Hockey League
DivisionContinental
Founded2015
Home arenaMcMorran Arena
ColorsRed, white, black, yellow
       
Owner(s)Barry Soskin
General managerMatt Graham
Head coachMatt Graham
CaptainEvan Foley
MediaPort Huron Times Herald
Franchise history
2015–presentPort Huron Prowlers
Championships
Regular season titles1 (2017–18)
Playoff championships1 (2015–16)

The Port Huron Prowlers are a minor professional ice hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League that began play in the 2015–16 season. Based in Port Huron, Michigan, the Prowlers play their home games at the McMorran Arena.

History

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The Federal Hockey League (FHL) held a regular season game at McMorran Arena on January 31, 2015 between the Danbury Whalers and the Danville Dashers. 1,709 fans saw the Dashers defeat the Whalers by a score of 4–1, leading the FHL to strongly consider Port Huron as a market and seek out ownership for a franchise there.[1]

Two months later, on April 2, it was announced that the FHL's newest franchise would be based in Port Huron, making it the tenth hockey team to call Port Huron and the McMorran Arena home and the FHL's first Michigan team. Barry Soskin of Arlington Heights, Illinois, who also owned the Danville Dashers and Dayton Demonz FHL teams, serves as the team's owner.[2] A name-the-team contest was held, with the Prowlers name, logo and colors being announced on June 5.[3] On July 16, the Prowlers announced that the protected player list from the Dayton Demonz had been transferred to their team when Soskin folded his Dayton team.[4]

The Prowlers won their first FHL championship in their 2015–16 inaugural season, sweeping the Danbury Titans 3–0 in a best-of-five series concluding on April 22, 2016 at McMorran Arena.[5]

On January 7, 2017, the Prowlers surprisingly fired inaugural head coach Trevor Karasiewicz after leading the team a 8–10–1–5 record in 2016–17 and to the championship the previous season. He was replaced by Joe Pace, Sr. as the interim head coach.[6] Pace Sr. stayed on as head coach the for the 2017–18 season. He led the team to a regular season title and a berth in the Commissioner's Cup Finals where they lost to the Watertown Wolves.

The following 2018–19 season, Pace Sr. was hired as the head coach of the Mentor Ice Breakers FHL expansion team. He was replaced as head coach and general manager of the Prowlers by his son, Joe Pace, Jr. who had previously been a Prowlers' player, assistant coach, and assistant general manager.[7] In 2018, the FHL began calling itself the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) and fully rebranded before the 2019–20 season.

Following the abbreviated 2020–21 season, Pace Jr. left the team and was replaced as head coach and general manager by former assistant Matt Graham.[8]

Season-by-season records

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Season GP W L OTL Pts[a] Pct GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
2015–16 55 29 18 1 102 .618 262 218 1348 2nd of 6, FHL Won FHL Championships, 3–0 vs. Danbury Titans
2016–17 56 26 21 9 84 .500 224 213 916 5th of 7, FHL Did not qualify
2017–18 53 44 7 2 131 .824 246 131 863 1st of 7, FHL Lost FHL Championships, 1–3 vs. Watertown Wolves
2018–19 59 25 32 2 74 .418 237 271 1155 4th of 6, FHL Lost Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Carolina Thunderbirds
2019–20 46 32 14 0 92 .667 212 166 777 2nd of 5, Western Season cancelled[b]
2020–21 24 8 14 2 26 .361 77 122 551 4th of 6, FPHL Lost in Quarterfinals
  1. ^ 3 points for a Win, 2 points for an Overtime Win, and 1 point for an Overtime Loss
  2. ^ League cancelled season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

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  1. ^ Costanzo, Paul (February 2, 2015). "Port Huron gets a taste of Federal Hockey League". Port Huron Times Herald. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  2. ^ Hayes, Joseph (April 2, 2015). "Port Huron welcomes new hockey team". Port Huron Times Herald. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  3. ^ "Port Huron Prowlers: Let The Hunt Begin". Federal Hockey League. June 5, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ "Prowlers Release 2015-16 Protected List". Port Huron Prowlers. July 16, 2015. Archived from the original on July 21, 2015.
  5. ^ "Prowlers win FHL championship". The Times Herald. April 23, 2016.
  6. ^ "Port Huron Prowlers dismiss head coach". Port Huron Times Herald. January 7, 2017.
  7. ^ "Prowlers Announce Coaching Change". OurSportsCentral.com. July 23, 2018.
  8. ^ "Prowlers Announce Changes to Staff". OurSports Central. May 22, 2021.
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