Editing Pensacola Ice Pilots

[[Image:PensacolaIcePilotsLogo.png|right]]
The '''Pensacola Ice Pilots''' are a defunct minor league [[Wikipedia:ice hockey|ice hockey]] team in [[Pensacola, Florida]].

The Ice Pilots were formerly the [[Wikipedia:Nashville Knights|Nashville Knights]] but moved to Pensacola following the 1995-1996 season. The team is owned by Henley Sports, Inc., headed by [[Mario Forgione]], and was previously affiliated with the [[Wikipedia:Toronto Maple Leafs|Toronto Maple Leafs]] until [[July 10]], [[2006]]. Three weeks later, on [[July 31]] [[2006]], the team announced a new affiliation with the [[Wikipedia:New York Islanders|New York Islanders]] and its [[Wikipedia:American Hockey League|AHL]] partner, the [[Wikipedia:Bridgeport Sound Tigers|Bridgeport Sound Tigers]]. 

The home of the Pensacola Ice Pilots was the [[Pensacola Civic Center]], which is referred to as "The Hangar", and has a capacity of 8,150.

The team announced on [[March 26]], [[2007]] that [[Escambia County]] had agreed to release them from the final year of their lease in the [[Pensacola Civic Center]], and as such that the team would not return for the 2007-08 season.  After renewed negotiations, an agreement was reached on [[April 12]], [[2007]] to keep the team in Pensacola for at least next season.  Negotiations for a longer-term deal were reportedly underway.

On [[June 23]], [[2008]], the ECHL terminated the Ice Pilots' membership in the league, citing the owners' decision not to field a team for the 2008-09 season as grounds for termination. Team management was reportedly investigating the possibility of joining a less expensive league, like the CHS or the SPHL.<ref>"Hockey comes to a halt in Pensacola." ''Pensacola News Journal'', June 24, 2008.</ref>

==Notable achievements==
* The 1997-1998 Ice Pilots finished the season with a record of 36-24-10 and won the ECHL Southern Conference championship.
* The 2004-2005 Pensacola Ice Pilots won the Brabham Cup for the most points overall in the league during the regular season.
* Former Head Coach Dave Farrish is now the Assistant Coach of the [[Anaheim Ducks]] in the [[National Hockey League|NHL]].
* The Pensacola Ice Pilots Hall of Fame was created in 2005 with two players, number 13 [[Chad Quenneville]] and number 22 [[Shane Calder]].

Before the termination of their ECHL membership, the Ice Pilots had a run of bad performances. Their 2007-08 season finished 19-44-4-5, with only 47 points scored &mdash; the worst in the league. It was still better than their previous season, which finished 20-46-2-4 with only 46 points scored.

==Coaches==
* [[Alvis Pedersen]] (1996-2000)
* [[Wayne Cashman]] (2000-2001)
* [[Todd Gordon (hockey coach)|Todd Gordon]] (2001-2004)
* [[Dave Farrish]] (2004-2005)
* [[Rick Adduono]] (2005-2006)
* [[George Dupont]] (2006; over two seasons)
* [[Joe Clark (hockey coach)|Joe Clark]] (2006-2007)
* [[John Marks]] (2007-2008)

==2007/08 roster==
{| width="300" style="text-align:left;"
|+'''Defensive'''
|-
! # !! Name !! Position
|-
| 2 || J. R. Bria || D
|-
| 5 || Steve Marr || D
|-
| 8 || Phil Youngclaus || D
|-
| 12 || J. C. Sawyer || D
|-
| 14 || Adam Meyer || D
|-
| 33 || Cam Ellsworth || G
|-
| 35 || Mike Brodeur || G
|}
{| width="300" style="text-align:left;"
|+'''Forwards'''
|-
! # !! Name !! Position
|-
| 4 || Jason Bloomingburg || F
|-
| 9 || Matt Rogers || F
|-
| 10 || Bryan Esner || F
|-
| 11 || Mathieu Roy || F
|-
| 16 || Adam Hobson || F
|-
| 17 || Patrick Bordeleau || F
|-
| 18 || Peter Rouleau || F
|-
| 24 || Michael Cohen || F
|-
| 37 || Brian Pouliot || F
|-
| 42 || Michael Mullin || F
|}

==Former players==
* Forward [[Glen Metropolit]] went on to play in the [[Wikipedia:National Hockey League|National Hockey League]] for the [[Wikipedia:Washington Capitals|Washington Capitals]], the [[Wikipedia:St. Louis Blues (hockey)|St. Louis Blues]]. Boston Bruins, and currently with the Montreal Canadians.
* Forward Ryan Craig played 5 games with the Ice Pilots before going on to play for the NHL ([[Wikipedia:Tampa Bay Lightning|Tampa Bay Lightning]]).

==External links==
* [http://www.icepilots.com Pensacola Ice Pilots Official Homepage]
* [http://www.allsports.com/echl/icepilots/index.html Pensacola Ice Pilots Booster Club]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/9775/ Pilot Pride: An Unofficial Fan Site]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECHL ECHL info site]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Sports teams]]
[[Category:Professional Sports Teams]]
[[Category:Hockey Teams]]