International Hockey League (2007–2010)

The International Hockey League was a AA level professional league with teams in the United States. The league was headquartered in Rochester, Michigan prior to the merger, and as of its' last year, consisted of seven teams.
==History==
The IHL was originally formed in 1991 as the Colonial Hockey League, intended to fill the Great Lakes region niche abandoned by the original International Hockey League as it went upmarket. It had teams in Brantford, Ontario; Detroit, Michigan; Flint, Michigan; St. Thomas, Ontario; and Thunder Bay, Ontario. As the ECHL moved westward (into Toledo, Dayton, and Peoria), the CoHL moved eastward, into places like the Adirondacks, Danbury, CT, Binghamton, NY, and Richmond, VA. During that expansion, the league was renamed the United Hockey League in 1997, before renaming itself the International Hockey League in 2007.
The name change was intended to evoke the original IHL (1945–2001), which had long-standing franchises in the Great Lakes region. The Fort Wayne Komets were longstanding members of the original league. In addition, the Kalamazoo Wings and Flint Generals revived the names of the original Kalamazoo and Flint IHL teams. Many of the current IHL players have American Hockey League as well as European pro league experience.
On June 27, 2007, a dispersal draft was held among the six IHL teams, selecting players from the four 2006-2007 UHL franchises that were no longer part of the newly named league. Currently, Paul Pickard serves as President and CEO of the IHL; he is also president of Stadium Management Corporation.
On June 1, 2010 the league announced that it would merge into the Central Hockey League.Central Hockey League and International Hockey League Make Major Announcement
On July 13, 2010 the Central Hockey League merged with the IHL. The five remaining IHL teams, Bloomington PrairieThunder, Dayton Gems, Evansville IceMen, Fort Wayne Komets and Quad City Mallards franchises officially merged.
==Colonial/Turner Cup champions==
The Turner Cup is awarded to annual playoff championship. The name Turner Cup has been restored as of September 24, 2007 as a tribute to the original IHL. Before this, the trophy given to the league playoff champions was known as the Colonial Cup. The past winners are:
Season 	Regular Season Champions	Colonial Cup/Turner Cup Champions
1991-92	Michigan Falcons 	Thunder Bay Thunder Hawks
1992-93	Brantford Smoke 	Brantford Smoke
1993-94	Thunder Bay Senators 	Thunder Bay Senators
1994-95	Thunder Bay Senators 	Thunder Bay Senators
1995-96	Flint Generals 	Flint Generals
1996-97	Flint Generals 	Quad City Mallards
1997-98	Quad City Mallards 	Quad City Mallards
1998-99	Muskegon Fury 	Muskegon Fury
1999-00	Flint Generals 	Flint Generals
2000-01	Quad City Mallards 	Quad City Mallards
2001-02	Quad City Mallards 	Muskegon Fury
2002-03	Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne Komets
2003-04	Fort Wayne Komets 	Muskegon Fury
2004-05	Muskegon Fury 	Muskegon Fury
2005-06	Kalamazoo Wings 	Kalamazoo Wings
2006-07	Fort Wayne Komets 	Rockford IceHogs
2007-08	Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne Komets
2008-09	Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne Komets
2009-10	Muskegon Lumberjacks 	Fort Wayne Komets
==Teams==
===United Hockey League 1997-2007===
Team name 	City 	Arena 	Years 	Comments
B.C. Icemen 	Binghamton, New York 	Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena 	1997-2002	folded when city gets American Hockey League team
Brantford Smoke 	Brantford, Ontario 	Brantford Civic Centre 	1997-1998	relocated to Asheville, North Carolina; renamed Asheville Smoke
Flint Generals (1993–2010) 	Flint, Michigan 	IMA Sports Arena 	1997-2007	join International Hockey League (2007-2010)
Madison Monsters 	Madison, Wisconsin 	Dane County Coliseum 	1997-1999	relocated to Knoxville, Tennessee; renamed Knoxville Speed
Muskegon Fury 	Muskegon, Michigan 	L.C. Walker Arena 	1997-2007	join International Hockey League (2007-2010)
Port Huron Border Cats 	Port Huron, Michigan 	McMorran Arena 	1997-2002	folded; replaced by Port Huron Beacons
Quad City Mallards (1995–2007)	Moline, Illinois 	The MARK of the Quad Cities 	1997-2007	folded when city gets American Hockey League team
Saginaw Lumber Kings 	Saginaw, Michigan 	Wendler Arena 	1997-1998	renamed Saginaw Gears (UHL)
Thunder Bay Thunder Cats 	Thunder Bay, Ontario 	Fort William Gardens 	1997-1999	moved to Rockford, Illinois; renamed Rockford IceHogs (UHL)
Winston-Salem IceHawks 	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	LJVM Coliseum Annex 	1997-1999	relocated to Glens Falls, New York; renamed Adirondack IceHawks
Asheville Smoke 	Asheville, North Carolina 	Asheville Civic Center 	1998-2002	folded
Mohawk Valley Prowlers 	Utica, New York 	Utica Memorial Auditorium 	1998-2001	folded February 21, 2001
Saginaw Gears (UHL) 	Saginaw, Michigan 	Wendler Arena 	1998-1999	moved to North Canton, Ohio December 20, 1999; renamed Ohio Gears
Adirondack IceHawks 	Glens Falls, New York 	Glens Falls Civic Center 	1999-2004	renamed Adirondack Frostbite
Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne, Indiana 	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 	1999-2007	join International Hockey League (2007-2010)
Knoxville Speed 	Knoxville, Tennessee 	Knoxville Civic Coliseum 	1999-2002	folded
Madison Kodiaks 	Madison, Wisconsin 	Dane County Coliseum 	1999-2000	relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan; renamed Kalamazoo Wings
Missouri River Otters 	St. Charles, Missouri 	Family Arena 	1999-2006	folded
Rockford IceHogs (UHL) 	Rockford, Illinois 	Rockford MetroCentre 	1999-2007	fold when city get American Hockey League team
Ohio Gears 	North Canton, Ohio 	Center Ice Sports Complex 	1999-2000	folded after sitting out waiting on planned arena in Massillon, Ohio to come to fruit, which didn't happen
Elmira Jackals 	Elmira, New York 	Coach USA Center 	2000-2007	fold when league was in proces of being renamed International Hockey League (2007-2010)
Kalamazoo Wings 	Kalamazoo, Michigan 	Wings Stadium 	2000-2007	join International Hockey League (2007-2010)
New Haven Knights 	New Haven, Connecticut 	New Haven Coliseum 	2000-2002	fold when arena closes
Port Huron Beacons 	Port Huron, Michigan 	McMorran Arena 	2002-2005	relocated to Roanoke, Virginia; renamed Roanoke Valley Vipers
Columbus Stars 	Columbus, Ohio 	Ohio Expo Center Coliseum 	2003-2004	folded January 9, 2004
Richmond Riverdogs 	Richmond, Virginia 	Richmond Coliseum 	2003-2006	relocated to Hoffman Estates, Illinois; renamed Chicago Hounds
Adirondack Frostbite 	Glens Falls, New York 	Glens Falls Civic Center 	2004-2006	folded
Danbury Trashers 	Danbury, Connecticut 	Danbury Ice Arena 	2004-2006	folded
Kansas City Outlaws 	Kansas City, Missouri 	Kemper Arena 	2004-2005	folded
Motor City Mechanics 	Fraser, Michigan 	Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena	2004-2006	folded
Port Huron Flags (UHL) 	Port Huron, Michigan 	McMorran Arena 	2005-2007	join International Hockey League (2007-2010) as Port Huron Icehawks
Roanoke Valley Vipers 	Roanoke, Virginia 	Roanoke Civic Center 	2005-2006	folded
Bloomington PrairieThunder 	Bloomington, Illinois 	U.S. Cellular Center 	2006-2007	join International Hockey League (2007-2010)
Chicago Hounds 	Hoffman Estates, Illinois 	Sears Centre 	2006-2007	fold when league was in process of being renamed International Hockey League (2007-2010)
===International Hockey league (2007-2010)===
Team name 	City 	Arena 	Years 	Comments
Bloomington PrairieThunder 	Bloomington, Illinois	U.S. Cellular Center 	2007-2010	join Central Hockey League
Flint Generals (1993–2010) 	Flint, Michigan 	IMA Sports Arena 	2007-2010	fold pro team; join North American Hockey League as Michigan Warriors
Fort Wayne Komets 	Fort Wayne, Indiana 	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum	2007-2010	join Central Hockey League
Kalamazoo Wings 	Kalamazoo, Michigan 	Wings Stadium 	2007-2009	join ECHL
Muskegon Fury 	Muskegon, Michigan 	L.C. Walker Arena 	2007-2008	renamed Muskegon Lumberjacks (1992-2010)
Port Huron Icehawks 	Port Huron, Michigan 	McMorran Arena 	2007-2010	fold pro team;
Muskegon Lumberjacks (1992-2010)	Muskegon, Michigan 	L.C. Walker Arena 	2008-2010	fold pro team; join United States Hockey League as Muskegon Lumberjacks (2010–)
Dayton Gems (2009-) 	Dayton, Ohio 	Hara Arena 	2009-2010	join Central Hockey League
Quad City Mallards (2009–2018) 	Moline, Illinois 	The MARK of the Quad Cities 	2009-2010	join Central Hockey League
==External links==
*Official IHL website
*UHL Yearly Standings
Category:Ice hockey leagues
Category:International Hockey League (2007–2010)
Category:Established in 2007
Category:Disestablished in 2010
Category:Ice hockey in Canada
Category:Ice hockey in the United States