Minnesota Iron Rangers

This article is about the Superior International Junior Hockey League team. For the former American Hockey Association (1992-1993) team please see Minnesota Iron Rangers (AHA).
The Minnesota Iron Rangers are an American Junior ice hockey team based in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota. The Iron Rangers play in the Canadian-based Superior International Junior Hockey League.
==History==
On July 12, 2011, USA Hockey granted the Superior International Junior Hockey League an expansion team in the Iron Range Region of Northern Minnesota to begin play in September 2011.http://fftimes.com/node/244156 Fort Frances Times - Lakers unveil draft picks The Ironheads' coach and general manager was Steve Chelios, brother of former NHL defenseman Chris Chelios.http://fftimes.com/node/244290 Chelios was the franchise's managing partner, along with a group of investors from Vancouver, BC.http://fftimes.com/node/244290
On October 8, 2011, despite their first game being set back twice, finally stepped on the ice for their inaugural game. Their first game was against the Dryden Ice Dogs in Dryden, Ontario. Shamus O'Neill scored the franchise's first goal at 18:51 of the first period. The Ice Dogs won the game 5-1.
On December 10, 2011, the Ironheads defeated the Fort Frances Lakers 3-2 at home to win their first ever regular season game.
===Iron Rangers (2012-2019)===
On June 1st, 2012, It was announced via the Ironheads Facebook page that the team has folded, Steve Chelios had been let go, and will be restructured as the Minnesota Iron Rangers, Playing their games in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota.
On June 19th, 2012, Chris Walby was hired as the team's Head Coach/General Manager. He would hold those positions until resigning on July 27, 2016.  He would lead the team to a 113-93-2-16 overall record during his tenure.
The team was close to another relocation just one season after moving from Cloquet. Members of the community raised $30,000 to keep the team in Hoyt Lakes. The team would go on to their best season to-date falling in Game 7 of the 2014 Bill Salonen Cup Finals. Several players were honored by the SIJHL, winning post-season awards.
On June 12, 2019 it was announced the team would take a one year leave of absence for the 2019-20 season with the intention of relocating somewhere within the Iron Range of Minnesota.https://www.mnironrangers.com/2019/06/12/minnesota-iron-rangers-to-take-one-year-leave-of-absence-from-sijhl/ Other sources indicate that the team may have in fact folded.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-minnesota-iron-rangers-are-dead/
==Season-by-season results==
Please note: unless noted otherwise playoff rounds are played in "best of" series.
Season 	GP	W 	L 	T 	OL	GF 	GA 	Pts	Results 	Playoffs
2011-12	56	9 	45	- 	2 	155	432	20 	7th of 7	Lost Survivor Series, 0-2 (Clydesdales)
2012-13	56	26	28	- 	2 	161	194	54 	5th of 5	Won Quarterfinals 2-1 (North Stars)Lost Semifinals, 0-4 (Wilderness)
2013-14	56	36	14	- 	6 	237	168	78 	3rd of 6	Won Quarterfinals, 4-0 (Wilderness)Won Semifinals, 4-2 (North Stars)Lost Finals, 3-4 (Lakers)
2014-15	56	30	20	- 	6 	246	198	66 	2nd of 5	Lost Semifinals, 2-4 (Ice Dogs)
2015-16	56	21	31	2 	2 	178	223	46 	4th of 5	Lost Survivor Series, 2-3 (Miners)
2016-17	56	7 	46	0 	3 	144	336	17 	6th of 6	Did Not Qualify
Season 	GP	W 	L 	OL	SL	GF 	GA 	Pts	Results 	Playoffs
2017-18	56	6 	47	1 	2 	124	325	15 	6th of 6	Lost First Round, 0-3 (North Stars)
2018-19	56	3 	53	0 	0 	91 	478	6 	6th of 6	Lost First Round, 0-3 (Norskies)
== Alumni ==
Several players have moved on to college ice hockey programs. In June 2015 the Iron Ranges announced that eight members of the previous season would be playing for NCAA college hockey programs in the Fall.
==References==
==External links==
*Iron Rangers Webpage
*Superior International JHL Webpage
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:Superior International Junior Hockey League team
Category:Established in 2011
Category:Disestablished in 2019