Phoenix Knights

The Phoenix Knights were a AAU-sanctioned Junior A Tier III ice hockey team based out of Phoenix, Arizona. Their host facility is the AZ Ice Gilbert in Gilbert, Arizona. The Knights were a member of the Western States Hockey League.
==History==
The Phoenix Polar Bears were formed as an expansion team by Harry Mahood for the Western States Hockey League in 1999. Until 2009, Harry Mahood operated as the owner, general manager, and head coach of the Polar Bears and became one of the most successful franchises in the WSHL under his tenure. In 2011 the Polar Bears left the WSHL when the league dropped their USA Hockey membership and joined the United Hockey Union. After folding, the franchise was sold and their WSHL membership license was sold to Arizona Hockey Club, Inc. to create the Phoenix Knights junior hockey team. 
In 2003 the Phoenix Polar Bears won the USA Hockey National Championship, beating the St. Louis Jr Blues 1-0. In 2003 they ended with a 'perfect season' of 47-0. In 2002 and 2004 the team won a silver medal at the USA Hockey National Tournament. In 2004 the Polar Bears received the National Fair Play Award at the National Tournament. Under Harry Mahood, the Phoenix Polar Bears recorded 575 wins, 7 WSHL Thorne Cup Championships, 9 consecutive National Tournament appearance, 3 undefeated seasons in WSHL play, one nationally undefeated season in 2003, 2004 National Fair Play award and graduated over 170 players to all levels of NHL, NCAA, CIAU, Minor Pro, Major Junior and ACHA hockey. 
Concurrently the Phoenix Polar Bears raised several hundred thousands of dollars for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, American Heart Association, Phoenix Thunderbirds, Child Find, American Red Cross and various other community programs and charities.
==Season-by-season records==
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	OTL 	Pts 	GF 	GA 	PIM 	Finish 	Playoffs 	 	
Phoenix Polar Bears	Phoenix Polar Bears	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	Phoenix Polar Bears 	
1999-00 	 	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable 	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable
2000-01 	 	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable 	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable
2001-02 	 	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable 	Information Unavailable	Information Unavailable
2002-03 	38 	38 	0 	0 	76 	395 	37 	- 	1st overall 	Won Championship 	 	
2003-04 	32 	31 	1 	0 	62 	283 	50 	- 	1st overall 	Won Championship 	 	
2004-05 	32 	19 	12 	1 	39 	325 	36 	- 	1st overall 	Won Championship 	 	
2005-06 	42 	37 	3 	2 	76 	334 	76 	- 	 Western 	 	 	
2006-07 	45 	43 	2 	0 	86 	389 	102 	1024 	1st Western 	
Won  Championship 	 	
2007-08 	51 	48 	2 	1 	97 	404 	96 	1281 	1st Western 	 	 	
2008-09 	49 	33 	13 	3 	69 	252 	105 	1463 	1st Western 	Won Championship 	 	
2009-10 	49 	15 	28 	6 	36 	252 	111 	1459 	3rd Western 	Won Championship 	 	
Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	Phoenix Knights 	
Season 	GP 	W 	L 	OTL 	Pts 	GF 	GA 	PIM 	Finish 	Playoffs 	 	
2010–11 	51 	27 	18 	6 	60 	183 	156 	– 	3rd  Western 	 	 	
2011–12 	46 	11 	33 	2 	24 	138 	273 	1001 	6th  Western 	Did not qualify 	 	
2012–13 	46 	19 	23 	4 	42 	166 	202 	1270 	4th Mountain 	Lost Conf. Semifinals, 0-2 vs. El Paso Rhinos 	 	
2013–14 	46 	32 	12 	2 	66 	255 	138 	907 	1st  Mountain 	Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 vs. Boulder BisonWon Div. Finals, 2-1 vs. Colorado Jr. Eagles1-2-0 in Thorne Cup Round Robin (4-5 vs. Mustangs; 3-5 vs. Rhinos; 3-1 vs. Monsters)Lost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 3-4 vs. El Paso Rhinos	 	
2014–15 	46 	10 	33 	3 	23 	158 	265 	1009 	7th Western 	Did not qualify 	 	
2015–16 	52 	22 	27 	3 	47 	198 	221 	1208 	5th Western 	Lost Div. Semifinals, 1-2 vs. Ontario Avalanche 	 	
2016–17 	49 	7 	42 	0 	14 	96 	350 	725 	7th of 8, Western 	Did not qualify 	 	
2017-18 	51 	23 	26 	2 	48 	171 	240 	- 	5th of 6, Western 	Won Div Quarterfinals 2-0 vs (Valencia FlyersLost Div Semifinals 1-2 vs Long Beach Bombers 	 	
==Alumni==
Among the many alumni to play college and advanced levels of junior and major junior hockey, including:
*Dusty Collins, a local Phoenix born player drafted to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2005 and enjoyed a short career in the minors before retiring.
* Tyler Haskins from Ohio who was drafted the same year to the Detroit Red Wings and is currently the captain of EHC Wolfsburg in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga.
==Youth Hockey==
Initially the Youth Hockey Programs at Polar Ice Peoria, Polar Ice Chandler and Polar Ice Gilbert were named after the Polar Bears team, being the Jr. Polar Bears. They have teams ranging from Mites to Midget and compete annually across the United States. The Jr. Polar Bears turned into the AHU Knights in 2011 and still continue as a youth organization without a WSHL team.
==Championships==
The Polar Bears have won seven Thorne Cups, awarded to the WSHL playoff champions in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010.
In addition to WSHL championships the Team has won the USA Hockey Tier III National Championship in 2003, National runners-up in 2002, and 3rd place in 2008.
==References==
Category:Established in 1999
Category:Western States Hockey League team
Category:Disestablished in 2018