Idaho IceCats

The Idaho IceCats are a AAU-sanctioned Tier III Junior A ice hockey team based in McCall, Idaho. The IceCats currently play in the Western Division of the WSHL.
Home games had been split between the Idaho Ice World in Boise and the Manchester Ice & Event Centre in nearby McCall, Idaho. Also a few select games at the 5,000-seat Century Link Arena in downtown Boise, home of the Idaho Steelheads ECHL team. The team is now exclusively based out of the Manchester Ice & Event Centre.
The team was founded by Idaho Hockey Foundation Inc. in 2009. Idaho Hockey Foundation is a non-profit entity.
The team is coached by former NHL Draft pick by the Colorado Rockies and former head coach of the Idaho Steelheads, John Olver.
The Jr. Steelheads, like their former ECHL parent club the Idaho Steelheads, are named for a species of seagoing rainbow trout native to Idaho streams and rivers and popular with local anglers. 
logo 2009-2017 as Jr. Steelheads|150px
==History==
The team was founded by Idaho Hockey Foundation Inc. in 2009 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit entity. The Junior Steelheads, like their ECHL parent club the Idaho Steelheads, are named for a species of seagoing rainbow trout native to Idaho streams and rivers and popular with local anglers.
On July 27, 2017 at the request of the ECHL team the team changed its name to the IceCats. The change was made to differentiate the team from the youth program based in Boise as well as the ECHL team, which apparently lead to some confusion between the three organizations. The new logo is similar to the former Tacoma Sabercats team from the defunct West Coast Hockey League.
On May 10, 2018 long time coach and general manager John Olver stepped down to take a position with the NorthStar Christian Academy Prep hockey team in Alexandria, Minnesota.http://www.idahoicecats.com/news/olver-steps-down-as-coach-of-icecats This is termed as a leave of absence. The team will apparently be taking the 2018-19 season off.https://thejuniorhockeynews.com/the-death-pool-wshl-needs-three-body-bags/
===2009–10 season===
In the team's first season, the 2009–10 WSHL season, the Junior Steelheads finished 2nd in the Western Division and clinched their first Thorne Cup playoff spot against the experienced Phoenix Polar Bears. The Junior Steelheads won the first game of the three game series 5-3, but Phoenix rallied winning the second game 3-2 in OT and the third game 2-1.http://www.wshl.org/schedResultsWestern_content.htm
====2009 strip hockey incident====
The team received a four-day ban from the city of Boise after an incident at a practice when players missed a shot, they had to take off an article of equipment. An assistant coach told the AP the team was emulating a similar stunt done by the Tampa Bay Lightninghttp://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4600688http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/33498262/ns/sports-nhl/
===2013 championship===
On April 9, 2013, the Junior Steelheads defeated the Bay Area Seals 5-1 to win the first ever United Hockey Union Junior ice hockey championship in a six-team tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.
==Season-by-season records==
Season 	GP	W 	L	OTL	PTS	GF 	GA 	PIM 	Finish 	Playoffs
2009–10	49	39	7	3 	81 	238	111	1168	2nd of 8, Western3rd of 13, WSHL 	Lost Div. Semifinals, 1-2 vs. Phoenix Polar Bears
2010–11	46	39	5	2 	80 	257	84 	— 	1st of 8, Western1st of 13, WSHL 	Won Conf. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. San Diego GullsWon Conf. Finals, 2-0 vs. Phoenix Polar BearsWon League Finals, 2-0 vs. El Paso RhinosThorne Cup Champions
2011–12	46	42	2	2 	88 	264	92 	911 	1st of 5, Mountain2nd of 13, WSHL 	Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Ogden MustangsWon Div. Finals, 2-1 vs. Boulder Bison3-0 in Thorne Cup Round Robin(W, 3-1 vs. Monsters; W, 9-6 vs. Rhinos; W, 3-2 vs. Ice Jets)Won Championship game, 6-5 vs. Dallas Ice JetsThorne Cup Champions
2012–13	46	44	1	1 	89 	256	100	1142	1st of 5, Northwest1st of 22, WSHL	Won Div Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Seattle TotemsWon Div. Finals, 2-0 vs. Southern Oregon Spartans2-0 in Thorne Cup Round Robin(W, 4-3 vs. Monsters; W, 10-1 vs. Spartans)Won Semifinal game, 3-1 vs. Southern Oregon SpartansWon Championship game, 4-2 vs. Bay Area SealsThorne Cup Champions
2013–14	46	39	5	2 	80 	218	93 	1227	1st of 6, Northwest2nd of 24, WSHL	Won Div. Semifinals, 2-1 vs. Missoula MaulersLost Div. Finals, 0-2 vs. Ogden Mustangs1-2 in Thorne Cup Round Robin (Wild Card)(L, 2-4 vs. Rhinos; OTL, 3-4 vs. Monsters; W, 7-2 vs. Mustangs)Won Semifinal game, 3-2 vs. Fresno MonstersLost Championship game, 3-7 vs. El Paso Rhinos
2014–15	46	42	2	2 	86 	290	74 	822 	1st of 7, Northwest1st of 28, WSHL	Won Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Whitefish WolverinesWon Div. Finals, 2-1 vs. Missoula MaulersWon Thorne Cup Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Fresno MonstersWon Thorne Cup Finals, 3-1 vs. El Paso RhinosThorne Cup Champions
2015–16	52	44	7	1 	89 	334	78 	818 	1st of 8, Northwest2nd of 29, WSHL	Div. Quarterfinals, ByeWon Div. Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Whitefish WolverinesWon Div. Finals, 2-0 vs. Missoula MaulersWon Thorne Cup Semifinals, 2-0 vs. Long Beach BombersWon Thorne Cup Finals, 3-0 vs. Colorado Jr. EaglesThorne Cup Champions<
2016–17	52	43	5	4 	90 	273	99 	910 	1st of 7, Northwest2nd of 27, WSHL	Div. Quarterfinals, ByeWon Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Tahoe IcemenWon Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Butte CobrasWon Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 3–1 vs. Valencia FlyersLost Thorne Cup Championship game, 3–4 vs. Wichita Jr. Thunder
2017-18	51	44	4	3 	91 	306	103	- 	1st of 6 Northwest 	Div. Quarterfinals, ByeWon Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. West Sound WarriorsWon Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Tahoe IcemenLost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 0-4 vs El Paso Rhinos
==United Hockey Union National Championship Tournament==
AAU Sanctioned Junior A National ChampionshipIn 2013 and 2014, the Midwest Junior Hockey League (MWJHL), Northern States Hockey League (NSHL), and the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) advanced two teams each to the tournament.There was no UHU tournament held after the 2015 season.
Year	Round Robin 	RecordRanking	Semifinal Game 	Championship Game
2013	W, Tennyson Chevrolet (MWJHL) 4-3W, Lake George Fighting Spirit (NSHL) 3-0W, Hartland Hounds (MWJHL) 5-1	3-0-01st of 6	W, Hartland Hounds (MWJHL) 6-2 	W, Bay Area Seals (WSHL)5-1National Champions
2014	W, Hartland Hounds (MWJHL) 3-0SOW, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 3-2OTL, AHI Fighting Spirit (NSHL) 5-6 	2-0-11st of 6	W, AHI Fighting Spirit (NSHL) 6-1	L, El Paso Rhinos (WSHL) 3-6
==References==
==External links==
* Idaho Junior Steelheads official site
* Official WSHL website
Category:American ice hockey teams
Category:Western States Hockey League team
Category:Established in 2009