Cleveland Lumberjacks

Cleveland Lumberjacks
CityCleveland, Ohio
LeagueInternational Hockey League
Operated1965–2001
Home arenaRichfield Coliseum (cap.20,000) 1992–1994
Gund Arena (cap. 20,056) 1994–2001
ColorsBlue, gold, black
AffiliatesMinnesota Wild (2000–2001)
Chicago Blackhawks (1999–2000)
Tampa Bay Lightning (1998–99)
Pittsburgh Penguins (1992–97)[1]
Franchise history
1960–1965Muskegon Zephyrs
1965–1984Muskegon Mohawks
1984–1992Muskegon Lumberjacks
1992–2001Cleveland Lumberjacks
The original Lumberjacks logo from 1992 to 1995

The Cleveland Lumberjacks were an International Hockey League (IHL) team based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Facts

Owner: Larry Gordon
Logo design: "Buzz"- A beaver wearing overalls holding a homemade hockey stick framed by a circular saw blade
Division titles won: none
Regular season titles won: none
League championships won: none
Mascot: Buzz
Local media: WUAB (1992–94), WBNX (1994–95), WKNR (1995-2001)

History

Originally formed in 1960 in Muskegon, Michigan as the Muskegon Zephyrs, the team was renamed the Mohawks in 1965 and the Lumberjacks in 1984. It moved to Cleveland in 1992 as part of the IHL's move upmarket, bringing professional hockey back to Cleveland for the first time in 14 years. It later folded along with the IHL at the end of the 2000–01 season.

In the 1995 hockey action movie Sudden Death starring Jean-Claude van Damme, Lumberjacks players impersonated the Chicago Blackhawks.

Market previously served by: Cleveland Barons of the NHL (1976–78)
Franchise replaced by: Cleveland Barons of the AHL (2001–06)

On December 16, 2011, before a Lake Erie Monsters game former Lumberjack Jock Callander had his number 15 retired in honor of his career as a member of the Lumberjacks, as well as his involvement in hockey initiatives in the Cleveland area.[2]

Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses/Shootout losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Season GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
1992-93 82 39 34 4 5 87 329 330 2324 2nd, Atlantic Lost in round 1
1993–94 81 31 36 14 0 76 278 344 1600 3rd, Atlantic Out of playoffs
1994–95 81 34 37 10 0 78 306 339 2157 4th, Northern Lost in round 1
1995–96 82 43 27 0 12 98 334 330 2258 3rd, Central Lost in round 1
1996–97 82 40 32 0 10 90 286 280 1820 2nd, Central Lost in round 3
1997–98 82 35 37 0 10 80 228 262 2151 4th, Central Lost in round 2
1998–99 82 28 47 0 7 63 248 310 1847 4th, Central Out of playoffs
1999–2000 82 40 30 0 12 92 225 238 2154 4th, East Lost in round 2
2000–01 82 43 32 0 7 93 270 258 1603 4th, East Lost in round 1

Playoffs

Season 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
1992–93 L, 0–4, FW — — —
1993–94 Out of Playoffs
1994–95 L, 1–3, CIN — — —
1995-96 L, 0–3, MCH — — —
1996-97 W, 3–1, IND W, 4–1, ORL L, 1–4, DET —
1997-98 W, 3–1, FW L, 2–4, ORL — —
1998-99 Out of Playoffs
1999–2000 W, 2–1, MIL L, 2–4, GR — —
2000-01 L, 0–4, GR — — —

Team records

Goals: 48 Tom Rodgers (1993–94)
Assists: 70 Jock Callander (1993–94)
Points: 112 Dave Michayluk (1992–93)
Points, Defenseman: 68 Dale DeGray (1994–95)
Penalty Minutes: 427 Paul Laus (1992–93)
Wins: 26 Rob Dopson (1992–93)
Shutouts: 6 Zac Bierk (2000–01)
GAA: 2.68 Evgeni Nabokov (1999–2000)
SV%: .920 Evgeni Nabokov (1999–2000)
Career Goals: 181 Jock Callander
Career Assists: 279 Jock Callander
Career Points: 460 Jock Callander
Career Penalty Minutes: 948 Rick Hayward
Career Goaltending Wins: 43 Philippe DeRouville
Career Shutouts: 6 Zac Bierk
Career Games: 501 Jock Callander

References

  1. ^ "Cleveland Lumberjacks Statistics and History". hockeydb.com.
  2. ^ "Jock Callander Jersey Retirement". YouTube.