Southern Oregon Spartans

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Southern Oregon Spartans
So Oregon Spartans logo.png
CityMedford, Oregon
LeagueNorthern Pacific Hockey League (2007–2012)
Western States Hockey League (2012–2020)
United States Premier Hockey League (2020)
Founded2007
Home arenaThe RRRink
ColorsBlack, gold, white
     
Owner(s)Dylan and Brie Martin
General managerDylan Martin
Head coachDylan Martin
Franchise history
2007–2010Rogue Valley Wranglers
2010–2020Southern Oregon Spartans

The Southern Oregon Spartans were a junior ice hockey team that played their home games at The RRRink in Medford, Oregon.

History[]

On May 25, 2007, it was announced by the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac) that two expansion teams would begin play during the 2007–08 season, the Missoula Maulers and the Rogue Valley Wranglers.[1] When the Wranglers franchise was announced, the NorPac was a Tier III Junior B hockey league; however, on July 17, 2007, it was announced that the league and all its teams would be granted Tier III Junior A status.[2] Also on July 17, the team announced the signing of their first player, Robert Reiber, who was later traded to the Eugene Generals.[3][4]

After three seasons as the Wranglers, it was announced on February 20, 2010, that the team had been purchased by new ownership, led by Troy Irving and Forest Sexton,[5] and would be re-established as the Southern Oregon Spartans. The new ownership confirmed that Steve Chelios would be hired on as the general manager and head coach of the team. The team played that evening for the first time as the Spartans and revealed the new team and logo to a crowd of over 900 fans from throughout Southern Oregon.

Starting in the 2012–13 season, the Spartans joined the AAU-sanctioned Western States Hockey League (WSHL) and played out of the Northwest Division. In 2019, the Spartans' management posted the franchise was for sale.[6] The team was then sold to Dylan and Brie Martin in June 2019.[7]

In 2020, the Spartans left the WSHL and joined another independent junior hockey league, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), in the Premier Division.[8] Due to local capacity restrictions on indoor events amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spartans began their 2020–21 season playing in outdoor rinks and at their home rink with limited attendance. As restrictions increased, the team withdrew from the 2020–21 season after six games played on November 18, 2020.[9] The team also opted out from the 2021–22 season.[10] Their home arena, The RRRink, then opted to not renew their lease with the Spartans in May 2021 and begin seeking a new junior hockey tenant.[11] In July 2021, the arena announced that another WSHL team, called the Rogue Valley Royals, would operate out of the rink in the 2021–22 season.[12] The Royals then went dormant before their first season due to other WSHL teams dropping out.[13]

Season-by-season records[]

Season GP W L OTW OTL SOL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
Rogue Valley Wranglers
2007–08 48 3 45 — — — 6 130 443 1,942 7th of 7, Pacific
13th of 13 NorPac		 Did not qualify
2008–09 48 1 47 — — — 2 80 376 1,249 7th of 7, Pacific
13th of 13, NorPac		 Did not qualify
2009–10 48 8 40 — — — 16 127 181 1,385 6th of 6, Pacific
12th of 12, NorPac		 Did not qualify
Southern Oregon Spartans
2010–11 50 36 14 — — — 72 280 149 1,668 2nd of 6, Pacific
3rd of 11, NorPac		 Won Div. Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Eugene Generals
Lost Div. Finals, 0–3 vs. Seattle Totems
2011–12 42 34 8 — — — 68 260 162 1,864 2nd of 7, NorPac Won Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Yellowstone Quake
Won Finals, 3–0 vs. Seattle Totems
CASCADE CUP CHAMPIONS
2012–13 46 26 19 — 1 0 53 172 172 1,758 2nd of 5, Northwest
8th of 22, WSHL		 Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ogden Mustangs
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads
1–1 in Thorne Cup Round Robin (wild card)
(L, 1–10 vs. Jr. Steelheads; W, 4–2 vs. )
Lost Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads
2013–14 46 12 30 — 2 2 28 141 209 1,003 5th of 6, Northwest
18th of 24, WSHL		 Did not qualify
2014–15 46 34 11 — 1 0 79 229 120 1,575 3rd of 7, Northwest
6th of 28, WSHL		 Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Seattle Totems
Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Missoula Maulers
2015–16 52 33 18 — 1 — 67 227 184 1,395 3rd of 8, Northwest
10th of 29, WSHL		 Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Seattle Totems
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Missoula Maulers
2016–17 52 33 15 — 4 — 70 205 124 1,193 2nd of 7, Northwest
10th of 27, WSHL		 Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs.
2017–18 51 12 38 — 1 — 25 147 253 1,514 6th of 6, Northwest
20th of 23, WSHL		 Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Bellingham Blazers
2018–19 51 18 29 2 2 — 60[a] 214 216 1,197 3rd of 4, Northwest
14th of 23, WSHL		 Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Bellingham Blazers
2019–20 50 6 41 2 1 — 23[a] 101 361 1,030 5th of 5, Northwest
19th of 20, WSHL		 Did not qualify
2020–21 6 0 6 — 0 0 0 9 61 145 5th of 5, USPHL-Premier Pacific Withdrew from season
  1. ^ a b Beginning with the 2018–19 season, the WSHL began awarding 3pts for a win, 2pts for an overtime win, and 1pt for an overtime loss.

References[]

  1. ^ "NORPAC Announces Addition of Two Teams". NPHL. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
  2. ^ "NORPAC Officially Granted Tier-III A Status". NPHL. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  3. ^ "Wranglers Sign First Player". Rogue Valley Wranglers. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  4. ^ "Stats & Standings". NPHL. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  5. ^ "Wranglers under new ownership". Medford Mail Tribune. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011.
  6. ^ "Spartans for sale". Facebook. April 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "SOUTHERN OREGON LANDS NEW OWNERS". WSHL. June 28, 2019.
  8. ^ "United States Premier Hockey League Adds Eight New West Coast Member Organizations". USPHL. April 17, 2020.
  9. ^ "SOS COVID-19 RESPONSE". Southern Oregon Spartans. November 18, 2020.
  10. ^ "Spartans opt out of 2021-22 hockey season". Mail Tribune. May 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "THE RRRINK CUTS TIES WITH SOUTHERN OREGON SPARTANS HOCKEY". KDRV. June 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "The RRRink to house new team". Mail Tribune. July 27, 2021.
  13. ^ "ROYALS ANNOUNCE DORMANCY". Rogue Valley Royals. November 11, 2021.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""