Keystone Ice Miners

The Keystone Ice Miners were a Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based at The Ice Mine arena in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The team moved to Connellsville in May 2014; prior to the move, the team was known as the Port Huron Fighting Falcons.[1]

Keystone Ice Miners
CityConnellsville, Pennsylvania
LeagueNAHL
DivisionNorth
Founded2010
Home arenaThe Ice Mine
ColorsBlue, Orange, and Black
Owner(s)Hat Trick Hockey, LLC
General managerMichael Gershon
Head coachMichael Gershon
Franchise history
2010–2014Port Huron Fighting Falcons
2014–2015Keystone Ice Miners

History

The team began play during the 2010-11 season as the Port Huron Fighting Falcons are a Junior A Tier II ice hockey team based out of Port Huron, Michigan.[2] A member of the North American Hockey League's North Division, the team plays their home games in the McMorran Arena.[3] On July 10, 2010 the team announced its name as the Fighting Falcons.[4] Despite losing their first 15 games, they won 4-1 against the Springfield Jr. Blues on November 7 landing the team's first victory in history.

In 2014, the team announced it would be moving to Connellsville, Pennsylvania, a city south of Pittsburgh. The team will play at the Ice Mine and change their team name to the Ice Miners.[5] Hat Trick Hockey, the parent ownership of the Ice Miners, announced in mid-December 2014 that they were terminating its membership with the NAHL effective immediately. The league has indicated it plans to keep the team operational through the remainder of the 2014-15 season, including playoffs, if the Ice Miners should qualify.[6]

Season Records
SeasonGPWLOTLPTSGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
Port Huron Fighting Falcons
2010–11586466181273121,4088th, Northdid not qualify
2011–126038193792031591,0101st, Northlost in Round Robin
2012–136032244681781631,0044th, Northlost in 2nd round
2013–1460351510801871518281st, Northlost in 3rd round
Keystone Ice Miners
2014–156031245671531408362nd, NorthLost First Round Series, 0-3, Soo Eagles

Uniforms and logos

The team's colors are light blue, black and yellow. Home jerseys will feature the main Fighting Falcons logo with an alternate Falcon Head logo appearing on the road jerseys. Shoulder patches on both home and away uniforms will feature a circular logo with the Blue Water Bridge, that spans the St. Clair River separating Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.[7]

Original logo controversy
Ivall's 2008 logo (left) and the team's 2010 logo (right)

Released on July 10, 2010, the Fighting Falcons first logo bore a strong resemblance to a logo created by Mike Ivall of Ivall Design.[8]

On July 15, 2010, the Fighting Falcons announced the team will create new logo to avoid any problems relating to any similarities with Ivall's concept art after he had contacted the team and noted similarities.[9]

References
  1. Staff (May 9, 2014). "NAHL's Keystone Ice Miners Introduced". The Junior Hockey News. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  2. http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20100701/SPORTS/7010317/Port-Huron-lands-hockey-team
  3. "NAHL approves Port Huron, Michigan membership". North American Hockey League (NAHL).
  4. "Fighting Falcons take flight in Port Huron". North American Hockey League (NAHL).
  5. Black, Jason (May 10, 2014). "Connellsville official welcomes new NAHL team". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 1, 2014.
  6. "Keystone ownership voluntarily resigns membership". North American Hockey League (NAHL).
  7. "Fighting Falcons unveil logo". North American Hockey League (NAHL).
  8. http://www.puckdrawn.com/puckdrawn/2010/07/mike-ivall-the-most-ripped-off-man-in-the-hockey-concept-world.html Archived July 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  9. http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=13276e758a7e401780c61acb15596dbd&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckUserId=13276e758a7e401780c61acb15596dbd&plckPostId=Blog%3a13276e758a7e401780c61acb15596dbdPost%3a9906af7d-d75f-4028-8b8b-977b3670dfaf&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest
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