Valencia Flyers
The Valencia Flyers are an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU)-sanctioned junior ice hockey team based in Valencia, California. The team plays in the Western Division of the Western States Hockey League at the Ice Station Valencia.[2][3]
| Valencia Flyers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Valencia, California |
| League | Western States Hockey League |
| Division | Western |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Home arena | Ice Station Valencia |
| Colors | Navy blue, golden yellow, white |
| Owner(s) | Roger Perez |
| Head coach | Shane McColgan[1] |
| Franchise history | |
| 2001–2003 | Valencia Flyers |
| 2004–2007 | Valencia Vipers |
| 2007–present | Valencia Flyers |
History
The franchise was founded in 2001 as the Valencia Flyers in the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) with three other expansion franchises.[4] The team played as the Flyers from 2001 to 2003 until suspending operations for the 2003–04 season before returning for the 2004–05 season as the Valencia Vipers. In 2007, the team reverted to its original name.
From 2001 to 2007, the Flyers were an USA Hockey-sanctioned Tier III Junior B team. In 2007, the WSHL was promoted to Tier III Junior A. Before the 2011–12 season, the WSHL and all its team members, including the Flyers, became AAU-sanctioned and dropped its USA Hockey sanctioning, the first Junior A hockey league to make that transition.
At the end of the 2019–20 regular season, the Flyers' home rink was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ice Station Valencia, which was also owned by the Flyers' owner Roger Perez. The closure was made permanent due to the financial losses incurred by the shutdown,[5] leaving the future of the team undetermined.[6]
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | OTW | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010–11 | 46 | 18 | 25 | — | 3 | 39 | 133 | 174 | — | 5th of 8, Western 9th of 13, WSHL | Did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | 46 | 23 | 17 | — | 6 | 52 | 181 | 163 | 1053 | 3rd of 6, Western 8th of 16, WSHL | Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. San Diego Gulls Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters |
| 2012–13 | 46 | 24 | 17 | — | 5 | 53 | 190 | 157 | 1140 | 3rd of 6, Western 8th of 22, WSHL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Bay Area Seals |
| 2013–14 | 46 | 27 | 15 | — | 4 | 58 | 171 | 175 | 750 | 3rd of 6, Pacific 10th of 24, WSHL | Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche |
| 2014–15 | 46 | 35 | 9 | — | 2 | 72 | 224 | 116 | 980 | 2nd of 8, Western 5th of 28, WSHL | Div. Quarterfinals, Bye Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ontario Avalanche Lost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Fresno Monsters |
| 2015–16 | 52 | 45 | 7 | — | 0 | 90 | 257 | 94 | 742 | 1st of 8, Western 1st of 29, WSHL | Div. Quarterfinals, Bye Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario Avalanche Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers |
| 2016–17 | 52 | 40 | 9 | — | 3 | 83 | 262 | 127 | 807 | 2nd of 8, Western 4th of 27, WSHL | Div. Quarterfinals, Bye Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Ontario Avalanche Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers 1–1–1, 3rd of 6, Thorne Cup round-robin (as wild card) (W, 3–1 vs. Jr. Eagles; L, 1–3 vs. Jr. Steelheads; OTL, 2–3 vs. Bombers) Lost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads |
| 2017–18 | 51 | 25 | 22 | — | 4 | 54 | 242 | 215 | 731 | 4th of 6, Western 13th of 23, WSHL | Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Phoenix Knights |
| 2018–19 | 51 | 13 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 49[lower-alpha 1] | 194 | 259 | 862 | 5th of 5, Western 17th of 23, WSHL | Lost Play-in series, 0–2 vs. Ontario Avalanche |
| 2019–20 | 51 | 3 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 117 | 359 | 661 | 5th of 5, Western 20th of 20, WSHL | Did not qualify |
- 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.
Alumni
The Flyers have had a number of alumni move on to NCAA Division III, and higher levels of junior ice hockey, and professional ice hockey.[7]
References
- "VALENCIA FLYERS BRING IN NEW HEAD COACH". WSHL. July 9, 2019.
- "Valencia Flyers Junior A Hockey". Icestation.net. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- "Valencia Flyers Hockey Notebook: Flyers Flying High Into League Playoffs Valencia Home Tonight For First Round. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 2002-03-08. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- "Junior League Helps Locals Become High Flyers Valencia-Based Team Gives Pair A Chance At Big-Time Hockey. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. 2001-10-13. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
- "PUBLIC CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENT". Valencia Flyers. March 25, 2020.
- "Public Closure FAQs". Valencia Flyers. March 25, 2020.
- "WSHL League - Player Alumni". Western States Hockey League. Archived from the original on 11 August 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
