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{{Pro hockey team
⚫
'''Missouri River Otters''' were a [[minor league hockey]] team based in [[St. Charles, Missouri]]. They played in the [[United Hockey League]] from 1999 to 2006. They played their home games at the St. Charles [[Family Arena]] which opened in October 1999. Mike Shanahan Jr. was the owner and president when the team ceased operations; Frank Buonomo served as general manager.
| text_color = black
| bg_color = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#142c62 5px solid; border-bottom:#643218 5px solid;
| team = Missouri River Otters
| logo = Missouri_River_Otters_Primary_Logo_2004.png
| logosize = 220px
| city = [[St. Charles, Missouri]]
| league = [[United Hockey League]]
| conference =
| division =
| founded = [[1999–2000 UHL season|1999]]
| arena = [[Family Arena]]
| colors = Blue, green, brown<br />{{colorbox|#073277}} {{colorbox|#0c444b}} {{colorbox|#623118}}
| owner = Mike Shanahan, Jr
| GM = Frank Buonomo
| coach =
| captain =
| media =
| affiliates =
<!---Franchise history--->
| name1 = '''Missouri River Otters'''
| dates1 = 1999–2006
<!---Championships--->
| reg_season_titles =
| division_titles =
| conf_titles =
}}
⚫
The '''Missouri River Otters''' were a [[minor league|minor]] professional [[ice hockey]] team based in [[St. Charles, Missouri]]. They played in the [[United Hockey League]] from 1999 to 2006. They played their home games at the St. Charles [[Family Arena]], which also opened in October 1999.


==History==
After the NHL lockout in 2004–2005, [[National Hockey League|NHL]] defenseman [[Barret Jackman]] decided to stay in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] and play hockey for the River Otters during the lockout, along with center [[Ryan Johnson (ice hockey, born 1976)|Ryan Johnson]], defenseman [[Bryce Salvador]] and right winger [[Jamal Mayers]]
The River Otters were launched in the [[United Hockey League]] (UHL) for the [[1999–2000 UHL season|1999–2000 season]] owned by New York-based United Sports Ventures, an organization that operated several teams in the league.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vespereny |first=Cynthia |date=September 5, 1999 |title=River Otters might become breeding ground for Blues |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/1999/09/06/story7.html |website=[[St. Louis Business Journal]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2000/06/19/Finance/Preds-Call-Off-Deal-To-Buy-Teams.aspx |title=Preds call off deal to buy teams |first=John |last=Lombardo |website=[[Sports Business Journal]] |date=June 19, 2000}}</ref> The team's first head coach was former [[St. Louis Blues]]' player [[Mark Reeds]] and they had their home opener on October 23, 1999, with a sellout attendance for a 6–2 win over the [[Asheville Smoke]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Gateway City Puckchasers:The History of Hockey in St. Louis |page=214 |first=Darin |last=Wernig |date=October 2014 |publisher=Wernig Media, LLC, 2014 |isbn=978-0990723202 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3aWqBAAAQBAJ&q=%22River+City+Hockey%22+minor+league+UHL&pg=PA218}}</ref> [[Lonnie Loach]], who wore #33, played for the team from 1999 to 2003 and is the only person to have his number retired by the team.
{{multiple image | align= left | direction= vertical | width= 200
<!--image 1-->
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| image1= JackmanOtters.jpg | caption1= Barret Jackman of the [[St. Louis Blues]] wore jersey #55 with the River Otters
<!--image 2-->
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| image2= Missouri River Otters Played at The Family Arena.jpg | caption2= The River Otters players portal to the ice (1999)
}}
The team was sold in December 2001 to local ownership group River City Hockey LLC. consisting of Kevin Fitzpatrick, Dan O'Donnell, and David Black.<ref>{{cite web |last=Desloge |first=Rick |date=December 23, 2001 |title=New River Otters owners sign deal with Rochester |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2001/12/24/story6.html |website=[[St. Louis Business Journal]]}}</ref> The team was purchased by Mike Shanahan Jr. in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Korando |first=Russell |date=May 25, 2012 |title=Pro football returning to St. Charles County's Family Arena |url=https://www.stltoday.com/suburban-journals/stcharles/news/pro-football-returning-to-st-charles-countys-family-arena/article_696ec3b7-7a37-5a90-ad3f-74708bd5bc05.html |website=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]}}</ref> During the [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) lockout in 2004–05, NHL defenseman [[Barret Jackman]] decided to stay in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] and play hockey for the River Otters during the lockout, along with center [[Ryan Johnson (ice hockey, born 1976)|Ryan Johnson]], defenseman [[Bryce Salvador]] and right winger [[Jamal Mayers]]. The team also signed former NHL players such as [[Jim Montgomery (ice hockey)|Jim Montgomery]] and [[Dennis Vial]] during this season.


⚫
On January 25, 2006, the Missouri River Otters hosted the 2006 [[United Hockey League]] All Star Classic, which included events such as an UHL alumni vs. St. Louis Blues alumni pre-game show to raise money for [[St. Louis Children's Hospital]]. In late April 2006, team owner and president Mike Shanahan Jr. decided to fold the team due to lack of attendance, issues with the lease at the [[Family Arena]], and a steep [[workers' compensation]] bill. The staff was then let go as the announcement was made that the team would not play in the upcoming [[2006–07 UHL season]]. While leaving open the possibility of a sale, Shanahan said that the competition for the sports dollar in the greater St. Louis area meant that the team would likely fold instead of being sold.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 28, 2006 |title=Shanahan pulls plug on the River Otters |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/151883915/ |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:JackmanOtters.jpg|thumb|right||Barret Jackman of the [[St. Louis Blues]] wore jersey #55 with the River Otters]]
==References==
The River Otters also boasted veteran NHL'ers like [[Jim Montgomery (ice hockey)|Jim Montgomery]], [[Dennis Vial]], and [[Lonnie Loach]], who wore #33 and is the only person to have his number retired with the Missouri River Otters.
{{reflist}}

On January 25, 2006 The Missouri River Otters hosted the 2006 [[United Hockey League]] All Star Classic which included events such as the UHL Alumni vs The St. Louis Blues Alumni in a pre game show to raise money for St. Louis Children's Hospital. And a special visit to Children's hospital to all of the [[United Hockey League]] Team Mascots and All Star Players.

⚫
In late April 2006, Mike Shanahan Jr. decided to fold the team due to lack of attendance, issues with the lease at the [[Family Arena]] and a steep workmans comp bill. The staff was then let go as the announcement was made that the team would not play in the upcoming 2006–07 [[United Hockey League]] season. While leaving open the possibility of a sale, owner Mike Shanahan Jr. said that the competition for the sports dollar in the greater St. Louis area meant that the team would likely fold instead of being sold [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/4B61898443A2D9918625715E001A620D?OpenDocument].

⚫
[[File:Missouri River Otters Played at The Family Arena.jpg|thumb|left||The River Otters players portal to the ice (1999)]]

==Oscar The Otter (Team Mascot)==

[[File:Oscar923WIL.JPG|thumb|right||Oscar The Otter at Shop n Save in St. Peters (2006)]]
Oscar the Otter was named the team mascot before the inaugural opener on October 23, 1999, which the Otters won 6 to 2 against the [[Asheville Smoke]]

Oscar was well known for his craziness on the ice during home games. He loved to make everyone in the arena beg for T-shirts during intermissions as well as sign autographs and take rides on the Zamboni.

He was also very active in the community during the 2005–06 season, He made appearances at Ponderosa Steakhouse in St. Peters on a bi-weekly basis as well as visited local elementary schools and appeared on several TV segments including Tim Ezell's Morning Show during the Guns and Hoses Tournament at The Family Arena.


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.hockeydb.com/stte/missouri-river-otters-6901.html Missouri River Otters at HockeyDB]


{{IHL}}
{{IHL}}


[[Category:Sports clubs established in 1999]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs established in 1999]]
[[Category:Sports clubs disestablished in 2006]]
[[Category:Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2006]]
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[[Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in Missouri]]
[[Category:Defunct United Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:Defunct United Hockey League teams]]
[[Category:Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States]]
⚫
[[Category:Ice hockey teams in Missouri]]
[[Category:Sports in St. Charles, Missouri]]
[[Category:Sports in St. Charles, Missouri]]
[[Category:1999 establishments in Missouri]]
[[Category:2006 disestablishments in Missouri]]

Latest revision as of 13:16, 16 April 2024

Missouri River Otters
CitySt. Charles, Missouri
LeagueUnited Hockey League
Founded1999
Home arenaFamily Arena
ColorsBlue, green, brown
     
Owner(s)Mike Shanahan, Jr
General managerFrank Buonomo
Franchise history
1999–2006Missouri River Otters

The Missouri River Otters were a minor professional ice hockey team based in St. Charles, Missouri. They played in the United Hockey League from 1999 to 2006. They played their home games at the St. Charles Family Arena, which also opened in October 1999.

History

[edit]

The River Otters were launched in the United Hockey League (UHL) for the 1999–2000 season owned by New York-based United Sports Ventures, an organization that operated several teams in the league.[1][2] The team's first head coach was former St. Louis Blues' player Mark Reeds and they had their home opener on October 23, 1999, with a sellout attendance for a 6–2 win over the Asheville Smoke.[3] Lonnie Loach, who wore #33, played for the team from 1999 to 2003 and is the only person to have his number retired by the team.

Barret Jackman of the St. Louis Blues wore jersey #55 with the River Otters
The River Otters players portal to the ice (1999)

The team was sold in December 2001 to local ownership group River City Hockey LLC. consisting of Kevin Fitzpatrick, Dan O'Donnell, and David Black.[4] The team was purchased by Mike Shanahan Jr. in 2004.[5] During the National Hockey League (NHL) lockout in 2004–05, NHL defenseman Barret Jackman decided to stay in St. Louis and play hockey for the River Otters during the lockout, along with center Ryan Johnson, defenseman Bryce Salvador and right winger Jamal Mayers. The team also signed former NHL players such as Jim Montgomery and Dennis Vial during this season.

On January 25, 2006, the Missouri River Otters hosted the 2006 United Hockey League All Star Classic, which included events such as an UHL alumni vs. St. Louis Blues alumni pre-game show to raise money for St. Louis Children's Hospital. In late April 2006, team owner and president Mike Shanahan Jr. decided to fold the team due to lack of attendance, issues with the lease at the Family Arena, and a steep workers' compensation bill. The staff was then let go as the announcement was made that the team would not play in the upcoming 2006–07 UHL season. While leaving open the possibility of a sale, Shanahan said that the competition for the sports dollar in the greater St. Louis area meant that the team would likely fold instead of being sold.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Vespereny, Cynthia (September 5, 1999). "River Otters might become breeding ground for Blues". St. Louis Business Journal.
  2. ^ Lombardo, John (June 19, 2000). "Preds call off deal to buy teams". Sports Business Journal.
  3. ^ Wernig, Darin (October 2014). Gateway City Puckchasers:The History of Hockey in St. Louis. Wernig Media, LLC, 2014. p. 214. ISBN 978-0990723202.
  4. ^ Desloge, Rick (December 23, 2001). "New River Otters owners sign deal with Rochester". St. Louis Business Journal.
  5. ^ Korando, Russell (May 25, 2012). "Pro football returning to St. Charles County's Family Arena". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  6. ^ "Shanahan pulls plug on the River Otters". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 28, 2006 – via Newspapers.com.
[edit]
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