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Peoria Rivermen (IHL)

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For other ice hockey teams named the same, see Peoria Rivermen.
Peoria Rivermen
CityPeoria, Illinois
LeagueInternational Hockey League
Operated1982–1996
Home arenaCarver Arena
ColorsBlue, red, and yellow
Franchise history
1982–1984Peoria Prancers
1984–1996Peoria Rivermen
1996–1998San Antonio Dragons
Championships
Regular season titles2 (1984–85, 1990–91)
Division titles4 (1984–85, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1994–95)
Turner Cups2 (1985, 1991)

The Peoria Rivermen were an ice hockey team that played in the International Hockey League. They played in Peoria, Illinois at the Carver Arena. A new team with the Peoria Rivermen name currently competes in the Southern Professional Hockey League.

History

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The Peoria Rivermen were founded in 1982–83 in the International Hockey League, operating under owner Ken Wilson as the Peoria Prancers. The franchise was taken over by the Peoria Civic Center in 1984, which held a contest with the Peoria Journal Star newspaper to rename the team with Rivermen as the winner. The IHL's Peoria Rivermen began operations for the 1984–85 season and won the Turner Cup in their first season. They were bought by Bruce Saurs in the summer of 1989, and he owned the club for 19 seasons. Following several season of financial losses, Saurs sold 50% of the ownership in the IHL franchise in 1996 and relocated it as the San Antonio Dragons.[1] Saurs then launched the Rivermen in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) beginning with the 1996–97 season.

They held professional hockey's longest winning streak at 18 games in 1991 until the Norfolk Admirals of the American Hockey League broke the record by winning 28 consecutive games in 2012.

Former owner Bruce Saurs died in July 2014.[2]

The St. Louis Blues owe their "Towel Man" tradition to the Rivermen. According to the Towel Man himself, Ron Baechle, he and friend Monsignor Matthew Mitas attended a Rivermen game in 1990 where they saw their post-goal tradition, which Mitas suggested Baechle copy in St. Louis. It's been a Blues tradition ever since, even making its way into EA Sports's NHL Video Game Series.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "San Antonio Gets IHL Team Rivermen Challenge Iguanas". The Oklahoman. July 4, 1996.
  2. ^ Eminian, Dave (July 10, 2014). "Peoria hockey legend, sports icon Bruce Saurs dies at 88". Peoria Journal-Star. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  3. ^ "Meet the Blues' Towel Man (Not Towel Guy)". YouTube. 12 June 2019.
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