The Hudson Valley Bears were an ice hockey team in the Eastern Professional Hockey League. They split their home games between the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York and the Ice Time Sports Complex in Newburgh, New York.

Hudson Valley Bears
CityPoughkeepsie, New York
Newburgh, New York
LeagueEastern Professional Hockey League
Founded2008
Home arenaMid-Hudson Civic Center
Ice Time Sports Complex
ColorsBlack, gold, and blue
     
Owner(s)Curtis Russell
General managerPhil Esposito
Head coachPhil Esposito
MediaPoughkeepsie Journal
Franchise history
2008–2009Hudson Valley Bears

History

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2008-2009

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The Hudson Valley Bears were founded in 2008 as an Eastern Professional Hockey League expansion team. In October 2008, weeks before the first games were scheduled, the Copper City Chiefs and New Hampshire Freeze folded endangering the ability of the season to be played. Rather than postpone the season, a replacement team was put together and named the Hudson Valley Bears, with home games at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, New York and the Ice Time Sports Complex in Newburgh, New York.[1] The Bears' roster was drawn from a pool of nearly 100 "local guys with part-time jobs," as Jim Riggs, the league commissioner, put it.[2]

The Bears had little success during their only season as they finished with a 3–45–1–1 record and last place, missing the playoffs by 54 points. They also finished last in attendance with average attendance 235.[3]

Roster

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Goaltenders
# Player Pos. Catches Height Weight Place of Birth
30   Len DiCostanzo G R 5' 10" 185 lbs. Port Jefferson Station, New York, United States
33   Vincent Januska G R Chester, New York, United States
85   Tim Schneider G L 5' 7" 165 lbs Düsseldorf, NRW, GER
Defensemen
# Player Pos. Shoots Height Weight Place of Birth
3   Dan Malloy D L 6' 2" 215 lbs. Stamford, Connecticut, United States
4   Chris Sullivan D R 6' 3" 195 lbs. South Windsor, Connecticut, United States
5   Chris Clark D R 6' 3" 215 lbs. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
15   Tony Troccia D R Brick, New Jersey, United States
32   TJ Cline D L 6' 1" 220 lbs. Buffalo, New York, United States
77   Gabe Yeung D R 6' 5" 230 lbs. Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Forwards
# Player Pos. Shoots Height Weight Place of Birth
10   Jerry Cardinale F L 5' 9" 165 lbs. Brooklyn, New York, United States
12   Scott Horvath F R 6' 2" 225 lbs. West Redding, Connecticut, United States
14   John Geverd F R 5' 11" 217 lbs. Hooksett, New Hampshire, United States
15   Kevin Kaminski F R
16   Joey Bouchard C L 5' 9" 240 lbs. Deerfield, New Hampshire, United States
18   Jeff Pozzuto F R 6'1" 180 lbs. Butler, Pennsylvania, United States
18   Tom Westfall F R 6' 5" 220 lbs. Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States
19   Scotty Estey F L 5' 11" 190 lbs. Highland Falls, New York, United States
20   Joe Morrison F R
21   Devin Guy F 6' 0" 200 lbs. Highland Falls, New York, United States
44   Phil Esposito LW L 6' 2" 235 lbs. East Haven, Connecticut, United States
52   Bill Blaszcyk F R 6' 1" 208 lbs. Manorville, New York, United States
83   Chris Seifert F L 6' 0" 180 lbs. Fairfield, Connecticut, United States
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References

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  1. ^ Ferguson, Wm (27 March 2009). "By Existing, a Fledgling Hockey League Declares Victory". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Ferguson, Wm (27 March 2009). "By Existing, a Fledgling Hockey League Declares Victory". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "..:: Ephl ::". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2010-07-03.