The St. Louis Jr. Blues are a Tier III ice hockey team in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team plays their home games at the Affton Ice Rink in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.
St. Louis Jr. Blues | |
---|---|
City | St. Louis, Missouri |
League | NA3HL |
Founded | 1978 |
Home arena | Affton Ice Rink |
Colors | Navy blue, white, and red |
Owner(s) | Affton Americans Hockey Club |
General manager | Scott Sanderson |
Head coach | Matt Ocello |
Media | NAHLTV.com |
History edit
The team was formed in 1978 in the St. Louis Metro Junior B Hockey League by the St. Louis Blues president and general manager Emile Francis.[1] In 1987, the Jr. Blues merged with the Affton Americans organization and competed in the North American Junior Hockey League, Junior B Division.[2] The Jr. Blues competed in junior B division of USA Hockey's Tier III level. During this time, the team won the Jr. B National Championship in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. In 2007, the Jr. Blues and their league, the Central States Hockey League, were promoted to Jr. A status. In 2010, the Jr. Blues won the Tier III Jr. A National Championship.[3]
Season-by-season records edit
Season | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA | Regular Season Finish | Playoffs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014–15 | 47 | 13 | 30 | 4 | — | 30 | 131 | 228 | 6th of 6, Central Div. 25th of 31, NA3HL[4] |
Did not qualify |
2015–16 | 47 | 35 | 8 | 4 | — | 74 | 262 | 129 | 1st of 5, Midwest Div. 3rd of 34, NA3HL[5] |
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Cincinnati Thunder Won Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Nashville Junior Predators 1–2–0, 3rd of 4 in Silver Cup round-robin Pool B (W, 4–3 vs. Steel; L, 2–4 vs. Jr. Brahmas; L, 3–7 vs. Jets) |
2016–17 | 47 | 36 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 74 | 324 | 122 | 1st of 5, Midwest Div. 6th of 48, NA3HL |
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Cincinnati Thunder Won Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Peoria Mustangs 1–2–0, 3rd of 4 in Silver Cup round-robin Pool A (W, 4–2 vs. Capitals; L, 3–4 vs. Lumberjacks; L, 3–5 vs. Jets) |
2017–18 | 47 | 38 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 280 | 117 | 1st of 3, Midwest Div. 5th of 42, NA3HL |
Div. Semifinals bye Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Peoria Mustangs 2–0–1 in Fraser Cup round-robin Pool A (W, 4–0 vs. Quake; OTL, 2–3 vs. Lumberjacks; W, 4–0 vs. Jr. Senators) Won Fraser Cup Semifinal game, 5–0 vs. LaCrosse Freeze Lost Fraser Cup Final game, 2–3 vs. Metro Jets |
2018–19 | 47 | 35 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 73 | 266 | 105 | 2nd of 7, Central Div. 8th of 36, NA3HL |
Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Milwaukee Power Won Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Coulee Region Chill 1–1–0 in Fraser Cup round-robin (W, 6–2 vs. Jr. Senators; L, 1–3 vs. Jr. Brahmas) Lost Semifinal game, 2–3 (OT) vs. Lewiston/Auburn Nordiques |
2019–20 | 47 | 29 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 59 | 189 | 123 | 2nd of 6, Central Div. 12th of 34, NA3HL |
Playoffs cancelled |
2020–21 | 40 | 21 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 130 | 113 | 3rd of 6, Central Div. 14th of 31, NA3HL |
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Peoria Mustangs |
2021–22 | 47 | 6 | 38 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 85 | 251 | 6th of 6, Central Div. 31st of 34, NA3HL |
Did not qualify |
2022–23 | 47 | 8 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 103 | 296 | 6th of 6, Central Div. 32nd of 34, NA3HL |
Did not qualify |
2023–24 | 47 | 8 | 35 | 1 | 3 | 20 | 106 | 2227 | 6th of 6, Central Div. 29th of 34, NA3HL |
Did not qualify |
USA Hockey Tier III Junior A National Championships edit
Year | Round Robin | Record | Standing | Semifinal | Championship |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2009[6] | L, Minnesota Ice Hawks (MnJHL) 1–5 L, Jersey Hitmen (EJHL) 4–3 T, Phoenix Polar Bears (WSHL) 2–2 |
0–2–1 | 3rd of 4 Div. III |
Did not advance | |
2010[7] | L, New York Bobcats (AtJHL) 3–4 W, Seattle Totems (NorPac) 10–3 W, Rochester Ice Hawks (MnJHL) 4–3 |
2–1–0 | 1st of 4 Div. III |
W, New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs (EJHL) 2–1 | W, South Shore Kings (EJHL) 4–3 National Champions |
2011[8] | W, Hudson Crusaders (MnJHL) 10–2 W, Seattle Totems (NorPac) 4–3 L, Idaho Jr. Steelheads (WSHL) 1–6 |
2–1–0 | 2nd of 4 Pool I |
Did not advance |
Alumni edit
The Jr. Blues have had many alumni move on to, higher levels of junior ice hockey, NCAA Division I, Division III, ACHA College, at professional levels, including the NHL.[9]
Notable alumni include:
- Chris Butler - St. Louis Blues (NHL), University of Denver (WCHA)
- Michael Davies - Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL), University of Wisconsin- Madison (WCHA)
- Cal Heeter - Ohio State University (CCHA), Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
- Paul Stastny - St. Louis Blues (NHL), University of Denver (WCHA)
- Yan Stastny - St. Louis Blues (NHL)
- Travis Turnbull - Portland Pirates (AHL), University of Michigan (CCHA)
- Joe Vitale - Arizona Coyotes (NHL), Northeastern University (Hockey East)
References edit
- ^ "Twitter post with paper clipping for Jr. Blues announcement". Jr. Blues Twitter. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
- ^ "NA3HL's St. Louis Jr Blues Join JuniorHockey.com". Junior Hockey News. July 18, 2017.
- ^ "St. Louis Jr. Blues | News". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-24.
- ^ "2014–15 NA3HL Season Standings". Pointstreak. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ "2015–16 NA3HL Season Standings". Pointstreak. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
- ^ "2009 Tier III Jr. A Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ "2010 Tier III Jr. A Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
- ^ "2011 Tier III Jr. A Nat. Championships". USA Hockey. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-02-16.
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: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)