| Motor City Mechanics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Fraser, Michigan |
| League | United Hockey League |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Home arena | Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena |
| Colors | Maroon, black, silver, white |
| Franchise history | |
| 2004–2006 | Motor City Mechanics |
TheMotor City Mechanics were aminor professionalice hockey team in theUnited Hockey League. The Mechanics played two seasons from 2004 to 2006 atGreat Lakes Sports City Superior Arena inFraser, Michigan.
The team got a major boost during their first year when alockout cancelled the 2004–05National Hockey League season, thus leaving the Mechanics the only professional hockey team in the Detroit market. The Mechanics signed threeDetroit Red Wings players:Chris Chelios,Derian Hatcher, andKris Draper.[1][2] All three players had local ties; Hatcher had even played at the Mechanics' arena as a youth. However, due to visa problems, Canadian Kris Draper never played a game for the Mechanics. Later, Motor City also signedBryan Smolinski andSean Avery,[3] so the team had four active NHL players, more than any other North American pro team during the lockout.[citation needed] Furthermore, the Mechanics signedOklahoma City Blazers legendJoe Burton for what proved to be his final professional season; Burton wound up leading the team with 36 goals, twice what any other player managed. Despite the signings, the Mechanics barely played .500 hockey and missed the playoffs.
Following a league investigation concerning the February 2, 2005, game played against theFlint Generals, UHL commissioner Richard Brosal suspended Mechanics' coach Steve Shannon for the rest of the season for offering his players $200 to "take out" Generals forwardKevin Kerr.[4] Shannon's contract was terminated by the team and hiredDanton Cole on March 1, who had recently been fired by theGrand Rapids Griffins of theAmerican Hockey League.[5] Cole kept the position into the following season.
After being swept in the first round of the UHL playoffs, the Mechanics announced that they would suspend operations for the2006–07 UHL season while the owners were looking to relocate the team. The franchise was sold to a new owner who planned to keep the team in the Detroit area with home games at theMichigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum starting in 2008,[citation needed] but it never came to fruition.
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Standing | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | 80 | 37 | 36 | 7 | 81 | 229 | 262 | 1872 | 3rd Central Division | Did not qualify |
| 2005–06 | 76 | 40 | 30 | 6 | 86 | 251 | 246 | 1768 | 3rd Central Division | Lost quarterfinals vs.Kalamazoo Wings 0–4 |