The franchise was officially announced on January 25, 2007, as the Lake Erie Monsters, referring toBessie, a creature of local folklore. The name was chosen from researching focus groups around the Cleveland area and the logo incorporated the geographical connection in the region withLake Erie.[5]
Former NHL playerJoe Sacco was named as the Lake Erie Monsters first head coach andDave Oliver was named general manager.[6][7] The Monsters opened their inaugural2007–08 campaign with a loss at home against theGrand Rapids Griffins on October 6, 2007.[8] The team ended the season 26–41.[9]
At the end of the2010–11 season, the Monsters qualified for the Calder Cup playoffs for the first time in team history. After gaining a 3–1 series lead over theManitoba Moose in the opening round, the Monsters proceeded to lose the next three consecutive games, losing the series 4–3.[10]
On April 17, 2015, the Monsters announced the signing of a multi-year agreement to become the AHL affiliate for theColumbus Blue Jackets, which took effect in the2015–16 season.[11] The multi-season affiliation was extended in 2019.[12][13]
The Monsters finished the2015–16 season by setting a franchise record inpoints (97) and qualified for the playoffs for the second time in team history.[14] On April 23, 2016, the Monsters defeated their first round opponent, theRockford IceHogs, 5–3, ending a three-game sweep of their opponent in abest-of-five series.[15][16] The Monsters advanced to the Western Conference Semifinals to play theGrand Rapids Griffins in abest-of-seven series, defeating them 4–2. They then swept the defending Calder Cup ChampionOntario Reign in the Western Conference Finals to reach their first Calder Cup Final in franchise history.[17] On June 11, 2016, the Monsters won the franchise's first Calder Cup in a four-game sweep of theHershey Bears, withOliver Bjorkstrand scoring the Cup-winning goal in overtime.[17][18]
This marked Cleveland's first AHL title since theBarons won their last Calder Cup in 1964, and 10th overall for a Cleveland-based AHL team.[17] The Monsters won Game 4 before a sellout crowd of 19,665 people at Quicken Loans Arena — the second largest crowd for a professional hockey game in Ohio behind the 19,941 in aCleveland Lumberjacks game against theMinnesota Moose in February 1996, and the second largest in Calder Cup playoff history behind the 20,103Philadelphia Phantoms game four victory in the2005 Calder Cup Finals over theChicago Wolves.[19]
On August 9, 2016, the Lake Erie Monsters changed their name to the Cleveland Monsters.[20] The team's Calder Cup winning head coach,Jared Bednar, was then hired by theColorado Avalanche on August 25.[21] Under their new name and coachJohn Madden, the Monsters failed to qualify for the playoffs in the2016–17 season.[22][23][24] In the2017–18 season, the Monsters earned last place in the Western Conference and failed to make the playoffs.[25] The team returned to the playoffs following the2018–19 season as the fourth seed in the North Division where they upset the division championSyracuse Crunch before being swept by theToronto Marlies in the division finals.[26][27] Head coach John Madden then left the team and was replaced byMike Eaves.[28][29]
The Monsters2019–20 season was curtailed by the onset of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[30] The team ended the season in last place in their division with a record of 24–31.[31][32] Owing to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, the2020–21 season was delayed and shortened with no playoffs held in their division.[33] They ended the season in second place within their division.[34]
The following teams have previously played in Cleveland. The Monsters recognize and honor past Cleveland teams with commemorative banners at Rocket Arena:[35][36]
Monsters retired numbers and championship banners hanging from the rafters ofRocket Arena
No Monsters player has had his number retired. However, the team has retired the numbers of players who have played on past Cleveland franchises to honor the city's hockey history.[35]
WARF AM 1350 serves as the radio outlet for the team, with select games simulcast on sister stationWTAM AM 1100/FM 106.9.[41] Play-by-play announcer Tony Brown calls games on-site.[42]
TV
Over 20 Monsters games will be televised on Rock Entertainment Sports Network (RESN), which is carried on sister stationsWTCL-LD in Cleveland,WOHZ-CD inCanton, and W28FG-D inAkron - all on channel 22, with several of those games also simulcast on sister station and RESN affiliateWUAB channel 43.
The broadcast team consists of play-by-play broadcaster Tony Brown and formerCleveland Lumberjacks player and current Monsters vice presidentJock Callander as analyst. All televised games are also simulcast on the radio.[43]
The Monsters' official mascot is aseagull character named "Sullivan C. Goal" (aka "Sully").[44] Also featured are the "Monsters Hockey Girls" cheerleaders.[45] In March 2023 the Monsters unveiled "The Modelo Experience" which allows fans the opportunity to take ride on a custom made "fanboni" built by Cleveland Power and Performance.[46]
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