| Iowa Stars | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Des Moines, Iowa |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Operated | 2005–2009 |
| Home arena | Wells Fargo Arena |
| Colors | Black, crimson, grey, white |
| Affiliates | Dallas Stars (2005–2008) Anaheim Ducks (2008–2009) |
| Franchise history | |
| 1999–2001 | Louisville Panthers |
| 2005–2008 | Iowa Stars |
| 2008–2009 | Iowa Chops |
| 2009–present | Texas Stars |
TheIowa Stars, later known as theIowa Chops, were a professionalice hockey team in theAmerican Hockey League. The club was based inDes Moines, Iowa at theWells Fargo Arena.
The Stars were founded by Howard Baldwin, of Hockey Holdings & Management Group, and Dallas businessman Bob Schlegel, who took the dormantLouisville Panthers AHL franchise and resurrected it for the 2005–06 season as theIowa Stars (the same name asan earlier team in 1969–70 in theCentral Hockey League). They had a five-year affiliation agreement with theDallas Stars and a one-year agreement with theAnaheim Ducks.
In their inaugural season, the Stars made it to the Calder Cup playoffs first round, where they were defeated by theMilwaukee Admirals. The Stars won their first playoff series the following season, defeating theOmaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in six games.
In February 2008, the Dallas Stars announced they would be affiliating with the futureTexas Stars pending the 2009 completion of theCedar Park Entertainment Center inCedar Park, Texas. After the2007–08 AHL season, the Dallas Stars left the Iowa scene, and the Anaheim Ducks announced an affiliation with the team.
On July 9, 2008, the team unveiled its new name and logo, featuring a "vicious boar’s head in the team colors of crimson, grey and black".[1]
Portland Pirates assistantGord Dineen was named head coach of the Iowa Chops on August 19, 2008.[2]
On May 9, 2009, the Anaheim Ducks dropped their affiliation with the Chops, leaving Iowa to look for their third NHL affiliate in four seasons.[3]
On July 7, 2009, the Iowa Chops franchise was suspended by the AHL's board of governors for the2009-10 AHL season for being "unable to remedy certain violations of the provisions of the league’s Constitution and By-Laws."[4] While the AHL declined further comment on the reasons for the suspension, theDes Moines Register reported in June, 2009, that the Chops had violated league rules by pledging the team as collateral for a $1.99 million loan fromWachovia. TheRegister also reported that the Ducks had dropped their affiliation with the Chops after the Chops missed payments on their affiliation contract.[5]
After several months of speculation as to their future, the AHL announced on May 4, 2010, that theTexas Stars had acquired the Chops franchise.[6] This transaction finalized the Stars' contractual obligation to acquire a permanent franchise in the league, as they operated in 2009–10 as an expansion team under a provisional agreement to obtain an existing franchise license.
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | OTL | SOL | Points | Goals for | Goals against | Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 80 | 41 | 31 | 1 | 7 | 90 | 238 | 228 | 4th, West |
| 2006–07 | 80 | 42 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 88 | 221 | 231 | 4th, West |
| 2007–08 | 80 | 35 | 37 | 5 | 3 | 78 | 217 | 255 | 8th, West |
| 2008–09 | 80 | 33 | 33 | 4 | 10 | 80 | 209 | 260 | 7th, West |
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | 3rd round | Finals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | L, 3–4,Milwaukee | — | — | — | |
| 2006–07 | W, 4–2,Omaha | L, 2–4,Chicago | — | — | |
| 2007–08 | did not qualify. | ||||
| 2008–09 | did not qualify. | ||||
Vojtech Polak (2006–07)
David Berube (2005–06)
Loui Eriksson (2005–06)Toby Petersen (2005–06)Toby Petersen (2005–06)
Brennan Evans (2008–09)Mike Smith (2005–06)Mike Smith (2005–06)Toby Petersen (2005–08)Toby Petersen (2005–08)Toby Petersen (2005–08)Brennan Evans (2008–09)Mike Smith (2005–06)Mike Smith (2005–06)Yared Hagos (2005–07)Affiliates