Central Illinois Flying Aces Explained

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Bg Color:background:#FFF; border-top:#990505 5px solid; border-bottom:#0B233F 5px solid;
Team:Central Illinois Flying Aces
Logosize:200px
City:Bloomington, Illinois
League:United States Hockey League
Founded:2014
Folded:2019
Arena:Grossinger Motors Arena
Colors:Red, navy, light blue, white
Owner:CSH International Inc.
Gm:Mike Watt
Coach:Mike Watt
Media:WJBC-FM (93.7 FM)
Name1:Bloomington Thunder
Dates1:2014–2017
Name2:Central Illinois Flying Aces
Dates2:2017–2019

The Central Illinois Flying Aces were a Tier I junior hockey team that played as a member of the United States Hockey League. Based in Bloomington, Illinois, the Flying Aces played their home games at the Grossinger Motors Arena, located in downtown Bloomington.

History

From 2006 to 2014, Bloomington was home to various minor league professional hockey teams in the International Hockey League (IHL), Central Hockey League (CHL) and then the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The SPHL's Bloomington Thunder folded in April 2014 when new owners obtained the expansion rights to a Tier I junior team in the United States Hockey League.[1] The new Bloomington USHL team obtained the rights to the name from the previous teams and became the Bloomington Thunder.[2] Initially they kept the SPHL team's logo but rolled out a new logo and color scheme at the USHL Draft.

In 2017, the team rebranded and became the Central Illinois Flying Aces.[3] On February 28, 2019, the Flying Aces announced they will suspend operations for at least the 2019–20 season.[4]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: USHL Approves Expansion to Bloomington, Illinois . USHL . April 4, 2014 . August 25, 2017 . April 22, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170422213201/http://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/381201?referrer_id=1348814 . dead .
  2. Web site: USHL conditionally accepts Bloomington team . . April 1, 2014.
  3. Web site: It's Official: Thunder Hockey Team Becomes Flying Aces . . August 24, 2017.
  4. Web site: Statement on Central Illinois Flying Aces . USHL . February 28, 2019 . March 1, 2019 . March 1, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190301140222/https://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/999751 . dead .