Chautauqua Hurricane Explained

Chautauqua Hurricane
League:PBL
2013–2017, 2022
NABL
2018–2019
History:Erie Hurricane
2013–2015
Chautauqua Hurricane
2015–2022
Arena:East High School
2013–2015
Dunkirk High School
2015–2022
City:Erie, Pennsylvania
2013–2015
Dunkirk, New York
2015–2022
Colors:Violet, black, white
Owner:Tawan Slaughter
2013–2016
Sixto Rosario
2016–2022
Coach:Cory Coleman
2013–2014
Steve Mackey
2014–2015
2021–2022
Jerome Moss
2015–2020
Championships:1 (2020)
Titles:1 (2019)
Playoff Berths:2 (2019, 2021)

The Chautauqua Hurricane were a basketball team in both the Premier Basketball League (PBL) and North American Basketball League (NABL). The team originally was based in Erie, Pennsylvania and competed as the Erie Hurricane before relocating to Dunkirk, New York in 2015.

After their 2019–20 season ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team was declared PBL Champions.

The franchise suspended operations following the 2021–22 PBL season.

History

2013–2015: Erie Hurricane

The Erie Hurricane were founded in 2013 by Buffalo 716ers owner Tawan Slaughter as a member of the Premiere Basketball League (PBL).[1] They played their games at East High School in Erie, Pennsylvania.[2]

In the team's second season, Slaughter began staging games in Jamestown, New York to test waters for a permanent move.[3]

2015–2022: Chautauqua Hurricane

Following the 2014–15 PBL season, Tawan Slaughter announced the team would be renamed to Jamestown Hurricane.[4] This was short-lived, however, and the team began the 2015–16 PBL season as the Chautauqua Hurricane out of nearby Dunkirk, New York.[5]

Tawan Slaughter sold the team to Sixto Rosario following the 2015–16 PBL season.[6] After the PBL's closure, Rosario moved the team to the North American Basketball League (NABL) in 2018.[7]

The Hurricane announced in December 2019 that the team would return to a revived Premier Basketball League for the 2019–20 PBL season.[8]

After the 2019–20 PBL season ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hurricane were declared PBL Champions as they were in first-place with an 11–3 record.[9] Kofi Mills was honored as League MVP and Jerome Moss was honored as PBL Coach of the Year following the truncated season.[10]

While a full 2020–21 PBL season was not held due to the ongoing pandemic, the team qualified for the 2021 PBL Championship Series tournament with a 3–2 record and was eliminated by the Lancaster Thunder.[11]

The Hurricane played their final 2021–22 season in the PBL before folding.[12]

Season-by-season record

League championsConference championsDivision championsPlayoff berth
SeasonConferenceFinishDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%GBPlayoffsAwardsHead coachRef.
2013–14East5th115Did not qualify.Cory Coleman[13]
2014–15East4th310Did not qualify.Troy Jackson (All-PBL)Steve Mackey[14]
2015–16Northeast6th312Did not qualify.Jerome Moss[15]
2016–17613Did not qualify.Edwin Ubiles (All-PBL)
Tyquan Stroman (All-PBL)
Jerome Moss[16]
2017–18Northeast2nd42Did not qualify.Jerome Moss[17]
2018–19Northeast2nd44Won quarterfinal (Dream) 108–62
Lost semifinal (Thunder) 110–116
Jerome Moss[18]
2019–20Northeast1st113No playoffs held.
Won PBL Championship
Kofi Mills (League MVP)
Jerome Moss (Coach of the Year)
Jerome Moss[19]
2020–2132Lost semifinal (Thunder) 87–100Alex Crossan (All-PBL)
Larry Rivers (All-PBL)
Travonta Gatewood (All-PBL)
Steve Mackey
2021–22East3rd26Did not qualify.Joe Spencer (All-Star)
Larry Rivers (All-Star)
Marcus Feagin (All-Star)
Steve Mackey[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: PREMIER BASKETBALL LEAGUE ADDS TEAMS IN NORTHEAST . All Sports WNY . November 26, 2013 . January 12, 2024.
  2. Web site: Rochester RazorSharks defeat Erie . Democrat and Chronicle . February 10, 2014 . January 13, 2024.
  3. Web site: Dudley . John . Hurricane basketball team sends mixed signals about home base . GoErie.com . January 14, 2015 . January 13, 2024.
  4. Web site: Gazette . Jamestown . Jamestown Hurricane Pro Basketball . Jamestown Gazette . April 27, 2015 . January 13, 2024.
  5. Web site: Gazette . Jamestown . Chautauqua Hurricane Professional Basketball Team . Jamestown Gazette . September 8, 2015 . January 13, 2024.
  6. Web site: Chautauqua Hurricane optimistic for upcoming PBL season . Observer Today . January 2, 2017 . January 13, 2024.
  7. Web site: Chautauqua Hurricane set to open 3rd season . Observer Today . January 8, 2018 . June 30, 2020.
  8. Web site: Hurricane season begins tonight. Observer Today. December 31, 2019.
  9. Web site: Hurricane, Jackals' basketball seasons put on hold by coronavirus precaution. Observer Today . March 13, 2020 . June 30, 2020.
  10. Web site: Hurricane’s Moss, Mills combine for PBL’s top honors . observertoday.com . April 21, 2020 . January 13, 2024.
  11. Web site: Positive outlook . observertoday.com . January 8, 2022 . January 13, 2024.
  12. Web site: Premier Basketball League 2022, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . May 11, 2022 . January 13, 2024.
  13. Web site: Premier Basketball League 2014, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . April 16, 2014 . January 13, 2024.
  14. Web site: Premier Basketball League 2015, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . May 25, 2015 . January 13, 2024.
  15. Web site: Premier Basketball League 2016, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . April 25, 2016 . January 11, 2024.
  16. Web site: Premier Basketball League 2017, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . April 24, 2017 . January 13, 2024.
  17. Web site: North American Basketball League 2018, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . August 6, 2018 . January 13, 2024.
  18. Web site: North American Basketball League 2019, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . July 16, 2019 . January 13, 2024.
  19. Web site: Chautauqua Hurricane season is cut short while sitting atop the standings . observertoday.com . April 10, 2020 . January 13, 2024.
  20. Web site: Premier Basketball League 2022, News, Teams, Scores, Stats, Standings, Awards . usbasket . May 11, 2022 . January 13, 2024.