Lexington Men O' War Explained

Bg Color:DarkGoldenrod
Team:Lexington Men O' War
City:Lexington, Kentucky
League:East Coast Hockey League
Conference:Northern
Division:Northwest
Founded:1981 (In the CHL)
Operated:2002–03
Arena:Rupp Arena
Coach:Jim Wiley
Name1:Nashville South Stars
Dates1:1981-1983
Name2:Virginia Lancers
Dates2:1983–1990
Name3:Roanoke Valley Rebels
Dates3:1990–1992
Name4:Roanoke Valley Rampage
Dates4:1992–1993
Name5:Huntsville Blast
Dates5:1993–1994
Name6:Tallahassee Tiger Sharks
Dates6:1994–2001
Name7:Macon Whoopee
Dates7:2001–2002
Name8:Lexington Men O' War
Dates8:2002–2003
Name9:Utah Grizzlies
Dates9:2005–present

The Lexington Men O' War were a minor league professional ice hockey team and member of the ECHL. The name Man o' War is from a thoroughbred race horse that was bred in Lexington, and also the name of a highly traveled road in Lexington. The Men O' War played at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky from 2002 to 2003.

They finished with a record of 34-31-7 and 75 points, which placed them fourth in the Northwest Division. However, they only brought in an average of 2,368 fans per game, the fourth-fewest in the league. The team drew the Toledo Storm in the first round of the playoffs that year, and were swept in three games (1–9, 0–3, 1–5). Van Burgess led the team in points with 55, while Mark Smith paced the team with 22 goals. Jay Banach paced the team with 191 penalty minutes. Dan Murphy played a team high 43 games in net, and won 21.

The team folded following the 2002–03 season, and would later be revived as the Utah Grizzlies beginning in the 2005–06 season.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Hamilton. Linda. June 2, 2005. Grizzlies are looking to skate in East Coast Hockey League. Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT. November 1, 2021.