Michigan Warriors Explained

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Team:Michigan Warriors
Logosize:200px
City:Flint, Michigan
League:North American Hockey League
Division:North
Founded:2006
Arena:Perani Arena and Event Center
Colors:Navy blue, red, silver, and white
Gm:Jeremy Torrey (director of operations)
Name1:Marquette Rangers
Dates1:2006–2010
Name2:Michigan Warriors
Dates2:2010–2015

The Michigan Warriors were a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team based in Flint, Michigan. The Warriors played in the North American Hockey League's North Division. Previously known as the Marquette Rangers, the Warriors played their home games at Perani Arena and Event Center.

In 2010 and Perani Arena decided to sign a lease agreement with the junior Michigan Warriors instead of the minor professional Flint Generals, leaving only junior hockey in a town that hosted several minor professional teams. Had the Generals returned for 2010–11, the Warriors would have still remained making sure their home schedule had no conflicts with the Generals. In 2015, the Michigan Warriors suspended operations due to the arrival of the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League.

Franchise history

The Warriors were previously known as the Marquette Rangers playing out of the 3,100-seat Lakeview Arena in Marquette, Michigan. Their inaugural season was 2006–07, in which they were able to make the playoffs but fell to the Mahoning Valley Phantoms in the first round. The Rangers missed the playoffs for the next two seasons before returning in the 2009–10 season. Once more the Rangers fell in the first round, this time swept out in three games by the Motor City Machine. In their first season in Flint, the Warriors turned a third place regular season finish into a playoff run that took them to the league championship game. In a battle for their respective first league titles, the Warriors dropped a 4–2 game to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

Prior to the end of the 2014–15 season the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) announced the relocation of the Plymouth Whalers to Flint to become the Flint Firebirds. Knowing Flint could not support two junior teams at the same time, the Warriors looked for relocation alternatives.

Season records

Season GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs
Marquette Rangers
2006–07 62 25 32 5 55 189 227 1,832 4th, North Lost in First Round
2007–08 58 26 29 3 55 186 216 995 6th, North Did not qualify
2008–09 58 26 24 8 60 165 170 1,024 5th, North Did not qualify
2009–10 58 35 22 1 71 186 154 1,043 1st, North Lost in First Round
Michigan Warriors
2010–11 58 35 17 6 76 202 141 899 3rd, North Lost in Final
2011–12 60 23 32 5 52 163 212 766 4th, North Lost in First Round
2012–13 60 19 32 9 47 136 177 855 8th, North Did not qualify
2013–14 60 30 20 10 70 178 173 1128 2nd, North Lost in semi-final
2014–15 60 25 26 9 59 148 183 994 4th, North Lost in First Round

Playoffs

First Round – Mahoning Valley Phantoms defeated Marquette Rangers 3-games-to-0

First Round – Motor City Machine defeated Marquette Rangers 3-games-to-0

Divisional Semi-finals – Michigan Warriors defeated Traverse City North Stars 3-games-to-1

Divisional Finals – Michigan Warriors defeated Bismarck Bobcats 2-games-to-0

Robertson Cup Round-Robin – Michigan Warriors 1 win, 2 loss – qualified for semi-finals (Bulls 2–5, Ice Dogs 2–4, RoadRunners 5–2)

Robertson Cup Semi-finals – Michigan Warriors defeated Amarillo Bulls 6–2 score

Robertson Cup Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Michigan Warriors 4–2 score

Divisional Semi-finals – Port Huron Fighting Falcons defeated Michigan Warriors 3-games-to-1

Divisional Semi-finals – Michigan Warriors defeated Janesville Jets 3-games-to-0

Divisional Finals – Michigan Warriors defeated Port Huron Fighting Falcons 3-games-to-1

Robertson Cup Semi-finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Michigan Warriors 2-games-to-0

First Round – Janesville Jets defeated Michigan Warriors 3-games-to-0

External links