The Fairbanks Ice Dogs are a
Tier II junior ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...
team in the
North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. The Ice Dogs play home games at the 2,200-seat
Big Dipper Ice Arena in
Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks is a home rule city and the borough seat of the Fairbanks North Star Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. Fairbanks is the largest city in the Interior region of Alaska and the second largest in the state. The 2020 Census put the p ...
.
History
Originally started in 1997 in the
Tier III Junior B Western States Hockey League
The Western States Hockey League (WSHL) was a junior ice hockey league established in 1993. It was sanctioned by the United Hockey Union, the junior hockey branch of the Amateur Athletic Union. Previously, it was sanctioned by USA Hockey from 19 ...
(WSHL) as a hockey program to replace the
Alaska Gold Kings
The Colorado Gold Kings, previously known as the Alaska Gold Kings, were an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Fairbanks, Alaska, and later Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Gold Kings were members of the West Coast Hocke ...
and give Alaskan players a chance to play after they finished high school and/or midgets. The Ice Dogs won the Northern Division its inaugural season, but lost to the Southern champs the following year in exhibition games. In 1998–99 season, they again won the Northern Division but lost to the Southern Division champions, the Ventura Mariners.
In 2000, the Ice Dogs became a member of the Tier III Junior B
Northern Pacific Hockey League
The Northern Pacific Hockey League (NPHL) was an American Tier III junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey. Its championship trophy was the Cascade Cup.
History
Established in 2000 as the NorPac Junior Hockey League, the league was ...
(NorPac) and also played sixteen games in the Tier III Junior A
America West Hockey League
The America West Hockey League (AWHL) was a Tier II Junior A ice hockey league. The AWHL was formed in 1992 to offer junior ice hockey to the Rocky Mountain region of USA Hockey. It originally was called the American Frontier Hockey League (AFHL), ...
(AWHL) to help fill out their schedule in the 2000–01 season. The team would go on to win the NorPac championship in that season before leaving for the higher level AWHL full-time for the 2001–02 season.
The Ice Dogs were named the 2001–02 AWHL Organization of the Year in their first full Junior A season. The team moved to the NAHL in the AWHL-NAHL merger that took place in 2003. The Ice Dogs were upset in the West Division Finals in the 2008–09 season after winning the West Division regular season title. The Ice Dogs lost in the 2010 Robertson Cup final to the
Bismarck Bobcats
The Bismarck Bobcats are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Central Division, and play out of Bismarck, North Dakota, in the V.F.W. Sports Center. Originally a part of the American Frontier Hockey Le ...
3–0. The following season the Ice Dogs won the Robertson Cup for the first time in a come from behind win over the
Michigan Warriors
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 ...
4–2. In the 2013–14 season, the Ice Dogs once more won the West Division regular season title (fourth time in six years) and proceeded to win the Robertson Cup for the second time.
The Ice Dogs had continued success, leading their division in four of the next five seasons and winning a third Robertson Cup in 2016. They were again the division leaders when the 2019–20 season was cancelled midseason due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
. Due to travel restrictions in the state of Alaska and the rest of the United States during the pandemic, the Ice Dogs temporarily relocated to
Marshall, Minnesota
Marshall is a city in Lyon County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,680 at the 2010 census. Marshall is a regional center in southwest Minnesota, and the county seat of Lyon County. It is the headquarters of the Schwan Food Com ...
, for most of the 2020–21 season before returning to Alaska in mid-April 2021.
During the 2021–22 season, longtime head coach Trevor Stewert resigned to pursue an associate head coach position in the NCAA Division I and was replaced by former NHL player
Dave Allison
David Bryan Allison (born April 14, 1959) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played three games with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) during the 1983–84 season and was head coach of ...
.
Season-by-season records
Playoffs
*2004
:Information unavailable
*2005
:First Round –
Team USA
The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions.
Olympic teams
Additionally, these teams may compete in other international competitions such as ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-0''
*2006
:First Round – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Wasilla Spirit ''3-games-to-0''
:Second Round –
Bozeman Icedogs
The Bozeman Icedogs are a Tier III Junior ice hockey team located in Bozeman, Montana. The team is a member of the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The Icedogs play home games at the Haynes Pavilion located at the Gallatin County Fairgr ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''4-games-to-1''
*2007
:First Round –
St. Louis Bandits defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-0''
::Fairbanks Ice Dogs advance to Round Robin as HOST.
:Robertson Cup Round Robin – Fairbanks Ice Dogs(0-3) - Qualify for Consolation Game ''(L, 3-7 vs.
Phantoms; L, 1-4 vs.
Bandits; L, 3-5 vs.
Express)''
:Robertson Cup Consolation Game –
Southern Minnesota Express defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-2''
*2008
:First Round – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Wichita Falls Wildcats
The Wichita Falls Wildcats were a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The Wildcats played out of the 7,380-seat Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas. After failing to find a buyer, the Wil ...
''3-games-to-1''
:Second Round –
Topeka RoadRunners
The Amarillo Wranglers are a junior ice hockey#Tier II, Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The team's home arena is the Amarillo Civic Center in Amarillo, Texas.
History
Lone Star Cavalry
The Lon ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-2''
*2009
:First Round – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Kenai River Brown Bears
The Kenai River Brown Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League based in Soldotna, Alaska. The team joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team for the 2007–08 season, and since then ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Second Round –
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington. Initially, the team was part of the North American Hockey League ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-1''
*2010
:First Round – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Alaska Avalanche
The Johnstown Tomahawks are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's East Division. The team plays its home games at the 1st Summit Bank Arena at Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is the o ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Second Round –
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington. Initially, the team was part of the North American Hockey League ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-0''
::Fairbanks Ice Dogs advance to Round Robin as West representatives as Wenachee Wild is HOST.
:Robertson Cup Round Robin – Fairbanks Ice Dogs (3-1) - Qualify for Championship game ''(W, 3-2 vs.
Wild
Wild, wild, wilds or wild may refer to:
Common meanings
* Wild animal
* Wilderness, a wild natural environment
* Wildness, the quality of being wild or untamed
Art, media and entertainment Film and television
* ''Wild'' (2014 film), a 2014 A ...
; W, 4-3 vs.
Bandits; L, 1-2 vs.
North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for m ...
; W, 4-3 vs.
Bobcats
The bobcat (''Lynx rufus''), also known as the red lynx, is a medium-sized cat native to North America. It ranges from southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to Oaxaca in Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern on the IUC ...
)''
:Robertson Cup Final – Bismarck Bobcats defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-0''
*2011
:Division Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Kenai River Brown Bears
The Kenai River Brown Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League based in Soldotna, Alaska. The team joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team for the 2007–08 season, and since then ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Division Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington. Initially, the team was part of the North American Hockey League ...
''3-games-to-1''
:Robertson Cup Round Robin – Fairbanks Ice Dogs (3-0) - Qualify for Championship game ''(W, 4-3 vs.
RoadRunners; W, 4-2 vs.
Warriors
A warrior is a person specializing in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based warrior culture society that recognizes a separate warrior aristocracies, class, or caste.
History
Warriors seem to have be ...
; W, 2-1 vs.
Bulls)''
:Robertson Cup Final – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Michigan Warriors
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 ...
''4-2''
:Robertson Cup Champions
*2012
:Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Kenai River Brown Bears
The Kenai River Brown Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League based in Soldotna, Alaska. The team joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team for the 2007–08 season, and since then ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Divisional Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington. Initially, the team was part of the North American Hockey League ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Robertson Cup Round Robin – Fairbanks Ice Dogs (2-1) - Qualify for Semifinal ''(L, 1-3 vs.
Bandits; W, 3-1 vs.
Bulls; W, 4-3 vs.
Fighting Falcons)''
:Robertson Cup Semifinal game –
Texas Tornado
The Texas Tornado were a Junior A hockey team located in Frisco, Texas, USA. The team joined the North American Hockey League's Central division in 1999 (and moved into the newly formed southern division three years later) while located in North ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''4-3''
*2013
:Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Kenai River Brown Bears
The Kenai River Brown Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League based in Soldotna, Alaska. The team joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team for the 2007–08 season, and since then ...
''3-games-to-2''
:Divisional Finals –
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington. Initially, the team was part of the North American Hockey League ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-2''
*2014
:Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Kenai River Brown Bears
The Kenai River Brown Bears are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League based in Soldotna, Alaska. The team joined the North American Hockey League (NAHL) as an expansion team for the 2007–08 season, and since then ...
''3-games-to-2''
:Divisional Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Michigan Warriors
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 ...
''2-games-to-0''
:Robertson Cup Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Wenatchee Wild
The Wenatchee Wild is a Junior A ice hockey team in the British Columbia Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the 4,300-seat Town Toyota Center in Wenatchee, Washington. Initially, the team was part of the North American Hockey League ...
''3-games-to-2''
:Robertson Cup Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Austin Bruins
The Austin Bruins are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Central Division. The Bruins play their home games in the Riverside Arena in Austin, Minnesota.
History
The Bruins were an expansion team that first pl ...
''2-games-to-0''
:Robertson Cup Champions
*2015
:Robertson Cup 1st Round Series – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Minnesota Magicians
The Wisconsin Windigo are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. Based in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the Windigo play their home games at Eagle River Stadium, affectitionately referred to as the "D ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Robertson Cup Quarterfinals –
Minnesota Wilderness
The Minnesota Wilderness are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Cloquet, Minnesota, and play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The organization formerly fielded teams in the Canada-based Junior A Superior International Junior ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-0''
*2016
:Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Coulee Region Chill
The Chippewa Steel is a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, that plays in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
History
The franchise began in 2005 as the North Iowa Outlaws based in Mason City, Iowa, where th ...
''3-games-to-1''
:Divisional Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Minnesota Wilderness
The Minnesota Wilderness are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Cloquet, Minnesota, and play in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The organization formerly fielded teams in the Canada-based Junior A Superior International Junior ...
''3-games-to-2''
:Robertson Cup Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Aston Rebels
The Philadelphia Rebels are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). The team is based in Hollydell Ice Arena in Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.
History
The franchise was originall ...
''2-games-to-0''
:Robertson Cup Championship game – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Wichita Falls Wildcats
The Wichita Falls Wildcats were a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's South Division. The Wildcats played out of the 7,380-seat Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas. After failing to find a buyer, the Wil ...
''2–0''
:Robertson Cup Champions
*2017
:Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Minnesota Magicians
The Wisconsin Windigo are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. Based in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the Windigo play their home games at Eagle River Stadium, affectitionately referred to as the "D ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Division Finals –
Janesville Jets
The Janesville Jets are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, their home games are played at the Janesville Ice Arena.
History
The Jets name was chosen by a name-the-team contes ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-1''
*2018
:Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Minnesota Magicians
The Wisconsin Windigo are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. Based in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the Windigo play their home games at Eagle River Stadium, affectitionately referred to as the "D ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Division Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Janesville Jets
The Janesville Jets are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, their home games are played at the Janesville Ice Arena.
History
The Jets name was chosen by a name-the-team contes ...
''3-games-to-2''
:Robertson Cup Semifinals –
Minot Minotauros defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''2-games-to-1''
*2019
:Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Janesville Jets
The Janesville Jets are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League. Based in Janesville, Wisconsin, their home games are played at the Janesville Ice Arena.
History
The Jets name was chosen by a name-the-team contes ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Division Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Minnesota Magicians
The Wisconsin Windigo are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. Based in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the Windigo play their home games at Eagle River Stadium, affectitionately referred to as the "D ...
''3-games-to-0''
:Robertson Cup Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated
Johnstown Tomahawks
The Johnstown Tomahawks are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's East Division. The team plays its home games at the 1st Summit Bank Arena at Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It is the ol ...
''2-games-to-1''
:Robertson Cup Championship game –
Aberdeen Wings
The Aberdeen Wings are a Tier II junior ice hockey team based out of Aberdeen, South Dakota, that began play for 2010–11. A member of the North American Hockey League in the Central Division, the Wings play their home games in the Odde Ice Ce ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''2–1''
*2021
:Divisional Semifinals –
Minnesota Magicians
The Wisconsin Windigo are a Tier II junior ice hockey team in the North American Hockey League's Midwest Division. Based in Eagle River, Wisconsin, the Windigo play their home games at Eagle River Stadium, affectitionately referred to as the "D ...
defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-0''
References
External links
*
NAHL website
{{NAHL
1997 establishments in Alaska
Sports in Fairbanks, Alaska
Ice hockey teams in Alaska
North American Hockey League teams
Ice hockey clubs established in 1997