The Michigan Warriors were a
Tier II Junior A ice hockey team based in
Flint, Michigan
Flint is the largest city and seat of Genesee County, Michigan, United States. Located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit, it is a principal city within the region known as Mid Michigan. At the 2020 census, Flint had a population of 8 ...
. The Warriors played in the
North American Hockey League
The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is one of the top junior hockey leagues in the United States and is in its 48th season of operation in 2022–23. It is the only Tier II junior league sanctioned by USA Hockey, and acts as an alternati ...
'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 of 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
Lakeview Arena is a 3,100-seat multi-purpose arena, located in Marquette, Michigan. It opened in 1974, during the Marquette Iron Rangers hockey season. The team had previously played in the historic Palestra, a building that had moved from Laurium ...
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
Playoffs
*2007
:First Round –
Mahoning Valley Phantoms defeated ''Marquette Rangers'' ''3-games-to-0''
*2010
:First Round –
Motor City Machine defeated ''Marquette Rangers'' ''3-games-to-0''
*2011
: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
The Amarillo Bulls were a Tier II junior ice hockey team based in Amarillo, Texas. They were a member of the North American Hockey League's South Division and played home games in the Amarillo Civic Center.
History
The franchise joined the NAHL ...
''6–2 score''
:Robertson Cup Finals –
Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated Michigan Warriors ''4–2 score''
*2012
:Divisional Semi-Finals –
Port Huron Fighting Falcons defeated Michigan Warriors ''3-games-to-1''
*2014
: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''
*2015
:First Round –
Janesville Jets defeated Michigan Warriors ''3-games-to-0''
External links
Official site
{{NAHL
North American Hockey League teams
North American Hockey League
Amateur ice hockey teams in Michigan
Ice hockey teams in Flint, Michigan
2006 establishments in Michigan
2015 disestablishments in Michigan
Ice hockey clubs established in 2006
Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2015