The Monroe Moccasins were a professional

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 that played in the

Western Professional Hockey League The Western Professional Hockey League (abbreviated WPHL) is a defunct minor professional ice hockey league. The WPHL operated from 1996 to 2001 with teams based in the southern United States, primarily Texas and Louisiana. The league started with ...

. Based in Monroe, Louisiana from 1997 until the end of the 2001 season, the team played its home games at the Monroe Civic Center.

History

Monroe was awarded an expansion franchise in May 1997 slated to begin play that October. After early troubles with ownership and securing home ice at the civic center, the team would begin the season by going 4-3 on the road before playing their first home game before a sold out crowd on November 8. Coached by Rob Bremner, the team would see moderate success for their inaugural season finishing one game out of the playoffs and averaging 3,178 fans per game. Prior to the 1998-99 season, permanent ice was installed at the civic center allowing for the team to remain in Monroe. On the ice, the squad would see the franchise's first playoff berth. However with declining attendance, Rob Bremner was relieved of his coaching duties following the season. For the 1999-00 season, former Moccasin

Brian Curran Brian Phillip Curran (born November 5, 1963) is a Canadian ice hockey, coach, executive and former player. He is the current head coach and general manager of the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. Curran was born in Toronto, ...

was selected as head coach. Playing a more aggressive style, the team would advance once again to the playoffs where they would subsequently lose in the first round to Arkansas. Leading into the 2000-01 season, the future of the franchise came into question as a result of the continual decline in attendance. By February 2000, the team was being kept afloat by the league itself. After falling short in securing 2,500 season tickets for the 2001-02 season, the team would cease operation that June.

Year-by-year record

References

{{reflist Defunct ice hockey teams in the United States Sports teams in Monroe, Louisiana Ice hockey teams in Louisiana