The San Antonio Dragons were a

minor league Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities/markets. This term is used in Nor ...

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 hock ...

team in the International Hockey League (IHL) for two seasons in 1996–97 and 1997–98. The Dragons were based in

San Antonio, Texas ("Cradle of Freedom") , image_map = , mapsize = 220px , map_caption = Interactive map of San Antonio , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = United States , subdivision_type1= State , subdivision_name1 = Texas , subdivision_t ...

, and played at the

Freeman Coliseum Freeman Coliseum is a sports and concert venue located in San Antonio, Texas. It has been host to thousands of events including the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, concerts, trade shows, motor sports, circus, professional sports including profess ...

and occasionally the

Alamodome The Alamodome is a 64,000-seat domed indoor multi-purpose stadium in San Antonio, Texas. It is located on the southeastern fringe of downtown San Antonio. The facility opened on May 15, 1993, having been constructed at a cost of $186 milli ...

. The

franchise Franchise may refer to: Business and law * Franchising, a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business to franchisees * Franchise, a privilege to operate a type of business such as a cable television p ...

was previously known as the

Peoria Rivermen Peoria Rivermen is the name of four minor league hockey clubs: *Peoria Rivermen (IHL), named as such 1984–1996, formerly the Peoria Prancers 1982–1984 *Peoria Rivermen (ECHL), 1996–2005 *Peoria Rivermen (AHL), 2005–2013 *Peoria Rivermen (SP ...

. The team was co-owned by Bruce Saurs, who owned the Rivermen franchise and had been planning on folding the IHL franchise due to financial losses, and Don Levin, the co-owner of the

Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are the top minor-league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the C ...

, and relocated the franchise to San Antonio even though Freeman Coliseum was already home to a

Central Hockey League The Central Hockey League (CHL) was a North American mid-level minor professional ice hockey league which operated from 1992 until 2014. It was founded by Ray Miron and Bill Levins and later sold to Global Entertainment Corporation, which opera ...

(CHL) team, the

San Antonio Iguanas The San Antonio Iguanas were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in San Antonio, Texas. The first expansion team in the Central Hockey League, they were active for seven seasons from 1994–1997 and 1998–2002. Their home arena wa ...

. The team then hired the Iguanas' former general manager Jim Goodman as general manager and the Iguanas' head coach

John Torchetti John Torchetti (born July 9, 1964) is a former American ice hockey player and coach, currently serving as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Flyers. Torchetti has been an interim head coach in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Florida ...

as an assistant coach. For the first month of the 1996–97 season, the Dragons wore temporary white with green trim and logo (home) and black with green and white trim and logo (road) jerseys because the new jerseys had not come in yet. The Dragons won the division championship in their first season in San Antonio. Although the Iguanas were established, the Dragons drew more fans than the Iguanas and also captured a larger share of the corporate support of San Antonio, leading to the Iguanas losing their lease for the 1997–98 season. Following an overhaul of the front office and the loss of Torchetti, the Dragons floundered in their second season by finishing in last place in the league. At the end of the season, ownership relinquished its lease at the coliseum following losses of about $7 million over the two seasons. The lease was then given back to the Iguanas who returned to the CHL for the 1998–99 season.

Notable players

Dave Archibald David J. Archibald (born April 14, 1969) is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. Archibald played for the Minnesota North Stars, New York Rangers, Ottawa Senators, and New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) ...

Len Barrie Leonard G. Barrie (born June 4, 1969) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward who played 184 games in the National Hockey League. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, and Florida Panthers. ...

* Mike Craig *

Davis Payne Davis Payne (born September 24, 1970) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played in the National Hockey League for the Boston Bruins, and is the former head coach of the St. Louis Blues. He was an assistant coach with the Los ...

* Grigorijs Pantelejevs *

Daniel Shank Daniel Shank (born May 12, 1967) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League. After playing four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, Shank made his professional debut with the Adiron ...

Joe Kocur Joseph George "Joey" Kocur (born December 21, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is best known for his activities as a fighter and enforcer, as well as being one half of the "Bruise Brothers" with then- Detroit Red Win ...

Louie DeBrusk Louis Dennis DeBrusk (born March 19, 1971) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is currently a colour analyst for Edmonton Oilers broadcasts on Sportsnet and the late game of ''Hockey Night in Canada''. Playing career DeBrusk ...

References

International Hockey League (1945–2001) teams Sports teams in San Antonio 1996 establishments in Texas 1998 disestablishments in Texas Ice hockey clubs established in 1996 Sports clubs disestablished in 1998 Ice hockey teams in Texas Defunct ice hockey teams in Texas {{Texas-sport-team-stub