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 ...

team 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 alterna ...

's Midwest Division. The Ice Dogs play home games at the 2,200-seat

Big Dipper Ice Arena The Big Dipper Ice Arena, colloquially known as "The Big Dipper", is a multi-purpose arena in Fairbanks, Alaska. The arena is owned and operated by the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Originally constructed as an airplane hangar for the Lend-Lease ...

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 1 ...

(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 Lea ...

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 at ...

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 ...

, 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 Fairg ...

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 Banditry is a type of organized crime committed by outlaws typically involving the threat or use of violence. A person who engages in banditry is known as a bandit and primarily commits crimes such as extortion, robbery, and murder, either as an ...

; L, 3-5 vs.

Express Express or EXPRESS may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * '' Express: Aisle to Glory'', a 1998 comedy short film featuring Kal Penn * '' The Express: The Ernie Davis Story'', a 2008 film starring Dennis Quaid Music * ''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 Wi ...

''3-games-to-1'' :Second Round –

Topeka RoadRunners The Amarillo Wranglers are a 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 Lone Star Cavalry were grante ...

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 ...

''3-games-to-0'' :Second Round –

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.

; 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 mo ...

; 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 I ...

)'' :Robertson Cup Final – Bismarck Bobcats defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-0'' *2011 :Division Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''3-games-to-0'' :Division Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''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; W, 2-1 vs.

Bulls Bulls may refer to: *The plural of bull, an adult male bovine *Bulls, New Zealand, a small town in the Rangitikei District Sports *Bucking bull, used in the sport of bull riding *Bulls (rugby union), a South African rugby union franchise operated ...

)'' :Robertson Cup Final – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''4-2'' :Robertson Cup Champions *2012 :Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''3-games-to-0'' :Divisional Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''3-games-to-0'' :Robertson Cup Round Robin – Fairbanks Ice Dogs (2-1) - Qualify for Semifinal ''(L, 1-3 vs.

; W, 3-1 vs.

; 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

''3-games-to-2'' :Divisional Finals –

defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-2'' *2014 :Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''3-games-to-2'' :Divisional Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''2-games-to-0'' :Robertson Cup Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''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 pla ...

''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 junior ice hockey#Tier II, 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 ice hocke ...

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 t ...

''3-games-to-1'' :Divisional Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''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

''2–0'' :Robertson Cup Champions *2017 :Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''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 contest ...

defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''3-games-to-1'' *2018 :Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''3-games-to-0'' :Division Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''3-games-to-2'' :Robertson Cup Semifinals –

Minot Minotauros The Minot Minotauros (commonly known as the Tauros) are a Tier II junior ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL). Based in Minot, North Dakota, the Tauros play their home games at Maysa Arena. History The Tauros are ...

defeated Fairbanks Ice Dogs ''2-games-to-1'' *2019 :Divisional Semifinals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''3-games-to-0'' :Division Finals – Fairbanks Ice Dogs defeated

''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 –

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