Organization won’t compete next season as they work to solidify future arena
The United States Hockey League today announced that the Indiana Ice will not participate during the 2014-15 USHL season.
Ownership of the Ice, working with the Office of the Commissioner and the USHL Executive Committee, requested and received approval from the USHL Board of Directors for the temporary withdrawal from on-ice competition in order for the organization to focus on development of new facility and permanent home for the USHL Member Club in the Indianapolis area.
Over the past two seasons, the Indiana Ice have split their home games between the Bankers Life Fieldhouse and Pan Am Plaza in downtown Indianapolis. The League and the Ice concluded that temporary arrangement no longer satisfied either the standards of USHL hockey, or the best interests of the Member Club and its players.
“Bankers Life Fieldhouse is a beautiful, multi-purpose arena and home of the NBA’s Indiana Pacers, but based on its annual calendar of events, it does not allow for a full home schedule of 30 dates that meets the parameters of a USHL schedule,” said Skip Prince, USHL President and Commissioner. “The Ice and the League schedulers have for the past two seasons placed a number of games at Pan Am Plaza, but notwithstanding of that building’s history and location, it does not comply with League standards.”
Additionally, the pending redevelopment of Pan Am Plaza that also housed the Ice training facility was announced in early 2014.
The Indiana Ice were uprooted from their original home, the Pepsi Coliseum, following the 2011-12 season as that arena underwent an extensive renovation by the Indiana State Fair Commission. The Ice had played at the arena on the Indiana State Fairgrounds since joining the USHL in 2004.
“The Indiana Ice remain a Member Club in the USHL, with membership on its Board and full rights to participate in the business and operations of the League,” stated Prince. “We will be working with ownership and redoubling efforts to find an arena solution in the Indianapolis area for an organization that has been a key Member of the USHL for the past decade.”
Over the last 10 seasons competing in the USHL, the Indiana Ice compiled a 319-230-55 regular season record and won the Clark Cup championship following the 2008-09 season. The team is currently set to play in the 2014 Clark Cup Final series.
The Indiana Ice will issue a full release at the conclusion of the playoffs.
The Ice will not participate in the upcoming 2014 USHL Draft. Players on the current team eligible to return to the USHL next season, and players from the team’s affiliate list, will be part of a dispersal draft by the other USHL Member Clubs that will take place after the conclusion of the playoffs.
