Chicago Hounds



The Chicago Hounds were a professional ice hockey team in the United Hockey League. They played their home games at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The Hounds began playing in 2003 and were founded in Richmond, Virginia as the Richmond RiverDogs. The team operated in Richmond for three seasons from 2003-2006. The team relocated to the Chicago area after the 2005-06 season. Known as the Hounds, their only coach was former Fort Wayne Komets coach, Greg Puhalski, who came in as the having the most wins as a head coach in UHL history.

The Hounds got off to an inauspicious start, as their first home game was canceled due to bad ice at the brand new Sears Centre. The game was supposed to start at 7:30pm Central Time, but the decision to cancel was not announced until 9pm. Several fans were alleged to have thrown rubber pucks for the Chuck-A-Puck promotion in the direction of UHL commissioner Richard Brosal, who was the one that made the official announcement to the fans.

On June 6, 2007, Hounds owner Craig Drecktrah suspended the team's operations, saying his inability to negotiate a reasonable lease with the Sears Centre brought him to this decision. Drecktrah said the Sears Centre wanted him to take mostly weekdays, leaving the more desirable weekend dates for the other tenants. He also said the building management wanted to triple the cost of his lease.

The Hounds attempted to resume play in the IHL for the 2008-09 season, however Drecktrah was unable to secure a venue in the Chicago area.

In the summer of 2010, it was announced that Drecktrah would be bringing an ECHL franchise to the Sears Centre instead of reactivating the Hounds. The Hounds then ceased operations. The new franchise was called the Chicago Express and played during the 2011-12 season. This franchise also ceased operations as well.