Iowa Chops

Iowa Chops
City:	Des Moines, Iowa
League:	American Hockey League
Conference:	Western Conference
Division:	West Division
Founded:	2005
Home Arena:	Wells Fargo Arena
Colors:	Black, crimson, grey, white
Owner(s):	Kirby Schlegel
General Manager:	David McNab
Head Coach:	Open
Media:	Des Moines Register Mediacom Cable
Affiliates:	Bakersfield Condors (ECHL)
Franchise history
1999 -- 2001:	Louisville Panthers
2005 -- 2008:	Iowa Stars
2008 -- present:	Iowa Chops

The Iowa Chops are a team in the American Hockey League. They are based in Des Moines, Iowa at the Wells Fargo Arena.

History

The Chops were founded by Howard Baldwin, of Hockey Holdings & Management Group, and Dallas businessman Bob Schlegel, who took the dormant Louisville Panthers AHL franchise and resurrected it for the 2005–06 season as the Iowa Stars. They had a five year affiliation agreement with the Dallas Stars and a one year agreement with the Edmonton Oilers.

In their inaugural season, the Stars made it to the Calder Cup playoffs first round, where they were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals. The Stars won their first playoff series the following season, defeating the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in six games.

In February 2008, the Dallas Stars announced they would be affiliating with the future Texas Stars pending the 2009 completion of the Cedar Park Entertainment Center in Cedar Park, Texas. After the 2007-2008 season the Dallas Stars left the Iowa scene, and the Anaheim Ducks announced an affiliation with the team.

On July 9, 2008, the team unveiled its new name and logo, featuring a "vicious boar’s head in the team colors of crimson, grey and black".

Portland Pirates' assistant Gord Dineen was named Head Coach of the Iowa Chops on August 19, 2008.

On May, 9 2009, the Anaheim Ducks dropped their affiliation with the Iowa Chops, leaving Iowa to look for their third NHL affiliate in four seasons.

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Season	Games	Won	Lost	OTL	SOL	Points	Goals for	Goals against	Standing
2005–06	80	41	31	1	7	90	238	228	4th, West
2006–07	80	42	34	3	1	88	221	231	4th, West
2007–08	80	35	37	5	3	78	217	255	8th, West
2008–09	80	33	33	4	10	80	209	260	7th, West

Playoffs

Season	1st round	2nd round	3rd round	Finals
2005–06	L, 3–4, Milwaukee	—	—	—
2006–07	W, 4–2, Omaha	L, 2–4, Chicago	—	—
2007–08	Did not qualify.
2008–09	Did not qualify.

Team records

Single game

Goals: 4 Vojtech Polak (2006–07)

Single season

Goals: 35 Loui Eriksson (2005–06)

Assists: 47 Toby Petersen (2005–06)

Points: 73 Toby Petersen (2005–06)

Penalty Minutes: 129 Krys Barch (2005–06)

GAA: 2.5 Mike Smith (2005–06)

SV%: .917 Mike Smith (2005–06)

Career

Career Goals: 49 Toby Petersen (2005–08)

Career Assists: 83 Toby Petersen (2005–08)

Career Points: 132 Toby Petersen (2005–08)

Career Penalty Minutes: 129 Krys Barch (2005–06)

Career Goaltending Wins: 25 Mike Smith (2005–06)

Career Shutouts: 3 Mike Smith (2005–06)

Career Games: 132 Yared Hagos (2005–07)

Current Roster

As of April 23, 2009. Data taken from AHL website.[1]

GOALTENDERS
#		Player	Catches	Date of birth	Place of birth
31		David LeNeveu	L	May 23, 1983	Fernie, BC, Canada

DEFENSEMEN
#		Player	Shoots	Date of birth	Place of birth
4		Stu Bickel	R	October 2, 1986	Chanhassen, MN, USA
12		John de Gray	L	March 14, 1988	Richmond Hill, ON, Canada
17		Mike Stuart	R	February 16, 1987	Rome, NY, USA
21		Mark Mitera	L	October 22, 1987	Royal Oak, MI, USA
25		Adrian Veideman	L	April 13, 1983	Sicamous, BC, Canada
29		Eric Regan	R	May 20, 1988	Ajax, ON, Canada
44		Brennan Evans	L	January 16, 1982	Camrose, AB, Canada

FORWARDS
#		Player	Position	Shoots	Date of birth	Place of birth
6		Nicolas Deschamps	LW	L	January 6, 1990	Lasalle, QC, Canada
7		MacGregor Sharp	C	L	October 1, 1985	Red Deer, AB, Canada
10		Charlie Kronschnabel	RW	R	February 8, 1983	Mendota Heights, MN, USA
14		Francis Wathier	LW	L	December 7, 1984	St. Isidore, ON, Canada
15		Ryan Dingle	LW	L	April 4, 1984	Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
23		Matt Caruana	C	R	July 6, 1985	Orono, ON, Canada
24		T.J. Trevelyan	LW	L	March 6, 1984	Mississauga, ON, Canada
28		Ryan Donally	LW	L	February 4, 1985	Tecumseh, ON, Canada
32		Ajay Baines	C	L	March 25, 1978	Kamloops, BC, Canada
33		Eric Boguniecki	C	R	May 6, 1975	New Haven, CT, USA

Staff
Title	STAFF MEMBER
Head Coach	Gord Dineen
Assistant Coach	Paul Jerrard
Assistant Coach	Matt Laatsch
Athletic Trainer	Joe Huff

External links

• Iowa Chops Official Website
• Iowa Chops coverage from The Des Moines Register