From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
City Omaha, Nebraska
League American Hockey League
Founded 1977
Operated 20052007
Home arena Omaha Civic Auditorium
ColorsRed, black, gold and silver        
Affiliate Calgary Flames
Franchise history
1977–1987 Maine Mariners
1987–1993 Utica Devils
1993–2003 Saint John Flames
2005–2007Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
2007–2009 Quad City Flames
2009–2014 Abbotsford Heat
2014–2015 Adirondack Flames
2015–2022 Stockton Heat
2022–Present Calgary Wranglers
Championships
Division titles1: ( 2006–07)

The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Omaha, Nebraska, United States at the Omaha Civic Auditorium from 2005–07. Following the 2006–07 season, the Calgary Flames announced that the team would relocate to the Quad Cities for 2007–08.

History

In 2005, the AHL franchise of the Calgary Flames (the Saint John Flames, which existed from 1993 to 2003) was reestablished in Omaha. The Ak-Sar-Ben part of the team's name comes from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben, an Omaha civic organization, whose logo was integrated into the insignia of the team and was a partner with the Omaha organization. Ak-Sar-Ben, which is (ironically) "Nebraska" spelled backwards, was also the name of the arena of the original Omaha Knights. The team logo was shown with identical flame marks as the Calgary Flames' logo.

Following two difficult seasons at the gate, rumors swirled around both Omaha and the Quad Cities that the Flames would relocate their affiliate to the latter region, which was at the time served by the Quad City Mallards of the United Hockey League. [1] The Calgary Flames and Quad City Mallards confirmed the move on May 24, 2007. [2]

Season-by-season record

Year GP W L OTL SOL GF GA PTS Finish Playoffs
2005–06 80 35 31 3 11 206 221 84 6th, West Out of playoffs
2006–07 80 49 25 5 1 214 189 104 1st, West Lost 1st round, 4–2, Iowa Stars

Team records

Single season

Goals: 28, Carsen Germyn (2006–07)
Assists: 43, Andrei Taratukhin (2006–07)
Points: 60, Dustin Boyd, Carsen Germyn, and Andrei Taratukhin (2006–07)
Penalty minutes: 294, Brandon Prust (2005–06)
Plus/minus: +27, David Van Der Gulik (2006–07)
Wins: 35, Curtis McElhinney (2006–07)
Shutouts: 7, Curtis McElhinney (2006–07)
GAA: 2.13, Curtis McElhinney (2006–07)
SV%: .917, Curtis McElhinney (2006–07)

Career

Career goals: 52, Carsen Germyn
Career assists: 63, Carsen Germyn
Career points: 115, Carsen Germyn
Career penalty minutes: 505, Brandon Prust
Career goaltending wins: 44, Curtis McElhinney
Career shutouts: 10, Curtis McElhinney
Career games: 156, Warren Peters

Team captains

See also

References

  1. ^ DeVrieze, Craig (May 15, 2007). "Report: AHL hockey team moving from Omaha to the Quad-Cities". Quad-City Times. Retrieved May 15, 2007.
  2. ^ "Flames announce relocation of AHL franchise to Quad Cities". Calgary Flames. May 24, 2007. Retrieved October 17, 2021.