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 Wildcats ceased operations for the 2017–18 season.

History Previously known as the Wichita Falls Rustlers (and before this, the Butte Irish of Butte, Montana and the Vail Avalanche of Vail, Colorado), the franchise was a part of the American Frontier/America West Hockey League prior to 2003, and became an NAHL team after the two leagues merged for the 2003–04 season. The Irish, Rustlers, and Wildcats are technically three separate franchises, but with a major overlap of players and coaches between the organizations, they are often listed together as one.

After 13 seasons as the Wildcats, ownership had been trying to sell the franchise to keep it in Wichita Falls during the 2016–17 season. After failing to find a buyer, they announced they would not be operating the team in the 2017–18 season.

In 2018, there was an attempt to bring junior hockey back to Wichita Falls with the Wichita Falls Force, a team in the USA Central Hockey League, but the entire league folded after only six weeks of operation. The NAHL later announced a Wichita Falls expansion team for the 2020–21 season.

Season-by-season records Season GP W L OTL PTS GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs Avg AttendVail Avalanche (AFHL) 1993–94 Statistics unavailable 1994–95 Statistics unavailable League champions 1995–96 Statistics unavailableButte Irish (AFHL) 1996–97 60 38 17 5 81 264 181 N/A 2nd Lost in finals 1997–98 60 25 33 2 52 229 264 N/A 6th Did not qualify Butte Irish (AWHL) 1998–99 60 32 23 5 69 224 238 N/A 3rd Lost in semifinals 1999–00 58 23 32 3 49 205 263 1,283 6th Lost in 1st round 2000–01 60 6 51 3 15 166 345 1,969 8th Lost in 1st round 2001–02 56 21 28 7 49 214 240 N/A 8th Lost in 1st round Wichita Falls Rustlers (AWHL) 2002–03 56 43 11 2 88 215 115 1,255 1st, South Lost in semifinals Wichita Falls Rustlers (NAHL) 2003–04 56 29 20 7 65 200 172 1,039 3rd of 7, South8th of 21, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 1–3 (Fairbanks Ice Dogs)Wichita Falls Wildcats (NAHL) 2004–05 56 28 21 7 63 206 218 1,163 4th of 7, South9th of 19, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 0–3 (Texas Tornado) 1,948 2005–06 58 26 28 4 56 171 189 1,045 4th of 5, South12th of 20, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 2–3 (Texas Tornado) 1,987 2006–07 62 22 34 6 50 175 227 1,126 5th of 6, South15th of 17, NAHLDid not qualify 1,872 2007–08 58 38 18 2 78 221 181 1,715 3rd of 6, South5th of 18, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 1–3 (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) 1,890 2008–09 58 24 25 9 57 163 203 1,695 3rd of 4, South14th of 19, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 2–3 (Topeka RoadRunners) 1,826 2009–10 58 18 34 6 42 175 251 1,530 5th of 5, South17th of 19, NAHLDid not qualify 1,907 2010–11 58 26 27 5 57 189 190 1,527 4th of 6, South18th of 26, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 2–3 (Topeka RoadRunners) 1,894 2011–12 60 20 35 5 45 149 204 1.134 6th of 7, South22nd of 28, NAHLDid not qualify 2,038 2012–13 60 26 30 4 56 183 200 955 5th of 6, Southt-16th of 24, NAHLDid not qualify 1,895 2013–14 60 31 25 4 66 170 157 1,170 4th of 7, Southt-12th of 24, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 0–3 (Amarillo Bulls) 1,506 2014–15 60 39 16 5 83 242 182 858 3rd of 8, South7th of 24, NAHLWon Play-in series, 2–0 (Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees)Lost Div. Semifinal series, 1–3 (Topeka RoadRunners) 1,593 2015–16 60 44 11 5 93 224 141 1,093 1st of 6, South2nd of 22, NAHLWon Div. Semifinal series, 3–0 (Odessa Jackalopes)Won Div. Final series, 3–0 (Topeka RoadRunners)Won Robertson Cup Semifinal series, 2–0 (Bismarck Bobcats)Lost Robertson Cup Championship, 0–2 (Fairbanks Ice Dogs) 1,659 2016–17 60 29 24 7 65 187 203 1,672 4th of 7, Southt-12th of 24, NAHLLost Div. Semifinals, 0–3 (Lone Star Brahmas) 1,086

Notable alumni Andrew Conboy – drafted by the Montreal Canadiens (NHL) in 2007 Chad Costello – ECHL Most Valuable Player in 2011–12, 2015–16, and 2016–17. Evan Cowley – drafted by Florida Panthers (NHL) in 2013 Cal Heeter – played one game with the Philadelphia Flyers (NHL) Tucker Poolman – drafted by the Winnipeg Jets (NHL) in 2013 Dan Sexton – played for the Anaheim Ducks (NHL) and several teams in the Kontinental Hockey League Zach Trotman – drafted by the Boston Bruins (NHL) in 2010; has played for the Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins

References

External links Official site NAHL website