The Fresno Monsters are a junior ice hockey team based in Fresno, California. The team is a member of the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) NCDC Division. The Monsters' home venue is Gateway Ice Center.
History The Monsters were announced in spring 2009, filling a void for hockey in Fresno after the Fresno Falcons folded. The team began play in mid-September 2009, playing in the Tier III Jr. A Western States Hockey League (WSHL). On December 15, 2009, the Monsters announced the organization was given expansion approval into the Tier II North American Hockey League (NAHL) for the 2010–11 season and Fresno would host two levels of junior hockey for the first time. On May 23, 2013, it was revealed the Monsters' North American Hockey League franchise would move to Wenatchee, Washington, and become the second Wenatchee Wild. The Monsters would continue to field a team in the Western States Hockey League, now sanctioned under United Hockey Union (UHU) instead of USA Hockey, with the same ownership of David White and Shoot the Puck, Inc. In 2015, the UHU promoted the WSHL and Monsters to their own level of Tier II.
On March 22, 2016, after six seasons coaching the WSHL Monsters, head coach and general manager Bryce Dale stepped down from his positions with the organization. In June 2016, David White sold the Monsters to the Central Valley Community Sports Foundation, led by Jeff Blair. Former Monsters' assistant coach, Jason Rivera, was then named head coach but was replaced by former NHL enforcer, Kevin "Killer" Kaminski prior to the season. In January 2018, the team announced it would begin to occasionally play games again at the larger Selland Arena, their home while the organization also had a NAHL franchise. The following season, the Monsters moved back to Selland Arena for 21 of their 23 scheduled home games. After three seasons, coach Kaminski left to become the head coach of the La Ronge Ice Wolves in his home province of Saskatchewan. He was replaced by Trevor Karasiewicz from the Watertown Wolves in the Federal Hockey League.
In 2020, the Monsters left the WSHL and joined another independent junior hockey league, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), in the Premier Division.
Season-by-season records
WSHL/USPHL team (2009–present) Season GP W L Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs 2009–10 49 41 5 — 3 85 264 94 1,516 1st of 8, Western Won Div. Semifinals vs. San Diego GullsLost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Phoenix Polar Bears 2010–11 46 36 8 — 2 74 220 119 1,233 2nd of 8, Western Lost Div. Semifinals vs. Phoenix Polar Bears 2011–12 46 43 2 — 1 87 264 93 1,281 1st of 6, Western1st of 16, WSHL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Arizona RedHawksWon Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Valencia Flyers0–3–0 in Thorne Cup Finals Round Robin(L, 1–3 vs. Jr. Steelheads; L, 3–6 vs. Ice Jets; L, 2–3 vs. Rhinos) 2012–13 46 32 13 — 1 65 208 114 1,326 1st of 6, Western4th of 22, WSHL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. San Diego GullsLost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Bay Area Seals0–2–0 in Thorne Cup Finals Round Robin (wild card)(L, 3–4 vs. Jr. Steelheads; L, 3–8 vs. Rhinos) 2013–14 46 37 5 — 4 78 240 122 1,367 1st of 6, Western3rd of 24, WSHL Won Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Long Beach BombersWon Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Ontario Avalanche2–1–0 in Thorne Cup Finals Round Robin(W, 6–3 vs. Jr. Brahmas; OTW, 4–3 vs. Jr. Steelheads; L, 1–3 vs. Knights)Lost Thorne Cup Semifinal game, 2–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads 2014–15 46 38 7 — 1 77 301 94 1,257 1st of 8, Western3rd of 28, WSHL Div. Quarterfinals, ByeWon Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. San Diego GullsWon Div. Finals, 2–1 vs. Valencia FlyersLost Conf. Finals, 0–2 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads 2015–16 52 36 12 — 4 76 267 147 1,214 3rd of 8, Western9th of 29, WSHL Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Arizona HawksLost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers 2016–17 52 25 22 — 5 55 224 237 1,084 5th of 8, Western16th of 27, WSHL Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Las Vegas Storm 2017–18 51 33 17 — 1 67 298 189 1,255 3rd of 6, Western9th of 23, WSHL Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. San Diego SabersWon Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ontario AvalancheLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers 2018–19 51 31 16 3 1 100 227 172 1,248 2nd of 5, Western9th of 23, WSHL Won Div. Semifinals. 2–0 vs. San Diego SabersLost Div. Finals, 1–2 vs. Long Beach Bombers 2019–20 51 34 13 2 2 108 294 141 793 1st of 5, Western6th of 20, WSHL Playoffs cancelled 2020–21 40 28 10 — 2 58 227 124 983 1st of 5, Pacific18th of 62, USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal game, 6–2 vs. San Diego SabersWon Division Championship game, 7–2 vs. Las Vegas Thunderbirds1–2–0 USPHL Premier Nationals round-robin Pool D(L, 6–8 vs. ; L, 2–7 vs. Cherokee; W, 8–6 vs. ) 2021–22 44 30 11 — 3 63 307 163 1002 1st of 6, Pacific13th of 64 USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 vs. Ontario Jr. ReignWon Div. Finals, 2–0 vs. Las Vegas Thunderbirds0–1–2 USPHL Premier Nationals round-robin Pool D(L, 2–4 vs. ; SOL, 4–5 vs. Cherokee; OTL, 4–5 vs. ) 2022–23 46 38 7 — 1 77 269 129 1106 1st of 7, Pacific6th of 69USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 vs. San Diego SabersLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Las Vegas Thunderbirds 2023–24 46 39 5 — 2 80 345 130 8481st of 7, Pacific2nd of 61USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 vs. Bakersfield RoughnecksLost Div. Finals, 2-3 vs. Ontario Jr. Reign 2024–25 46 37 9 — - 74 270 127 6601st of 8, Pacific9th of 71USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 vs. Henderson ForceWon Div. Finals, 2-0 Ontario Jr. ReignDivisional Round Robin 1 - 2 (L 5-8 Islanders)(W 4-3 Springfield)(L 4-5 Tampa Bay) 5th of 6 Pool 1 - eliminated 2025–26 46 37 8 1 - 75 282 119 10301st of 7, Pacific4th of 77USPHL-Premier Won Div. Semifinal, 2–0 vs. Ventura VikingsLost Div. Finals, 1-2 Ontario Jr. Reign
North American Hockey League team (2010–2013) Season GP W L OTL Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoffs 2010–11 58 19 34 5 43 158 243 1,635 6th of 6, Westt-22nd of 26, NAHLdid not qualify 2011–12 60 27 23 10 64 167 179 1,454 5th of 6, Westt-17th of 28, NAHLdid not qualify 2012–13 60 18 35 7 43 139 224 1,115 4th of 4, West22nd of 24, NAHLLost Div. Semifinal series, 2–3 vs. Wenatchee Wild
References
External links Official website