The Lake Tahoe Lakers are an American junior hockey team from South Lake Tahoe, California. The team will be based out of the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena The team was announced as a member of the United States Premier Hockey League's Premier league on April 21, 2021 to begin play with the 2021-22 playing season. The team ownership also owns the Charlotte Rush and Charleston Colonials. They are partnering with Lake Tahoe Academy to operate the team.
The team logo was inspired by the NHL Outdoors at Lake Tahoe event held February 20–21, 2021 which was held on the shore of Lake Tahoe on the 18th fairway of the Edgewood Tahoe Resort in Stateline, Nevada.
History
Bay Area Seals (2012–2013) After a start to the team's first season that saw them earn only 3 wins in their first 18 games, the Seals would finish strong and earn second place in the Pacific Division and their first Thorne Cup playoff appearance. The Seals would make a strong playoff run but would lose the Thorne Cup Championship game to Idaho Jr. Steelheads by a final score of 2-4.
By finishing as runner-up in playoffs, the Seals were invited to be the second of the WSHL's representatives (along with the Jr. Steelheads) at the 2013 United Hockey Union National Championship Tournament. In the three-game round-robin stage of the tournament, the Seals would lose to the Lake George Fighting Spirit of the Northern States Hockey League (NSHL) before beating the Hartland Hounds and Tennyson Chevrolets, both of the Midwest Junior Hockey League (MWJHL), to move on to the tournament's semi-final round. They beat the NSHL's Syracuse Stampede before losing the UHU National Championship game to the Jr. Steelheads by a score of 1-5.
Lake Tahoe (2013–2018)
The team would relocate to South Lake Tahoe and call themselves the Lake Tahoe Blue for the 2013–14 season after owner Chris Collins sold the team to Tahoe Hockey Partners, LLC. Collins continued on as the team's general manager for the remainder of the season. After a sub-par 2013-14 season, Collins would be replaced with Michael Richardson, who had also been hired as head coach, while Spencer Jamison, son of Greg Jamison, would take over the position of President. The 2014–15 season would also leave the Blue out of playoff position.
On April 20, 2015, it was announced that the team had changed its name to the Tahoe Icemen. On May 4, 2015, the Icemen announced the hiring of Tom Maroste as head coach and general manager for the 2015–16 season. After one season, in which the Icemen won only two games, Maroste was replaced by former professional hockey player Mickey Lang.
Prior to the 2018–19 season, the team announced it would be going dormant with the possibility of return for the 2019–20 season. It was claimed that the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena was having maintenance issues and that during the dormancy, the ice plant could be repaired.
Lake Tahoe (2021–2024) After one season as the Anaheim Avalanche the franchise is re-located and re-branded as the Lake Tahoe Lakers, bringing junior hockey back to South Tahoe Lake.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L OTL SOL Pts GF GA Regular season finish PlayoffsBay Area Seals 2012–13 46 26 16 1 3 56 201 193 2nd of 5, Pacific6th of 22, WSHL Lake Tahoe Blue 2013–14 46 19 24 2 1 41 181 227 5th of 6, Pacific17th of 24, WSHL Did not qualify 2014–15 46 7 36 2 1 17 130 269 7th of 7, Northwest25th of 28, WSHL Did not qualifyTahoe Icemen 2015–16 52 2 50 0 — 4 83 412 7th of 7, Northwest29th of 29, WSHL Did not qualify 2016–17 52 15 33 4 — 34 174 307 5th of 7, Northwest21st of 27, WSHL Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Vancouver RangersLost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads 2017–18 51 28 20 3 — 59 241 226 2nd of 6, Northwest11th of 23, WSHL Div. Quarterfinals byeWon Div. Semifinals, 2–0 vs. Bellingham BlazersLost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Idaho IceCatsAnaheim Avalanche USPHL - Premier 2020–20 36 9 27 0 0 18 96 188 3rd of 6, Pacific53rd of 61, Premier Lost Div. Semifinal 0-2 (Las Vegas Thunderbirds)Lake Tahoe Lakers USPHL - Premier 2021–22 44 22 21 0 1 45 198 183 3rd of 6, Pacific29th of 64, Premier Lost Div. Semifinal 0-4 game vs. (Las Vegas Thunderbirds) 2022–23 42 3 37 2 0 8 97 276 7th of 7, Pacific68th of 70, Premier Did Not Qualify 2023–24 46 18 24 3 1 40 147 195 5th of 7, Pacific40th of 61, Premier Did Not Qualify 2024–25 46 33 10 2 1 69 278 148 2nd of 8, Pacific12th of 73, Premier Lost Div. Semifinal 0-2 vs. (Ontario Jr. Reign )
United Hockey Union National Championship Tournament AAU Sanctioned Junior A National Championship In 2013 & 2014, the Midwest Junior Hockey League (MWJHL), Northern States Hockey League (NSHL), and the Western States Hockey League (WSHL) advanced two teams each in the tournament. Year Round Robin Record Ranking Semifinal Game Championship Game 2013 2-0-12nd of 6
References
External links Tahoe Icemen official site