Southern Oregon Spartans
CityMedford, Oregon
LeagueNorthern Pacific Hockey League (2007–2012)
Western States Hockey League (2012–2020)
United States Premier Hockey League (2020)
Founded2007
ColorsBlack, gold, white
     
Owner(s)Brie and Dylan Martin
Head coachDylan Martin
Franchise history
2007–2010Rogue Valley Wranglers
2010–2021Southern Oregon Spartans

The Southern Oregon Spartans were a junior ice hockey team that played their home games at The RRRink in Medford, Oregon.

History

On May 25, 2007, it was announced by the Northern Pacific Hockey League (NorPac) that two expansion teams would begin play during the 2007–08 season, the Missoula Maulers and the Rogue Valley Wranglers.[1] When the Wranglers franchise was announced, the NorPac was a Tier III Junior B hockey league; however, on July 17, 2007, it was announced that the league and all its teams would be granted Tier III Junior A status.[2] Also on July 17, the team announced the signing of their first player, Robert Reiber, who was later traded to the Eugene Generals.[3][4]

After three seasons as the Wranglers, it was announced on February 20, 2010, that the team had been purchased by new ownership, led by Troy Irving and Forest Sexton,[5] and would be re-established as the Southern Oregon Spartans. The new ownership confirmed that Steve Chelios would be hired on as the general manager and head coach of the team. The team played that evening for the first time as the Spartans and revealed the new team and logo to a crowd of over 900 fans from throughout Southern Oregon.

Starting in the 2012–13 season, the Spartans joined the AAU-sanctioned Western States Hockey League (WSHL) and played out of the Northwest Division. In 2019, the Spartans' management posted the franchise was for sale.[6] The team was then sold to Dylan and Brie Martin in June 2019.[7]

In 2020, the Spartans left the WSHL and joined another independent junior hockey league, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), in the Premier Division.[8] Due to local capacity restrictions on indoor events amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spartans began their 2020–21 season playing in outdoor rinks with limited attendance. As restrictions increased, the team withdrew from the 2020–21 season after six games played on November 18, 2020.[9] Their home arena, The RRRink, then opted to not renew their lease with the Spartans in May 2021 and begin seeking a new junior hockey tenant.[10]

In August 2021, the WSHL granted a new team to Medford at the RRRink under a different ownership group, later called the Rogue Valley Royals,[11] and the Spartans had ceased operations.[12] However, the Royals also never played in the WSHL and the league ceased operations during the 2021–22 season.[13] The Royals then joined the USPHL in 2022.[14]

Season-by-season records

SeasonGPWLOTWOTLSOLPtsGFGAPIMFinishPlayoffs
Rogue Valley Wranglers
2007–0848345———61304431,9427th of 7, Pacific
13th of 13 NorPac		Did not qualify
2008–0948147———2803761,2497th of 7, Pacific
13th of 13, NorPac		Did not qualify
2009–1048840———161271811,3856th of 6, Pacific
12th of 12, NorPac		Did not qualify
Southern Oregon Spartans
2010–11503614———722801491,6682nd of 6, Pacific
3rd of 11, NorPac		Won Div. Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Eugene Generals
Lost Div. Finals, 0–3 vs. Seattle Totems
2011–1242348———682601621,8642nd of 7, NorPacWon Semifinals, 3–1 vs. Yellowstone Quake
Won Finals, 3–0 vs. Seattle Totems
CASCADE CUP CHAMPIONS
2012–13462619—10531721721,7582nd of 5, Northwest
8th of 22, WSHL		Won Div. Semifinals, 2–1 vs. Ogden Mustangs
Lost Div. Finals, 0–2 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads
1–1 in Thorne Cup Round Robin (wild card)
(L, 1–10 vs. Jr. Steelheads; W, 4–2 vs. Ice Jets)
Lost Semifinal game, 1–3 vs. Idaho Jr. Steelheads
2013–14461230—22281412091,0035th of 6, Northwest
18th of 24, WSHL		Did not qualify
2014–15463411—10792291201,5753rd of 7, Northwest
6th of 28, WSHL		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Seattle Totems
Lost Div. Semifinals, 1–2 vs. Missoula Maulers
2015–16523318—1—672271841,3953rd of 8, Northwest
10th of 29, WSHL		Won Div. Quarterfinals, 2–0 vs. Seattle Totems
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Missoula Maulers
2016–17523315—4—702051241,1932nd of 7, Northwest
10th of 27, WSHL		Div. Quarterfinals, Bye
Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Butte Cobras
2017–18511238—1—251472531,5146th of 6, Northwest
20th of 23, WSHL		Lost Div. Quarterfinals, 0–2 vs. Bellingham Blazers
2018–1951182922—60[lower-alpha 1]2142161,1973rd of 4, Northwest
14th of 23, WSHL		Lost Div. Semifinals, 0–2 vs. Bellingham Blazers
2019–205064121—23[lower-alpha 1]1013611,0305th of 5, Northwest
19th of 20, WSHL		Did not qualify
2020–2160600009611455th of 5, Pacific
61st of 61, USPHL Premier		Did not finish[15]
  1. 1 2 Beginning with the 2018–19 season, the WSHL began awarding 3pts for a win, 2pts for an overtime win, and 1pt for an overtime loss.

References

  1. ↑ "NORPAC Announces Addition of Two Teams". NPHL. Retrieved May 25, 2007.
  2. ↑ "NORPAC Officially Granted Tier-III A Status". NPHL. Retrieved July 11, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Wranglers Sign First Player". Rogue Valley Wranglers. Archived from the original on December 16, 2007. Retrieved July 17, 2007.
  4. ↑ "Stats & Standings". NPHL. Retrieved November 8, 2007.
  5. ↑ "Wranglers under new ownership". Medford Mail Tribune. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Spartans for sale". Facebook. April 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ "SOUTHERN OREGON LANDS NEW OWNERS". WSHL. June 28, 2019.
  8. ↑ "United States Premier Hockey League Adds Eight New West Coast Member Organizations". USPHL. April 17, 2020.
  9. ↑ "SOS COVID-19 RESPONSE". Southern Oregon Spartans. November 18, 2020.
  10. ↑ "THE RRRINK CUTS TIES WITH SOUTHERN OREGON SPARTANS HOCKEY". KDRV. June 16, 2021.
  11. ↑ "WSHL August Update". WSHL. August 9, 2021. Archived from the original on August 9, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Spartans opt out of 2021-22 hockey season". Mail Tribune. May 19, 2021. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021.
  13. ↑ "New Rogue Valley junior hockey announces 'dormancy' before playing a game". KDRV. November 5, 2021.
  14. ↑ "The 'Rogue Valley Royals' junior hockey team makes debut in Medford". KOBI. September 30, 2022.
  15. ↑ "2020–21 USPHL Premier Standings". USPHL. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
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