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Iowa Chops
250px-Iowa Chops.svg
City: Des Moines, Iowa
League: American Hockey League
Operated: 2005-2009
Home Arena: Wells Fargo Arena (Des Moines)
Colors: Black, crimson, grey, white
                   
Affiliates: Dallas Stars (2005-2008)
Anaheim Ducks (2008-2009)
Franchise history
1999 to 2001: Louisville Panthers
2005 to 2008: Iowa Stars
2008 to 2009: Iowa Chops
2010 to present: Texas Stars

The Iowa Chops was a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The club was based in Des Moines, Iowa at the Wells Fargo Arena.

History[]

IowaStars

Iowa Stars Logo

The Chops were founded by Howard Baldwin, of Hockey Holdings & Management Group, and Dallas businessman Bob Schlegel, who took the dormant Louisville Panthers AHL franchise and resurrected it for the 2005–06 season as the Iowa Stars (the same name as an earlier team in 1969-70 in the Central Hockey League. They had a five year affiliation agreement with the Dallas Stars and a one year agreement with the Edmonton Oilers.

In their inaugural season, the Stars made it to the Calder Cup playoffs first round, where they were defeated by the Milwaukee Admirals. The Stars won their first playoff series the following season, defeating the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights in six games.

In February 2008, the Dallas Stars announced they would be affiliating with the future Texas Stars pending the 2009 completion of the Cedar Park Entertainment Center in Cedar Park, Texas. After the 2007-2008 season the Dallas Stars left the Iowa scene, and the Anaheim Ducks announced an affiliation with the team.

On July 9, 2008, the team unveiled its new name and logo, featuring a "vicious boar’s head in the team colors of crimson, grey and black".

Portland Pirates' assistant Gord Dineen was named Head Coach of the Iowa Chops on August 19, 2008.

On May 9, 2009, the Anaheim Ducks dropped their affiliation with the Iowa Chops, leaving Iowa to look for their third NHL affiliate in four seasons.

On July 7, 2009, the Iowa Chops franchise was involuntarily suspended by the AHL's Board of Governors for the 2009–10 AHL season for being "unable to remedy certain violations of the provisions of the league’s Constitution and By-Laws." While the AHL declined further comment on the reasons for the suspension, the Des Moines Register reported in June, 2009, that the club "had used the franchise as collateral to obtain a loan in March, 2008, from a North Carolina branch of Wachovia Bank," that "records obtained from Polk County had disclosed the loan amounted to $1.99 million and was used to cover operating costs," and that AHL President Dave Andrews had said that "such loans are not permitted under league rules." The franchise began the 2008-09 season as an affiliate of the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks which ended its agreement with the club in May, 2009, citing a lack of payment on the affiliation contract.

After several months of speculation as to their future, the AHL announced on May 4, 2010, that the Texas Stars had acquired the Chops' franchise. This transaction finalized the Texas Stars' contractual obligation to acquire a permanent franchise in the league, as they operated in 2009-10 under a provisional franchise agreement.

Season-by-Season Results[]

Regular Season[]

Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points Goals
For
Goals
Against
Standing
2005–06 80 41 31 1 7 90 238 228 4th, West
2006–07 80 42 34 3 1 88 221 231 4th, West
2007–08 80 35 37 5 3 78 217 255 8th, West
2008–09 80 33 33 4 10 80 209 260 7th, West

Playoffs[]

Season 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals
2005–06 L, 3–4, Milwaukee
2006–07 W, 4–2, Omaha L, 2–4, Chicago
2007–08 Did not qualify.
2008–09 Did not qualify.
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