The Soo Indians were a Junior A ice hockey team playing in the North American Hockey League. The team was based in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.
History In 1995, the Sault Tribe purchased the Lakeland Jets and moved the franchise to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The team was sponsored by the Kewadin Casinos and used as a both a link between the tribe and the local community as well as an advertisement for the casino. The team hired Joe Shawhan to serve as both head coach and GM and the move paid dividens as the team swiftly became a success. Over the course of 10 years, the Indians never had a losing season and twice won their division. However, the team did routinely lose to a lower-seeded team in the league playoffs.
2010 Vezina Trophy winner Ryan Miller was the starting goaltender for the Soo Indians for two seasons from 1997-1999, and was a fifth round pick in the 1999 NHL entry draft by the Buffalo Sabres. Miller is the only Indians alum to play in the NHL.
In January 2004, the Sault Tribe board of directors held a meeting and voted 6–4 in favor of defunding the team. This occurred despite the team possessing a 28–2–5 record at the time. Coach Shawhan opined that the decision was more a result of internal politics rather than anything to do with the team itself. The team was saved for one additional year but, after the 2005 season, the Indians folded and passed into history.
Season-by-season records Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs 1995–96 46 22 18 4 2 50 167 173 4th of 8, NAHLMissing information 1996–97 46 28 18 - 0 56 169 159 t–3rd of 8, NAHLMissing information 1997–98 56 35 20 - 1 71 203 138 3rd of 9, NAHLLost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (USNTDP) 1998–99 56 37 18 - 1 74 211 180 2nd of 9, NAHLWon Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Grand Rapids Bearcats)Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Detroit Compuware Ambassadors) 1999–2000 56 35 15 - 6 76 187 142 2nd of 6, East Div.4th of 11, NAHLWon Quarterfinal series, 2–0 (Cleveland Jr. Barons)Lost Semifinal series, 0–2 (Texas Tornado) 2000–01 56 42 11 - 3 89 253 136 1st of 5, East Div.1st of 10, NAHLWon Quarterfinal series, 2–1 (Capital Centre Pride)Won Semifinal series, 0–2 (Cleveland Jr. Barons)Lost Championship series, 1–3 (Texas Tornado) 2001–02 56 34 18 - 4 72 214 170 4th of 6, East Div.5th of 11, NAHLLost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Detroit Compuware Ambassadors) 2002–03 56 30 22 - 4 64 187 152 3rd of 6, East Div.6th of 11, NAHLLost Quarterfinal series, 0–2 (Detroit Compuware Ambassadors) 2003–04 56 44 6 - 6 94 213 115 1st of 7, North Div.2nd of 21, NAHLLost First Round series, 1–3 (USNTDP) 2004–05 56 33 17 - 2 71 170 141 2nd of 6, North Div.t-6th of 19, NAHLWon Div. Semifinal series, 3–0 (Youngstown Phantoms)Lost Div. Final series, 3–4 (USNTDP)Lost Semifinal Round Robin, 3–1 (Bismarck Bobcats), 2–8 (Fargo-Moorhead Jets), 1–4 (Texas Tornado)Won Consolation game, 5–2 (Bismarck Bobcats)
Notes
External links Lakeland Jets Hockey DB website