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Erie Otters

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Erie Otters
CityErie, Pennsylvania
LeagueOntario Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionMidwest
Founded1996 (1996)–97
Home arenaErie Insurance Arena
ColorsNavy, gold, gray, white
       
Owner(s)Jim Waters
General managerDave Brown
Head coachStan Butler
MediaErie Times-News

Erie News Now
Jet Radio 1400
Fox Sports 1330 AM
Happi 927
90.5 WERG
Kinzua Country 104.3
Channel 98.9
Sunny 105.7
WKSN 1340 AM
Rock 103

ESPN 970 WFUN
Websiteottershockey.com Edit this at Wikidata
Franchise history
1946–1953Windsor Spitfires
1953–1960Hamilton Tiger Cubs
1960–1974Hamilton Red Wings
1974–1978Hamilton/St. Catharines Fincups
1978–1984Brantford Alexanders
1984–1988Hamilton Steelhawks
1988–1996Niagara Falls Thunder
1996–presentErie Otters
Current uniform

The Erie Otters are a major junior ice hockey team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Midwest division of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), one of only three American teams in the league. The team's name refers to the North American river otter common to Lake Erie. The Otters play at Erie Insurance Arena in downtown Erie, next door to UPMC Park and the Warner Theatre.

The Otters have achieved significant success over the years. They have won the J. Ross Robertson Cup as OHL champions in the 2001–02 and 2016–17 seasons. Additionally, the team secured the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference champions in 2014–15 and 2016–17. Their regular season dominance is highlighted by winning the Hamilton Spectator Trophy for first place in 2000–01, 2015–16, and 2016–17. The Otters also claimed the Holody Trophy as Midwest Division champions in multiple seasons, including 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2014–15, 2015–16, and 2016–17, showcasing their sustained excellence across various competitions.

History

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The Erie Otters have one of the most traveled histories in the OHL. Their journey began in the 1940s in Windsor, where they were initially known as the Spitfires, playing at the old Windsor Arena. In 1953, the Spitfires moved to Hamilton, playing as the Tiger Cubs at the Barton Street Arena. In 1960, the team was renamed the Red Wings after the Detroit NHL franchise purchased a share of the ownership. In 1972-73, Ron Cupido and the Finochio brothers took over, rebranding the team as the Fincups. They stayed in Hamilton until 1976, when the rink at the Hamilton Forum broke down, and the building was condemned, leaving the Fincups without a home. They moved to Garden City Arena in St. Catharines for the 1976-77 season but returned to Hamilton the following year, settling at Mountain Arena. However, poor attendance and no prospects for a new arena led the team to relocate to Brantford for the 1978-79 season, becoming the Alexanders. The team struggled to draw fans in Brantford as well. By 1984-85, they were back in Hamilton, this time as the Steelhawks, with plans to move into Copps Coliseum once it was completed. Unfortunately, attendance remained low in the new venue. By 1988-89, the team moved again to Niagara Falls, rebranding as the Thunder. In 1996-97, the franchise finally found a stable home in Pennsylvania, becoming the Erie Otters.[1]

Three seasons later, the Otters won the Holody Trophy as Midwest Division champions in 1999, the first of three consecutive division titles. This success culminated in winning the J. Ross Robertson Cup during the 2001–02 season. Dave MacQueen was named OHL Coach of the Year in the 2001–02 season, while general manager Sherwood Bassin earned both OHL Executive of the Year and CHL Executive of the Year for his work in building the championship team.[2][3]

In 2012, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, based in Erie, became the official medical provider for the Otters.[4] That same year, Connor McDavid, who had been granted "exceptional player" status by Hockey Canada, began his OHL career with the Otters at age fifteen. McDavid led the team to the J. Ross Robertson Cup finals in 2015, where the Oshawa Generals defeated them.[5][6][7]

On March 18, 2017, the Otters became the first team in Canadian Hockey League history to record four consecutive 50-win seasons (2013–2017). The Otters had previously shared the record of three consecutive 50-win seasons with the Kelowna Rockets (2012–2015), Edmonton Oil Kings (2011–2014), Saint John Sea Dogs (2009–2012) and the Kamloops Blazers (1989–1992).[8] On May 22, 2017, the Otters set a Memorial Cup record for most goals by one team in a single game by defeating the Saint John Sea Dogs with a final score of 12–5, surpassing the previous record of 11 goals set by the Quebec Remparts (1974, 11–3) and Regina Pats (1980, 11–2). Dylan Strome set an individual record of 7 points in a single game (4 goals, 3 assists). Taylor Raddysh also tied the previous record of 6 points (2 goals, 4 assists) in the same game.[9]

On January 17, 2022, the Otters made history by hosting their inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Day game, featuring Alex Randall, a University of Pittsburgh student, as the first African American play-by-play announcer in the OHL or CHL. This tradition continued in 2023 with Trey Matthews, an Arizona State University student, as the second African American announcer. The Otters also introduced a Black History Month-inspired logo and warm-up jersey for the 2023 MLK Jr. Day game.[10][11][12]

On January 26, 2023, Stan Butler was named the tenth head coach in Otters franchise history. Shortly after his appointment, he coached his first game, a 5–1 loss to the London Knights.[13][14]

Uniforms and logos

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From their inaugural season through the 2016–17 season, the Otters' team colors were navy blue, gold, red, and white. Their primary logo showcased a fierce, anthropomorphic otter holding a hockey stick and wearing gear set within a circular outline. The wordmark "Otters" appeared across the design in red with a gold and navy blue outline. The home uniforms consisted of a navy blue sweater with red and gold accents, while the away uniforms featured a white jersey with navy blue and red trim.[15]

For the 2013–14 season, the Otters unveiled a gold alternate jersey featuring a navy blue shoulder yoke, navy blue and white stripes, and a cursive "Otters" wordmark centered across the chest. The design paid homage to the defunct Erie Blades, who played from 1975 to 1982. In 2016, the Otters adopted the gold alternate jersey for every Saturday home game during the regular season. They introduced gold helmets to complement the uniform, replacing the blue helmets previously worn with the gold jerseys.[16][17]

For the 2017–18 season, the Erie Otters announced that the secondary cursive "Otters" wordmark would become their new primary logo, and the team would permanently adopt a color scheme of gold, navy, and white. As part of this rebranding, the gold alternate jersey became the team's home uniform, while a newly introduced white jersey, designed in the same style as the gold, became the main away uniform.[18]

On May 20, 2019, the Otters refreshed an older logo, incorporating the new navy blue, gold, and gray color scheme into the central emblem. The update also featured a modernized shoulder patch and included the name "Erie" within the Pennsylvania keystone symbol.[19]

Arena

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The Erie Otters play their home games at Erie Insurance Arena, which opened in 1983 and seats more than 6,700 spectators for ice hockey.[20]

Championships

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List of championships:[21]

J. Ross Robertson Cup Wayne Gretzky Trophy Hamilton Spectator Trophy Holody Trophy
OHL Champions Western Conference Champions 1st Place - Regular Season Midwest Division Champions

2001–02

2016–17

2001–02

2014–15

2016–17

2000–01

2015–16

2016–17

1999–00

2000–01

2001–02

2014–15

2015–16

2016–17

Coaches

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List of coaches:[22]

Regular Season Playoffs Memorial Cup
Coach First Season Last Season GP W L T OTL SOL PTS PCT% GP W L PCT% GP W L PCT%
Chris Johnstone 1996-97 1996-97* 39 11 25 3 0 0 25 .321 - - - - - - - -
Dale Dunbar 1996-97* 1997-98 93 45 36 9 3 0 102 .548 12 4 8 .333 - - - -
Paul Theriault 1998-99 1998-99 68 31 33 4 0 0 66 .485 5 1 4 .200 - - - -
Dave MacQueen 1999-2000 2005-06 476 229 183 36 25 3 522 .548 64 38 26 .594 4 2 2 .500
Peter Sidorkiewicz 2006-07 2007-08* 84 19 62 0 1 2 41 .244 - - - - - - - -
Robbie Ftorek 2007-08* 2012-13* 353 139 174 0 16 13 307 .436 16 4 12 .250 - - - -
Kris Knoblauch 2012-13* 2016-17 313 216 83 0 9 5 446 .712 69 46 23 .667 5 3 2 .600
Chris Hartsburg 2017-18 2021-22* 199 75 99 0 14 11 175 .438 - - - - - - - -
B.J Adams 2021-22* 2022-23* 90 36 48 0 3 3 78 .400 - - - - - - - -
Stan Butler 2022-23* 2023-24 95 40 44 0 5 6 18 .421 6 2 4 .333

* indicates replacement mid-season.

Award winners

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List of award winners:

Season Coach Award Won Award For ref
2000-01 Dave MacQueen Matt Leyden Trophy Coach of the Year [2]
2015-16 Kris Knoblauch Matt Leyden Trophy Coach of the Year [2]

General managers

[edit]

List of general managers with multiple seasons in parentheses.

Players

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Award winners

[edit]

List of award winners:[2]

Season Player(s) Award Won Award For
1999-00 Brad Boyes CHL Scholastic Player of the Year Award
Bobby Smith Trophy OHL Scholastic Player of the Year
2000-01 Brad Boyes Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
William Hanley Trophy Most Sportsmanlike Player
Joey Sullivan Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Humanitarian of the Year
2001-02 Brad Boyes CHL Sportsman of the Year Award
Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
William Hanley Trophy Most Sportsmanlike Player
Wayne Gretzky 99 Award OHL Playoffs MVP
Cory Pecker Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Overage Player of the Year
2003-04 Chris Campoli CHL Humanitarian of the Year
Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Humanitarian of the Year
2006-07 Derrick Bagshaw Roger Neilson Memorial Award Top Academic University Player
Ryan O'Reilly Jack Ferguson Award First Overall Draft Pick
2011-12 Connor McDavid Jack Ferguson Award First Overall Draft Pick
Adam Pelech Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic Player of the Year
Ivan Tennant Memorial Award Top Academic High School Player
2012-13 Connor McDavid Emms Family Award Top First-Year Player
2013-14 Connor Brown Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHL Leading Scorer
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy Top Scoring Right Winger
Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
CHL Top Scorer Award Highest Scoring Player in CHL
Dane Fox Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Overage Player of the Year
Connor McDavid William Hanley Trophy Most Sportsmanlike Player
Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic Player of the Year
Oscar Dansk & Devin Williams Dave Pinkney Trophy Lowest Team Goals Against
2014-15 Connor McDavid Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
Bobby Smith Trophy Scholastic Player of the Year
Wayne Gretzky 99 Award OHL Playoffs MVP
CHL Player of the Year
CHL Top Draft Prospect Award Top Eligible Draft Prospect in CHL
Dylan Strome Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHL Leading Scorer
William Hanley Trophy Most Sportsmanlike Player
CHL Top Scorer Award Highest Scoring Player in CHL
Alex DeBrincat Emms Family Award Top First-Year Player
CHL Rookie of the Year
2016-17 Alex DeBrincat Red Tilson Trophy Most Outstanding Player
Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy OHL Leading Scorer
Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy Top Scoring Right Winger
CHL Player of the Year
Darren Raddysh Leo Lalonde Memorial Trophy Overage Player of the Year
Max Kaminsky Trophy Defenceman of the Year
Warren Foegele Wayne Gretzky 99 Award OHL Playoffs MVP
Dylan Strome Stafford Smythe Memorial Trophy Memorial Cup MVP
Dylan Strome & Taylor Raddysh Ed Chynoweth Trophy Memorial Cup Leading Scorer(s)
Anthony Cirelli George Parsons Trophy Memorial Cup Most Sportsmanlike Player

NHL alumni

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List of National Hockey League (NHL) alumni:[23]

NHL first-round draft picks

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Connor McDavid is the first player with Erie ties to be selected first overall in a major professional sports league’s draft. In his case, it was by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft on June 26, 2015.[24]

List of first round NHL draft picks:[25]

Year Player Team Round Pick #
1997 Jason Ward Montreal Canadiens 1 11
1998 Michael Rupp New York Islanders 1 9
1999 Tim Connolly New York Islanders 1 5
2000 Nikita Alexeev Tampa Bay Lightning 1 8
2000 Brad Boyes Toronto Maple Leafs 1 24
2001 Carlo Colaiacovo Toronto Maple Leafs 1 17
2001 Adam Munro Chicago Blackhawks 1 29
2005 Ryan O'Marra New York Islanders 1 15
2013 Andre Burakovsky Washington Capitals 1 23
2015 Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers 1 1
2015 Dylan Strome Arizona Coyotes 1 3
2020 Jamie Drysdale Anaheim Ducks 1 6

Retired numbers

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Season-by-season results

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List of season-by-season results:[28]

Regular season

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Legend: OTL - Overtime Loss, SL - Shootout Loss, PTS - Points, GF - Goals For, GA - Goals Against, GD - Goal Differential

Season Games Won Lost Tie OTL SL PTS PCT% GF GA GD Standing Playoffs
1996–97 66 23 36 7 - - 53 0.402 240 260 -20 5th Central Lost in Quarterfinals
1997–98 66 33 28 5 - - 71 0.538 261 252 +9 4th West Lost in Quarterfinals
1998–99 68 31 33 4 - - 66 0.485 271 297 -26 3rd Midwest Lost in Quarterfinals
1999–00 68 33 28 4 3 - 73 0.515 224 229 -5 1st Midwest Lost in Semifinals
2000–01 68 45 11 10 2 - 102 0.735 264 171 +93 1st Midwest Lost in Conference Finals
2001–02 68 41 22 4 1 - 87 0.632 246 218 +28 1st Midwest Won OHL Championship, Lost Memorial Cup
2002–03 68 24 35 6 3 - 57 0.397 181 248 -67 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2003–04 68 29 26 6 7 - 71 0.471 221 212 +9 5th Midwest Lost in Semifinals
2004–05 68 31 26 6 5 - 73 0.500 186 207 -21 4th Midwest Lost in Quarterfinals
2005–06 68 26 35 - 4 3 59 0.434 219 266 -47 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2006–07 68 15 50 - 1 2 33 0.243 209 378 -169 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2007–08 68 18 46 - 2 2 40 0.294 206 343 -137 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2008–09 68 34 29 - 3 2 73 0.537 208 254 -46 3rd Midwest Lost in Quarterfinals
2009–10 68 33 28 - 5 2 73 0.537 257 259 -2 4th Midwest Lost in Quarterfinals
2010–11 68 40 26 - 1 1 82 0.603 281 229 +52 3rd Midwest Lost in Quarterfinals
2011–12 68 10 52 - 3 3 26 0.191 169 338 -169 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2012–13 68 19 40 - 4 5 47 0.346 206 312 -106 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2013–14 68 52 14 - 2 0 106 0.779 312 170 +142 2nd Midwest Lost in Conference Finals
2014–15 68 50 14 - 2 2 104 0.765 331 212 +119 1st Midwest Lost OHL Championship
2015–16 68 52 15 - 1 0 105 0.772 269 183 +86 1st Midwest Lost in Conference Finals
2016–17 68 50 15 - 2 1 103 0.757 319 182 +137 1st Midwest Won OHL Championship, Lost Memorial Cup
2017–18 68 23 35 - 7 3 56 0.412 220 270 -50 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2018–19 68 26 38 - 3 1 56 0.412 230 300 -70 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2019–20 63 26 26 - 4 7 63 0.500 229 236 -7 5th Midwest Playoffs Cancelled
2020–21 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0.000 0 0 0 Season Cancelled Playoffs Cancelled
2021–22 68 27 37 - 2 2 58 0.426 223 267 -44 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2022–23 68 21 40 - 2 5 49 0.360 207 287 -80 5th Midwest Missed Playoffs
2023–24 68 33 28 - 5 2 73 0.537 254 270 -16 3rd Midwest Lost in Quarterfinals

Playoffs

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List of playoffs results:[28]

Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals OHL Championship
Season Result Opponent Final Result Opponent Final Result Opponent Final Result Opponent Final
1996-97 > Lost Guelph Storm 4-1
1997-98 > Lost London Knights 4-3
1998-99 > Lost Guelph Storm 4-1
1999-00 > Won Brampton Battalion 4-2 > Lost Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-3
2000-01 > Won London Knights 4-1 > Won Brampton Battalion 4-1 > Lost Plymouth Whalers 4-1
2001-02 > Won Sarnia Sting 4-1 > Won London Knights 4-2 > Won Windsor Spitfires 4-1 > Won Barrie Colts 4-1
2002-03 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2003-04 > Won Sarnia Sting 4-1 > Lost London Knights 4-0
2004-05 > Lost Kitchener Rangers 4-2
2005-06 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2006-07 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2007-08 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2008-09 > Lost London Knights 4-1
2009-10 > Lost Windsor Spitfires 4-0
2010-11 > Lost Windsor Spitfires 4-3
2011-12 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2012-13 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2013-14 > Won Saginaw Spirit 4-1 > Won Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-0 > Lost Guelph Storm 4-1
2014-15 > Won Sarnia Sting 4-1 > Won London Knights 4-0 > Won Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-2 > Lost Oshawa Generals 4-1
2015-16 > Won Saginaw Spirit 4-0 > Won Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 4-1 > Lost London Knights 4-0
2016-17 > Won Sarnia Sting 4-0 > Won London Knights 4-3 > Won Owen Sound Attack 4-2 > Won Mississauga Steelheads 4-1
2017-18 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2018-19 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2019-20 Cancelled.
2020-21 Cancelled.
2021-22 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2022-23 Out of playoffs. Did not qualify.
2023-24 > Lost Kitchener Rangers 4-2

Memorial Cup

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List of Memorial Cup results:[28]

Round Robin Game 1 Round Robin Game 2 Round Robin Game 3 Semi-Final Final
Year Result Opponent Score Result Opponent Score Result Opponent Score Result Opponent Score Result Opponent Score
2002 Lost Kootenay Ice 3-0 Won Victoriaville Tigres 5-1 Won Guelph Storm 4-0 Lost Victoriaville Tigres 5-4 OT
2017 Won Seattle Thunderbirds 4-2 Won Saint John Sea Dogs 12-5 Lost Windsor Spitfires 4-2 Won Saint John Sea Dogs 6-3 Lost Windsor Spitfires 4-3

References

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  1. ^ "Erie Otters". ohlarenaguide.com. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  2. ^ a b c d "OHL Awards". Ontario Hockey League. Canadian Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  3. ^ "CHL Awards". chl.ca. Canadian Hockey League. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
  4. ^ "LECOM becomes official medical provider..." Otters Hockey.com. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  5. ^ Oilers' Connor McDavid becomes fourth fastest to 400 career assists, has 4-point game
  6. ^ "Connor McDavid granted exceptional status, now eligible for OHL draft". National Post. March 21, 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-03-22.
  7. ^ "Junior dreams crushed for McDavid in OHL championship". mastercardmemorialcup.ca. Retrieved 2015-05-16.
  8. ^ "Otters make CHL history, claim second straight Hamilton Spectator Trophy – Ontario Hockey League". ontariohockeyleague.com. Retrieved 2017-03-20.
  9. ^ "Otters rewrite the record books in 12-5 win – Mastercard Memorial Cup". mastercardmemorialcup.ca. Retrieved 2017-05-24.
  10. ^ "Pennsylvania's Alex Randall to Become First Black Play-by-Play Voice in CHL History". Ontario Hockey League. December 14, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Pennsylvanian Trey Matthews to call Otters' second MLK Day Game – Ontario Hockey League".
  12. ^ "ERIE OTTERS UNVEIL 2023 BLACK HISTORY LOGO, JERSEY – Erie Otters".
  13. ^ "Stan Butler to be named 10th coach in Otters franchise history". Ontario Hockey League. January 26, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  14. ^ "Late penalty trouble dooms Otters in front of sold out Erie Insurance Arena". Erie Otters. February 4, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  15. ^ "Erie Otters Logos History". SportsLogos.net. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  16. ^ Creamer, Chris. "New Otters Jersey Evokes Memories of the Blades". SportsLogos.net Blog. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  17. ^ "Otters lose to IceDogs". GoErie.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  18. ^ "Otters Unveil New Color Scheme and Jersey". OttersHockey.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
  19. ^ "Otters Unveil New Jerseys for 2019-2020 Season - Erie News Now | WICU & WSEE in Erie, PA". www.erienewsnow.com. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  20. ^ "Erie Insurance Arena". Erie Sports Commission. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "2023/24 Ontario Hockey League Media Guide" (PDF). CHL Media. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  22. ^ "Erie Otters—Team Staff History". Elite Prospects. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  23. ^ "Erie Otters (OHL) Alumni". Hockey Reference. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  24. ^ Fernandes, Victor. "Otters' McDavid chosen No. 1 in NHL draft". GoErie.com. Retrieved 2021-04-16.
  25. ^ "OHL Priority Selection Drafted by Erie Otters". Elite Prospects. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  26. ^ "Erie Otters—Roster, News, Stats & more". Elite Prospects. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  27. ^ "Erie Otters to retire Connor McDavid's No. 97 jersey in Jan. 10 ceremony". Erie Times-News. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c "Erie Otters Statistics & History". HockeyDB.com. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
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