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 Mustangs History, The Beginning: 1997-1998... |
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The Mustangs WCHL franchise in Phoenix was born in August 1997, with the intention of filling the void left from the suspension of operation by the IHL Phoenix Roadrunners. The owner of the franchise at that time was Mike Cusak, the owner of the Anchorage Aces. Cusak hired Adam Keller to run the front office and Brad McCaughey as Head Coach. Keller was the former General Manager of the Phoenix Roadrunners, McCaughey the former Head Coach of the Alaska Goldkings. Walt Edwards, at that time the Vice President and General Manager of the Anchorage Aces, was given the additional assignment of overseeing the Phoenix operation. At the end of the season, Keller moved on to become Director of Hockey Operations for the WCHL. The Mustangs finished the 1997-1998 season after the memorable loss to San Diego during the first round of the playoffs. |
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1998-1999
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In the summer of 1998, Jerry Jenkins, real estate developer and part owner of the WCHL Idaho Steelheads, became the co-owner of the team. Jerry later assumed full ownership. As I recall, the opening home game included a performance by Paul Revere and the Raiders during one of the intermissions. |
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The Cinderella Season, 1999-2000
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The 1999-2000 season was the Year of the Taylor Cup. At Christmas, the Mustangs were in last place in the league. Brad McCaughey stepped down has head coach and was replaced by Marty Raymond, the former coach of the WCHL Tucson Gila Monsters. The team quickly turned their performance around, and by the end of the regular season were the team to beat. The excitement and electricity were palpable in the Coliseum during every home game. The fans were LOUD. Signs saying "We Believe" were hanging in the locker room. Those of us present during those games will never forget them. |
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2000-2001
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The first six weeks of the season were spectacular. It seems like another Taylor cup was a definite possibility. We fans got cocky. Then came that fateful game in mid-November when the Fresno Falcons beat the Mustangs 6-0, and it seemed as if the team never recovered. Compunding the problem was a string of bad luck. Sean Whyte sat out most of the season with a groin injury. Mike DeAngelis and Jeff Shevalier were lured away to play on European teams. Try as he might, Marty Raymond was unable to get the momentum back. |
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Adding Insult to Injury
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The Mustangs' lease on the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum expired during the summer of 2001. Jerry's plans to build a facility similar to the one used by the Idaho Steelheads in Boise had not yet come to fruition. The Mustangs attemped to enter into negotiations with the State of Arizona for a renewal of the lease. Sadly, the state refused and the Mustangs were forced to cancel their 2001-2002 season. |
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