Saginaw Gears (UHL)
The Saginaw Gears were a minor professional ice hockey franchise that played in the United Hockey League (UHL), formerly known as the Colonial Hockey League. The Gears existed for five seasons and part of one other, from 1994 to December 19, 1999.
| Saginaw Gears | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Saginaw, Michigan |
| League | United Hockey League |
| Division | Central |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Home arena | Wendler Arena |
| Colors | Orange, blue, silver |
| Franchise history | |
| 1992–1994 | Chatham Wheels |
| 1994–1996 | Saginaw Wheels |
| 1996–1998 | Saginaw Lumber Kings |
| 1998–1999 | Saginaw Gears |
| 1999–2000 | Ohio Gears |
| Championships | |
| Division Championships | 1 (1993–94) |
The club began in 1992 in the Colonial Hockey League (CoHL) in Chatham, Ontario, as the Chatham Wheels. In 1994, the team moved to Saginaw, Michigan, and became the Saginaw Wheels and then the Saginaw Lumber Kings in 1996. After two poor seasons under the Lumber Kings moniker, new owner Khaled M. Shukairy decided to re-name the club the Saginaw Gears after the former IHL team. However, attendances remained flat with small crowds coming to see the Gears at Wendler Arena in the Saginaw Civic Center in downtown Saginaw. Local fans were not encouraged by the Gears poor play, with a 20–46–8 record in 1998–99.
On December 20, 1999, with the Gears again in last place at 7–17–3, the Gears abruptly left town in the middle of the night. Breaking their lease with Wendler Arena (and owing local businesses a reported $72,000), the club moved to Massillon, Ohio to finish the season as the Ohio Gears. The move had the blessing of United Hockey League commissioner Richard Brosal after the city of Massillon, Ohio, announced they were to build a new 6,500-seat arena. Playing at a small community rink in Massillon with a capacity of 400 and almost no one in attendance, the Gears completely collapsed on the ice, with a 5–40–5 record for the rest of the 1999–2000 campaign. The franchise went dormant after the season, planning on returning in the 2001–02 season when the new arena in Massillon was built. The arena never happened, forcing the team to remain dormant for another year. The Gears never playing another game despite unsuccessful resurrection attempts as the Arctic Xpress, Canton Xpress, and finally the Canton Ice Patrol.