Motor City Mechanics
The Motor City Mechanics were a professional ice hockey team of the United Hockey League. The Mechanics played their first two seasons, from 2004–2006, at Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena in Fraser, Michigan. After being swept in the first round of the UHL playoffs, the Mechanics announced that they would suspend operations for the 2006-07 UHL season.
After looking to relocate, the franchise was sold to a new owner who planned to keep the team in the Detroit area, with home games at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, starting in 2008. Nothing new was heard before the league folded in 2010.
Facts
- Founded: 2004
- Arena: Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum (capacity 5,600)
- Uniform colours: maroon, black & white
- Logo design: A puck with the initials MC and a wrench
- Division titles won: 0
- League championships won: 0
Season-by-season records
| Season | GP | W | L | T | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2004-05 | 80 | 37 | 36 | - | 7 | 81 | 229 | 262 | 1872 | 3rd Central Division | Out of playoffs |
| 2005-06 | 76 | 40 | 30 | 6 | - | 86 | 251 | 246 | 1768 | 3rd Central Division | Lost in Quarterfinals Wings 4-0 |
First season and the NHL lockout
The team got a major boost during their first year when a lockout wiped out the 2004-05 NHL season, thus leaving the Mechanics the only professional hockey team in the Detroit market. The Mechanics signed three Detroit Red Wings players: Chris Chelios, Derian Hatcher, and Kris Draper. All three players had local ties; Hatcher had even played at the Mechanics' arena as a youth. However, due to visa problems, Kris Draper (a Canadian) never played a game for the Mechanics. Later, Motor City also signed Bryan Smolinski and Sean Avery, suiting up four active NHL players, more than any other North American pro team during the lockout. Despite the signings, however, the Mechanics barely played .500 hockey and missed the playoffs.
Following a league investigation concerning the February 2, 2005 game played against the Flint Generals, UHL commissioner Richard Brosal suspended Mechanics' coach Steve Shannon for the rest of the season for offering his players $200 to "take out" Generals forward Kevin Kerr.[1]