The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were a professional ice hockey team which played in the Bossier City-Shreveport metropolitan area of Louisiana. From 1997 to 2001, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs were members of the Western Professional Hockey League, until a 2001 merger between the WPHL with the Central Hockey League. From 2001 to 2011, the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs played in the Central Hockey League. From 1997 until 2000, they were known as the Shreveport Mudbugs, changing the name to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs after the team relocated from the Hirsch Coliseum in Shreveport to the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City.
One of the few successful sports teams from the Bossier-Shreveport area, the Mudbugs found success early. Coached by former Mudbug player Scott Muscutt and owned by Tommy and Leslie Scott, the team increased attendance each year and hosted the All-Star festivities for the Central Hockey League in 2007. The Mudbugs maintained heated rivalries with the Texas Brahmas, Laredo Bucks, Mississippi RiverKings, and Colorado Eagles.
In their first four seasons, the Mudbugs saw their most success. After the sweep from the Fort Worth Brahmas in the second round of their opening season, the Mudbugs went on to win the President's Cup Championships three straight years in the WPHL. Following the merger of the WPHL and CHL, the Mudbugs found their way back to the Ray Miron President's Cup Finals three times (2004, 2006, 2011). The Mudbugs were the only team in history of the WPHL and CHL to ever win the Cup three straight years.
During the 2009âÂÂ10 season, Mudbugs legend goaltender Ken Carroll and Travis Clayton were named to the Central Hockey League's All Decade Team.
On July 20, 2010 former player Jason Campbell was named the new Vice President & General Manager for the Mudbugs.
With the merger of the CHL and the IHL beginning with the 2010âÂÂ11 season, the Mudbugs played in the Berry Conference. The Mudbugs would go on to win the Ray Miron President's Cup that season in a seven-game series with the Colorado Eagles, but would cease operations two weeks later citing low attendance and financial issues.
In October 2015, it was announced that a new Mudbugs team would return for the 2016âÂÂ17 season after signing a 12-year lease agreement with the Louisiana State Fairgrounds to play their home games in the Hirsch Coliseum as a member of the Tier II junior North American Hockey League. On April 8, 2016, the Shreveport Mudbugs were officially announced as an expansion team in the NAHL.
<div style="float:left; width:48%;"> Ray Miron President's Cup Champions
Governor's Cup Champions
Central Hockey League Northern Conference Champions
Division Championships
Central Hockey League Franchise of the Year
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<div style="float:left; width:48%;"> Central Hockey League Coach of the Year
Central Hockey League Rookie of the Year
Central Hockey League Most Outstanding Goaltender
Western Professional Hockey League Rookie of the Year
Western Professional Hockey League Playoff Most Valuable Player
Western Professional Hockey League Man of the Year
Western Professional Hockey League Most Outstanding Goaltender
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