Chicago Cheetahs

Chicago Cheetahs
Chicago Cheetahs
City	Chicago, Illinois; (1994); Villa Park, Illinois; (1995)
Founded	1994
Home arena	UIC Pavilion; (1994); Odeum Expo Center; (1995)
Colors	Burnt Orange, Tapioca, Black, White;
Murphy Cups	None
Conference Championships	None
Division Championships	None
Franchise history
	Chicago Cheetahs; (1994 - 1995)

The Chicago Cheetahs were a professional roller hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States that played in Roller Hockey International. The Cheetahs joined the league in 1994. The Cheetahs were part-owned by basketball legend George Mikan.^[1]

Former Chicago Blackhawks star Al Secord was part of the Cheetahs in 1994, as were future Chicago Wolves players Bobby Nardella, Jeff Rohlicek and Tim Breslin.

The Cheetahs played at the UIC Pavilion during the 1994 regular season in front of an average of 2,000 fans per game, but moved their playoff home games to the Odeum in suburban Villa Park to save money. Co-owner Mike Ryan then moved all Cheetahs home contests to the 4,000-seat Odeum in 1995 in an effort to reach out to fans living where roller hockey was played in the suburban streets.^[2] Cheetahs games home and away in 1994 and their playoff games in 1995 were carried on WAUR (930-AM) Radio with Les Grobstein handling the play-by-play. The franchise folded after their second season as several checks made out by Ryan bounced.

Alumni who also played in the NHL

References

^ Anderson, Kelli. "George Mikan", Sports Illustrated, August 22, 1994. Accessed March 20, 2022. "Listed second in the Central Division, beneath Minnesota—the state Mikan put on the professional sports map more than 40 years ago—is Chicago, the city where his outsized basketball talent first bloomed at DePaul and where, as part-owner and chairman of the board of roller hockey's Chicago Cheetahs, he faces daily public relations challenges."
^ Bennett, Brian. "Cheetahs hoping to be quick on the draw", Chicago Tribune, June 9, 1995. Accessed March 20, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Chicago's professional roller hockey team is back in business, and it hopes business improves this year. The Chicago Cheetahs, one of 19 members of Roller Hockey International, open their second season at 7:05 p.m. Friday against the St. Louis Vipers. The Cheetahs had one of the league's lowest attendance marks last year, drawing less than 2,000 a game at the UIC Pavilion. They hope things turn around now that they've relocated to the Odeum, a 4,000-seat arena in Villa Park. The Odeum allows the team to target fans in the suburbs, where roller hockey is mostly played."

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[1] Anderson, Kelli. "George Mikan", Sports Illustrated, August 22, 1994. Accessed March 20, 2022. "Listed second in the Central Division, beneath Minnesota—the state Mikan put on the professional sports map more than 40 years ago—is Chicago, the city where his outsized basketball talent first bloomed at DePaul and where, as part-owner and chairman of the board of roller hockey's Chicago Cheetahs, he faces daily public relations challenges."

[2] Bennett, Brian. "Cheetahs hoping to be quick on the draw", Chicago Tribune, June 9, 1995. Accessed March 20, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Chicago's professional roller hockey team is back in business, and it hopes business improves this year. The Chicago Cheetahs, one of 19 members of Roller Hockey International, open their second season at 7:05 p.m. Friday against the St. Louis Vipers. The Cheetahs had one of the league's lowest attendance marks last year, drawing less than 2,000 a game at the UIC Pavilion. They hope things turn around now that they've relocated to the Odeum, a 4,000-seat arena in Villa Park. The Odeum allows the team to target fans in the suburbs, where roller hockey is mostly played."

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