The Utah Freezz were a professional American indoor soccer team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Freezz were a 1999 expansion team of the now-defunct World Indoor Soccer League. The team played in the E Center in West Valley City, Utah. Tim Mouser served as team president during its first two seasons and Chris Connolly was team president for the final season.[1]
 | |
| Full name | Utah Freezz |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1999 |
| Dissolved | 2001 |
| Ground | E Center |
| Capacity | 10,100 |
| League | WISL |
Featuring a mix of local and professional talent under head coach Dave Poggi,[2] the Freezz finished the 1999 season with a 12–10 record. Utah soccer fans embraced its newest sports franchise, helping the Freezz finished second in attendance with an average of 6,726 fans for thirteen home games. Freezz players Brian Alba, Beau Brown, and Justin Labrum received league recognition in 1999: Brown was named to the All-WISL Second Team while Brighton High School star Justin Labrum was named the 1999 WISL Rookie of the Year.[3]
The team continued play until the WISL ended in 2001.[4][5] During the Freezz's three years in the WISL, their average attendance was 5,748 per game.
Year-by-year
edit| Year | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Avg. attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | WISL | 4th WISL, 12–10 | Lost Semifinals | 6,726 |
| 2000 | WISL | 3rd WISL, 15–9 | Lost Semifinals | 4,775 |
| 2001 | WISL | 5th WISL, 10–14[6] | Opted out of Playoffs | 5,741 |
Honors
edit- Rookie of the Year
- 1999 — Justin Labrum
- Coach of the Year
- 2000 — Jeff Betts
- Defender Of The Year
- 2000 — Rob Baarts
References
edit- ^ "Freezz appoint president". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News Publishing Company. August 11, 2001. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "Freezz Learn Coach Poggi Won't Return". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, UT: MediaNews Group. March 22, 2000. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "Soccer: Utah Freezz". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News Publishing Company. March 22, 2000. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "Utah Freezz will kick off 2000 campaign in late July". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, UT: Deseret News Publishing Company. March 16, 2000. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ Olsen, Jaclyn (December 17, 2001). "Without new investors, Utah Freezz soccer team may fold its tent". The Enterprise. Enterprise Business Newspaper Inc. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
- ^ "Utah Freezz 2001 Schedule". Our Sports Central. December 2, 2001. Retrieved March 28, 2013.