The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins are a

professional ice hockey Professional ice hockey (hockey) is the competition of ice hockey in which participants are paid to play. Professional competition began in North America in the United States in Pennsylvania and Michigan and in Canada around 1900. Professional ice ...

team in the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the lea ...

, and are the AHL affiliates of the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference, and have playe ...

. They play at the

Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza (originally Northeastern Pennsylvania Civic Arena and Convention Center, formerly First Union Arena and Wachovia Arena) is an 8,050-seat multi-purpose arena located in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania just no ...

in Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania, just outside the city of

Wilkes-Barre Wilkes-Barre ( or ) is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Luzerne County. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it had a population of 44,328 in the 2020 census. It is the s ...

. They have won the

Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy The Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy is presented annually to the AHL team that finishes the regular season with the most points or highest points percentage. The award is named after late former AHL board member Macgregor Kilpatrick. The award was fir ...

twice for having the best record in the regular season.

History

The

' top minor league affiliate throughout the 1990s was the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the IHL. However, in the mid-1990s, the IHL began moving away from being a developmental league and more towards being an independent minor league. For this reason, the Penguins wanted their top minor league affiliate in the AHL. The Penguins purchased the dormant Cornwall Aces AHL franchise from the

Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (N ...

in 1996, but left the team inactive until the 1999–2000 season due to construction delays at their intended home–a new arena in Wilkes-Barre Township. The team is affectionately referred to as the "Baby Penguins" by fans. Their mascot is Tux the penguin, who wears number No. 99 in reference to the team's first season, in 1999. The Penguins have gone to the

Calder Cup The Calder Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the American Hockey League. It was first presented in 1937 to the Syracuse Stars. The cup is made of sterling silver mounted on a base of Brazilian mahogany. In its curr ...

final three times but have never won the

championship In sport, a championship is a competition in which the aim is to decide which individual or team is the champion. Championship systems Various forms of competition can be referred to by the term championship. Title match system In this system ...

. The team went all the way to the finals in their second season, losing to the

Saint John Flames The Saint John Flames were a Canadian ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate. History The Sain ...

in six games. The Penguins returned to the finals in their fifth season, but were swept by the Milwaukee Admirals. They most recently made it to the finals in

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

by way of beating the

Portland Pirates The Portland Pirates were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). Their home arena was the Cross Insurance Arena in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the Baltimore Skipjacks fr ...

in a seven-game series in the Eastern Conference finals. They went on to play the

Chicago Wolves The Chicago Wolves are a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League and are the top minor-league affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. The Wolves play home games at the Allstate Arena in the C ...

in the final, but lost the series in six games. The WBS Penguins won the

for the best finish in the regular season, in 2011, with 117 points. Goaltender

Brad Thiessen Brad Thiessen (born March 19, 1986) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played briefly in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Thiessen played three seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League ...

was named the recipient of the

Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award The Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award is presented annually to the American Hockey League's best goaltender. The award winner is chosen by AHL media and players. The award is named after former AHL Pittsburgh Hornets goaltender Aldege "Baz" Bas ...

, an award given to the AHL's most outstanding goaltender for each season. He posted a record of 35–8–1 in 46 appearances, along with a 1.94 goals-against-average and a .922 save percentage. Head coach John Hynes won the

Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award The Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award is an American Hockey League (AHL) trophy awarded annually to the most outstanding coach during the season, as voted upon by members of the AHL media. The award is named for Louis Pieri, a long-time contributo ...

, awarded to the most outstanding AHL coach of the season. Despite the best regular season finish in team history, the Penguins were eliminated in the second round of the 2011 playoffs by the

Charlotte Checkers The Charlotte Checkers are a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the American Hockey League (AHL), and are the top minor league aff ...

in six games. The Penguins have made the playoffs in all but three seasons of their existence. The Penguins held a playoff streak of 16 seasons from the 2002–03 season to the 2017–18 season. Prior to the 2009–10 season, they held the inaugural Penguins Black and Gold Game, an intra-squad game which featured members of the Pittsburgh and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and was the first ever head-to-head meeting between Sidney Crosby and

Evgeni Malkin Evgeni Vladimirovich Malkin ( rus, Евге́ний Влади́мирович Ма́лкин, p=jɪvˈɡʲenʲɪj ˈmaɫkʲɪn; born 31 July 1986) is a Russian professional ice hockey centre and alternate captain for the Pittsburgh Penguins of ...

. The game was a complete sellout and tickets never reached the general public. The Penguins organization held its second Black and Gold Game prior to the 2010–11 season on September 19, 2010. In 2009, they also spawned an affiliated youth level organization, the Wilkes-Barre Junior Pens. The team is based out of the Ice Rink at Coal Street Park, which also serves as a practice facility for the Penguins. The Penguins' biggest rivals had been the

Philadelphia Phantoms The Philadelphia Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League (AHL) from 1996 to 2009. The club was based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and played most of its home games at the Spectrum. During sched ...

, the AHL affiliate of Pennsylvania's other NHL team, the

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

. After that team moved to

Glens Falls, New York Glens Falls is a City (New York), city in Warren County, New York, Warren County, New York, United States and is the central city of the Glens Falls, New York metropolitan area, Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,7 ...

, (as the

Adirondack Phantoms The Adirondack Phantoms were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL), who began play in the 2009–10 AHL season. The Phantoms were based in Glens Falls, New York, playing home games at the Glens Falls Civic Center an ...

) the

Hershey Bears The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a town located 14 miles east of the state capital of Harrisburg. The current Bears club has played in the American Hockey League since the 1938–39 season maki ...

, also located in Pennsylvania, became the major rivals of the Penguins (they are currently the AHL affiliate of another rival of the Pittsburgh Penguins, the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, a ...

). In 2014, the Adirondack Phantoms relocated back to eastern Pennsylvania as the

Lehigh Valley Phantoms The Lehigh Valley Phantoms are a professional ice hockey team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The team competes in the American Hockey League (AHL) and serves as the primary development team for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey L ...

Season-by-season results

''Won

for the best record in the regular season''
''Round not held''

Players

Current roster

Updated December 23, 2022.

Team captains

Notable alumni

''Players listed have played at least 100 games with the Penguins and 100 games in the NHL.''

Team records

;Single season :Goals:

Chris Minard Christopher Minard (born November 18, 1981) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers before finishing his career in the Deutsche Eishockey ...

, 34 (2008–09) :Assists: Jeff Taffe and Janne Pesonen, 50 (2008–09) :Points: Janne Pesonen, 82 (2008–09) :Penalty minutes:

Dennis Bonvie Dennis Kevin Bonvie (born July 23, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, most notable for being the most penalized player in professional hockey history with 4,804 career professional career penalty minutes (most of it being ...

, 431 (2005–06) :Goaltending wins:

, 35 (2010–11) :GAA:

Jeff Zatkoff Jeff Zatkoff (born June 9, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently an unrestricted free agent who most recently played for the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Playing career As a youth, Z ...

1.93 (2012–13) :SV%: Rich Parent (2000–01), Dany Sabourin (2005–06) and Brad Thiessen (2010–11), .922 ;Career :Career goals: Tom Kostopoulos, 181 :Career assists: Tom Kostopoulos, 269 :Career points: Tom Kostopoulos, 450 :Career penalty minutes:

, 1081 :Career goaltending wins: John Curry, 103 :Career shutouts:

, 17 :Career games: Tom Kostopoulos, 627

AHL records

As of the 2009–10 AHL Season. Data from the AHL Hall of Fame Website.

Team

:Most road wins, 80-game season: 28 (2010–2011) (tied) :Longest road winning streak (one season): 13 games (October 9 – December 3, 2005) (tied) :Longest road winning streak (overall): 15 games (April 10 – December 3, 2005)

Player

:Most points by a defenseman, career:

John Slaney John G. Slaney (born February 7, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He is an assistant coach for the Tucson Roadrunners. He was formerly the assistant coach of the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL). ...

, 486 (Baltimore, Portland, Cornwall, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Philadelphia) :Most goals by a defenseman, career: John Slaney, 157 :Most goals by a defenseman, season: John Slaney, 30 (1999–2000) :Most PIM, career:

, 4,104 (Cape Breton, Hamilton, Portland, Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Providence, Binghamton, Hershey) :Most PIM, game: Steve Parsons, 64 (March 17, 2002 vs. Syracuse)

AHL awards and trophies

Per the AHL Hall of Fame:

(AHL regular season champions) * 2016–17 * 2010–11 Frank Mathers Trophy (Eastern Conference regular season champions from 2004 to 2011) * 2010–11

Richard F. Canning Trophy The Richard F. Canning Trophy is presented annually to the team that advances to the American Hockey League's (AHL) Calder Cup Finals as the playoff winner of the Eastern Conference. Prior to 1998, it was given to the playoffs champion of the North ...

(Eastern Conference playoff champions) * 2007–08 * 2003–04 F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy (East Division regular season champions from 2002 to 2011) * 2010–11 * 2007–08 * 2005–06

Robert W. Clarke Trophy The Robert W. Clarke Trophy is presented annually to the AHL's champion of the Western Conference during the playoffs. Prior to 1998, it was given to the champion of the Southern Conference/Division. The award is named after former AHL Chairman o ...

(Western Conference playoff champions) * 2000–01 Eddie Shore Award (best defenseman) *

: 2000–01

(best goaltender) * Matt Murray: 2014–15 *

: 2010–11 * Dany Sabourin: 2005–06

Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award The Hap Holmes Memorial Award is an ice hockey trophy awarded annually to the goaltenders of the American Hockey League team with the lowest goals against average Goals against average (GAA) also known as "average goals against" or "AGA" is a st ...

(goalies with lowest goals against avg.) * Tristan Jarry and

Casey DeSmith Casey DeSmith (born August 13, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He holds the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins record for most saves in a playoff game. DeSmith ...

: 2016–17 * Matt Murray and

: 2014–15 * Jeff Deslauriers and

Eric Hartzell Eric Hartzell (born May 28, 1989) is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender. He last played abroad for HK Nitra in the Slovak Extraliga (Slovak). Playing career Prior to turning professional, Hartzell attended Quinnipiac Universit ...

: 2013–14 *

and

: 2012–13 *

and John Curry: 2010–11 * Dany Sabourin: 2005–06

Yanick Dupre Memorial Award The Yanick Dupre Memorial Award is presented annually to the American Hockey League's man of the year for service to his local community. The award winner is chosen by the league president. The award is named after former Hershey Bears player Y ...

(AHL Man of the Year Service) *

Matt Carkner Matthew "Matt" Carkner (born November 3, 1980) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens 58th overall in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San ...

: 2006–07 Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award (coach of the year) * John Hynes: 2010–11

References

External links

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins Official Website

The Internet Hockey Database – Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins minor league affiliates Professional ice hockey teams in Pennsylvania Sports in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area Ice hockey clubs established in 1999 1999 establishments in Pennsylvania