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***Acsolap*** · 01-20-2022, 11:30 AM

In the SMJHL we have had two iterations of the Colorado franchise, The Mammoths who existed from season twenty five until seas forty one before rebranding to the Raptors who continue in the league until present day. While the team has has a makeover one thing that has not changed is the fact that the team has performed woefully for almost its entire existence winning the four star cup only once in this time and then making only three further appearences in the finals after that. As well as this they have lifted the Laurifer trophy once as the regular seasons best team.

The twenties:

Playing the final five seasons of the twenties the Mammoths managed to go a fairly tepid 114-107-29 across 250 games. The highlight season coming in 27 where they finished 30-15-5 which was good enough for second place in the league. They would go on to win the finals in a tense seven game series against the Prince George Firebirds. After winning the cup in just their third season the feeling would be that they could push on to greatness, however this would not eventuate.

The Thirties:

In the ten seasons across the thirties Colorado slipped into true mediocrity registering two third place finishes amongst a raft of 6th to 8th place conclusions in an 8 team league. They did manage to cobble together an ounce of respectability in the final season of the decade finishing second with a record of 31-16-3 but would end up being pummeled 4-1 in the second round by the Vancouver Whalers. They did manage to make a surprise run to the finals in season 35 coming off of a 23-24-3 record in the regular season but would end up being swept by Vancouver in a one sided contest. They did manage to increase their winning percentage on the twenties however finishing with a total record of 244-214-42.

The Forties:

With 15 tough seasons behind them the management decided to rebrand the team in an effort to freshen things up changing to the Raptors in season 41. If anything this had a detrimental effect with the team falling in win percentage limping to a total record of 223-221-56 in ten seasons. Seasons 46 through to 48 proved to be particularly tough with the Raptors only managed 52 wins in 150 games. They did make a run to the finals, their last, in S44 but like the previous time they were brushed aside 4-0 by St Louis.

The Fifties:

Potentially the most successful decade for the Denver franchise. Capitalising on not one but two expansions over this time the team lifted to a total record of 277-226-45 including winning their only Laurifer trophy in season 50 with a respectable record of 30-18-2. This would also be the last time Colorado would make it to the four star finals and while they put a fight they would ultimately lose out to the Kraken in 6 games. This dissapointment would be forboding of the rest of the decade and the team would only once make it out of the quarter final stages.