Colorado Ice



Years of Existence: 2009-
Venue: Budweiser Events Center (Loveland, CO)
Accomplishments
2009 – Playoff appearance
2010 -
2011 - Mountain West Division champions, quarterfinal appearance
2012 - Playoff appearance
2013 - Playoff appearance
2014 - Playoff appearance
2015 -
2016 -
2017 -
Lifetime Record: 58-77
Home: 36-31
Away: 22-46
Playoffs: 0-5
Average Attendance: 2,033

The Colorado Ice joined the new IFL from the UIF. Justin Holland led the Ice at quarterback for the majority of 2009, throwing 32 scores and 14 picks. Josh Gibson was the star receiver, catching 53 balls for almost 700 yards and 11 scores. The team got out to a 3-2 start. The two losses came by a combined six points. The Ice, after three consecutive wins would face Omaha at home and lost by a 70-68 count. However, the team began to fall apart, losing six of their final eight regular season games. The team did qualify for the postseason because Alaska went winless. The team was blown out on the road in Fairbanks to end their season, 42-14. The team returned for the 2010 season, led primarily by quarterback David Knighton. Knighton threw for 26 scores to just four picks. Bobby Purify would catch 9 of the scores and led the team on the ground, rushing for 13 more. The team stayed fairly competitive, losing seven games by two scores or less, including a 32-30 defeat at the hands of Wichita. The Ice strung together consecutive home games for their fans, but would not see any other victories on the season. David Knighton led the Ice in a complete turnaround from the previous season. In 2011, he threw for 2,038 yards, 38 touchdowns and 12 picks. Kenneth Witter led the receivers with 11 scores, but only played in nine games. Duane Brooks amassed 620 yards and nine scores. Maurice Greer and Terry Washington combined for 651 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground. The relatively weak Ice offense was offset by a stonewalling defensive unit. Opposing quarterbacks were picked 28 times and sacked 28 times. Opponents scored just 34 points per game, third best in the league behind only West Texas and Sioux Falls. The Ice went 6-2 in games decided by ten points or less and earned a division crown and first round bye week in the playoffs. The Ice hosted the Tri-Cities Fever and after holding a 35-21 lead, would fall 45-42 in the final seconds. A 39 yard field goal with five seconds left rounded out a 24-7 Tri-Cities second half and the Fever would advance to face Allen for the Intense Conference title. The Ice returned in 2012, led by Ice veteran David Knighton again for most of the year. This season, he threw for 1,331 yards, 30 scores and five picks. Jeremy Sanders stepped in when Knighton got injured and threw for 675 yards, 12 scores and three picks. Sanders also ran for 12 scores. Mark Henderson led the wide receiving corps with 627 yards and 13 scores, followed closely by Jessie Poku, with his 336 yards and ten scores. Josh Morris snagged six interceptions for the defense. The team played limited competition for the majority of the year in Wyoming, New Mexico and Everett. The team did win its only meeting with Allen, but was unable to defeat Tri-Cities or Sioux Falls. With an 8-6 record, the team qualified for the playoffs and traveled to Tri-Cities. The Ice took a 24-7 and 31-13 lead, but were unable to take advantage of five Tri-Cities turnovers. The Fever closed the game on a 45-18 run and won the game 52-42. Indoor veteran Willie Copeland led the Ice in the 2013 campaign. The team went 9-5 and secured a third consecutive playoff berth in the Intense Conference. Copeland threw for 2,247 yards, 47 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Justin Helweige was on the receiving end of 21 of those touchdown tosses, while Kyle Kaiser caught 15. The team produced three 200 yard rushers in Copeland, James Jones, and Dennis Kennedy. They scored eight, five, and nine times respectively. The story of the 2013 season was close home victories, with four of the first five coming by four points each to Tri-Cities twice, Green Bay, and Sioux Falls. The team also had three road losses by four points or less to Sioux Falls, Nebraska, and Tri-Cities. All told, the Ice dropped five games, three of which came at the hands of Nebraska. Colorado would get one more chance to buck the trend, as they traveled to Nebraska for a semifinal playoff game. However, Nebraska had the Ice's number and defeated them 55-50 to advance to the United Bowl. Colorado recovered an onside kick inside the final twenty seconds but could not score to take the victory. Willie Copeland led the team for the 2014 season, this time passing for 2,380 yards, 56 touchdowns and eight picks. He also ran for 452 yards and seven more scores, leading the Ice in rushing. Kyle Kaiser led all receivers with 22 touchdowns and 916 yards on 57 grabs. The Ice defense was impressive this year, picking 26 passes and returning six of them for scores. Corey Sample picked six, while Joe Thornton and Malcolm Williams both snagged five. The defense also allowed just ten fourth down conversions on 31 attempts. The team compiled a 10-4 regular season record, but only three wins came against opponents that finished with winning records. Four wins came against Wyoming. The Ice did defeat Nebraska twice, and the Danger would be the Ice's playoff opponent for the Intense Conference crown. In their third meeting, the Ice collapsed. Copeland was picked three times and the Ice turned it over four times in a 45-15 drubbing. Willie Copeland departed the team during the 2015 season, passing the reigns on to Brandon Mitchell for ten games. Mitchell passed for 1,699 yards, 32 scores and 11 picks. Additionally, Mitchell ran for 13 touchdowns and 452 net yards. Kyle Kaiser led all receivers with 16 scores and 695 yards. The team went 6-8, winning four of its final six, but missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010. The franchise rebranded as the Colorado Crush for 2016, mimicking the old name of an AFL franchise once owned by John Elway. Damien Fleming led the new Crush at quarterback, throwing for 2,745 yards, 57 touchdowns and ten picks. He also ran for 432 yards and 19 touchdowns. Kyle Kaiser and Darius Washington led all receivers, accounting for 49 of those touchdown catches and over 2,000 yards. Rashard Smith was a standout on defense, picking off ten passes, returning one for a touchdown. Eight of the team's twelve losses came by eleven points or less. Spokane dropped 97 on the Crush in a 97-72 game in Washington. The team's 4-12 record was not good enough to make the playoffs, despite a weaker Intense Conference. The Colorado Crush played their final IFL season in 2017, going 3-13 and missing the playoffs for the third straight year. Sean Goldrich and Liam Nadler split time at quarterback, combining for 2,151 yards, 50 touchdowns and 14 picks. Kyle Kaiser was the only receiver to catch more than seven touchdowns, hauling in 21. The defense allowed 50 rushing touchdowns and gave up 51 points per game. The three wins came against Wichita Falls, Salt Lake City, and Spokane, with an overtime loss to Arizona ending the regular season.