Butte Irish
The Butte Irish were a junior hockey team based in Butte, Montana, which played six seasons in the American West Hockey League (AWHL) from 1996-2002. The team's best season was their first, when they went 38-17-5 in 1996-97. They would win 80 games over their next three seasons, posting respectable records. The team would fold due to financial troubles in 2002. One former Irish player did have a cup of coffee in the big leagues, Derek Whitmore.