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The New Orleans Brass is owned by a diverse group of Louisiana residents and is managed by the New Orleans Ice Brass Management, L.L.C., also an all-Louisiana business group. The team was acquired in 1996 and the purchase was completed later that same year. The application for membership in the league was supported by the Governor of the State of Louisiana, The Honorable Murphy J. 'Mike' Foster, Jr.; the mayor of the City of New Orleans, The Honorable Marc H. Morial; and the New Orleans business community. Other ECHl franchises including the Louisiana IceGators in Lafayette, the baton Rouge Kingfish and their fans were also influential in persueding the ECHL to award the first professional hockey franchise in the history of the City of New Orleans.
1996
The New Orleans Ice Brass Management, L.L.C. was formed
MARCH 1997
Construction for the new state of the art sports arena was begun. Anticipated date of substantial completion for the arena is August 1999.
JUNE 1997
The Brass officially begins operations with the hiring of Vice President/General Manager Larry Kish.
The Brass selects their first ever players in the East Coast Hockey League Expansion draft in Las Vegas.
Staff hiring continues with the addition of Office Manager Ivy Danforth.
JULY 1997
The Brass announces the additional hiring of Assistant General Manager/Assistant Coach Dan Belisle; Director of Communitcations/Media Relations Steve Carrol; and Director of Community Relations Tandra LeMay.
The Brass announce National Hockey League affiliations with the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens.
The Brass releases their inaugural East Coast Hockey League schedule for the 1997-98 hockey season.
AUGUST 1997
The Brass name Ted Sator as the first ever Head Coach/Director of Player Personnel.
Scott Allegrino joins the Brass as Team Trainer.
The Brass completes hiring with Director of marketing Jennifer Morel-Mestayer.
SEPTEMBER 1997
Ice making process begins.
The Zamboni arrives, the first ever in the city of New Orleans.
OCTOBER 1997
The Brass opens their first ever training camp at the Morris F.X. Jeff Sr. Municiple Auditorium on the 5th.
The Brass announces a full season of promotions for all 35 home games.
The Brass play their first exhibition game in baton Rouge, Louisiana on the 10th.
The Brass plays their first Opener in franchise history against the Baton Rouge Kingfish on the 17th.
The Brass plays their first away game in Birmingham, Alabama against the Birmingham Bulls on the 30th.
MARCH 1998
The New Orleans Brass tied for eighth place in the overall East Coast Hockey League standings with the Pensacola Ice Pilots.
The Brass finished their inaugural season with a winning record of 36 - 24 - 10.
MAY 1998
The Louisiana Stadium and Expedition District recommended that the New Orleans Brass begin negotiations with the State of Louisiana to become the primary tenant for the new sports arena.
SEPTEMBER 1998
The New Orleans Brass and SMG sign the arena lease.
The New Orleans Brass is expected to begin play in the new sports arena for the 1999 - 2000 hockey season.
OCTOBER 1998
Brass open second season at Muncipal Auditorium
APRIL 1999
The New Orleans Brass make the playoffs for their second year in a row with a regular season record of 30-27-13.
The Brass' right wing Rob DeCiantis leads the ECHL in goals with 47.
The Brass beat Jacksonville (2 games to 0) in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. The Brass continues on by beating Louisiana (3 games to 2) in the best of five game Conference
Quarterfinal. Pee Dee defeats the Brass (3 games to 1) in the Conference Semi Finals.
JUNE 1999
Larry Kish resigns as the General Manager of the New Orleans Brass.
Dan Belisle becomes the second General Manager of the New Orleans Brass.
JULY 1999
Coach Ted Sator signs a two-year deal to remain with the Brass.
AUGUST 1999
Brass Radio Announcer Steve Carroll leaves Brass to become the voice of the Mighty Ducks of the National Hockey League.
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