The Amarillo Gorillas were a minor league hockey team based in Amarillo, Texas, United States. The team was most recently affiliated with the now defunct Central Hockey League (CHL) from 2001–10. The Gorillas began play in 1996 as the Amarillo Rattlers in the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) until the WPHL was bought by the CHL in 2001. They continued to use the Rattlers name until an ownership change in 2002, composed of local businessmen Bill Tolliver, Gary Thach, Joe Gammesfelter, Daryl Felsberg, Kevin Moon, Jay Hedrick, and Shaughn Ogrady. As the Rattlers, the team frequently finished at the bottom of the WPHL and CHL divisions, but made the playoffs four straight years after becoming the Gorillas until the 2006–2007 season. The Gorillas played in the Amarillo Civic Center. The team's most recent head coach was Brian Pellerin.
On May 19, 2010, the Gorillas announced they had ceased operations. However, hockey would remain in Amarillo, as the North American Hockey League, a Junior A league affiliated with USA Hockey, named the Amarillo Bulls started play in the 2010–2011 season.
Season records Western Professional Hockey League Season W L OTL/SOL Pts Playoffs 1996–97 17 39 8 42 No playoffs 1997–98 25 32 12 62 No playoffs 1998–99 31 38 8 70 No playoffs 1999-00 21 41 8 50 No playoffs 2000–01 27 35 8 62 No playoffs
Central Hockey League Season W L OTL/SOL Pts Playoffs 2001–02 19 39 6 44 No playoffs 2002–03 39 23 2 80 Lost in quarterfinals 2003–04 37 24 3 77 Lost in semifinals 2004–05 31 20 9 71 Lost in semifinals 2005–06 35 26 3 73 Lost in quarterfinals 2006–07 32 28 4 68 Lost in quarterfinals 2007–08 22 32 10 54 No playoffs 2008–09 19 42 3 41 No playoffs 2009–10 21 34 9 51 No playoffs
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