From 1998 to 2002, the IceDogs enjoyed little success, finishing last in the
OHL's Central Division every year. During this building phase, the team had six head coaches within the span of 4 years, including the owner,
Don Cherry. Mississauga drafted first overall each year, leading to two rookies of the year, including one of the highest touted NHL prospects in
Jason Spezza. The IceDogs played their home games at the
Hershey Centre, and hosted the
OHL All-Star Game in 2000. The team changed ownership in 2002 with venture capitalist Joel Albin acquiring the team from owners Don Cherry, Retrocom, sports agent Elliott Kerr, and Trevor Whiffer - lawyer of Don Cherry and the general manager of the IceDogs'. In the
2002–03 season, the IceDogs finished fourth in the Central Division and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but lost in the first round in five games against the
Ottawa 67's.
2003–04 was the IceDogs' best season. The team finished second in the Central Division, two points behind the division champion
Toronto St. Michael's Majors, and third overall in the Eastern Conference. In the first round of the playoffs, the IceDogs defeated the
Oshawa Generals in seven games, winning their first-ever playoff series. The IceDogs were down three games to two against the
Barrie Colts in the second round but managed to come back and win the series in seven games. The surprise IceDogs then upset the St. Michael's Majors in the Eastern Conference Championship series in six games to win the
Bobby Orr Trophy and earn their first-ever trip to the Ontario Hockey League finals. The dream ended there as they fell to the
Guelph Storm in four straight games in the OHL final, losing the fourth game at the Hershey Centre. The
2004–05 season was another record setting season for the IceDogs. They won their first ever Central Division title and finished first in the Eastern Conference with 81 points. Despite regular season success, the IceDogs were upset in the first round of the playoffs by the eighth-seeded St. Michael's Majors in five games. In
2005–06, the IceDogs started rebuilding and missed the playoffs again.
Change in ownership On July 12, 2006,
Eugene Melnyk, owner of the
Toronto St. Michael's Majors and the NHL's
Ottawa Senators, bought the Mississauga IceDogs. After the 2006–07 season, Melnyk sold the IceDogs, and moved the Majors to the
Hershey Centre in Mississauga. On January 8, 2007, Toronto businessman
Tom Bitove proposed to buy the team with plans to move to
Niagara Falls, but city council declined the proposal to build a new arena. As an alternative, the team approached the City of
St. Catharines about moving the team into
Jack Gatecliff Arena in the downtown core.
St. Catharines City Council voted on a leasing arrangement on April 23, 2007, which passed. Bill Burke bought the IceDogs and relocated the team to St. Catharines in time for the 2007–08 season, to be known as the
Niagara IceDogs. The IceDogs played their final game in Mississauga on April 1, 2007, losing in game 5 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals at home to the
Sudbury Wolves. ==Coaches==