Southern Professional Hockey League

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Southern Professional Hockey League

Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event2018–19 SPHL season
Southern Professional Hockey League logo.svg
SportIce hockey
Founded2004
CommissionerDoug Price[1]
No. of teams10
CountryUnited States
Most recent
champion(s)
Huntsville Havoc
(2018)
Most titles
Knoxville Ice Bears (4)
Official websitewww.TheSPHL.com

The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in Huntersville, North Carolina, with teams located primarily in the southeastern United States as well as Illinois and Indiana in the midwestern United States.


The Huntsville Havoc are the most recent President's Cup champions.




Contents





  • 1 History


  • 2 Teams

    • 2.1 Current


    • 2.2 Timeline


    • 2.3 Defunct and relocated teams



  • 3 Key rule differences


  • 4 Champions

    • 4.1 Playoffs

      • 4.1.1 President's Cup


      • 4.1.2 William B. Coffey Trophy




  • 5 See also


  • 6 References


  • 7 External links




History


The SPHL's history traces back to three other short-lived leagues. The Atlantic Coast Hockey League started play in the 2002–03 season. After its only season, the ACHL dissolved with member teams forming the nucleus for two rival leagues, the South East Hockey League and the World Hockey Association 2. After one season the SEHL and WHA2 disbanded, with their surviving teams rejoining with two expansion teams to form the SPHL, commencing with the 2004–05 season.


In 2009, the SPHL saw a large expansion with three new franchises, in Biloxi, Mississippi,[2][3][4]Lafayette, Louisiana[5] and Pensacola, Florida.[6][7] In 2010, the league added an expansion team in Augusta, Georgia, another former long time ECHL market.[8] For the 2011–12 season, the league added two-time Central Hockey League champions, the Mississippi RiverKings.[9][10] For the 2013–14 season, the league lost the Augusta RiverHawks but also expanded northward with two franchises in Illinois: the Bloomington Thunder, a team also moving from the CHL, where they were known as the Bloomington Blaze, and the Peoria Rivermen, who were replacing an American Hockey League team of the same name in their market.[11] In 2015, the Augusta franchise returned and relocated to Macon, Georgia as the Macon Mayhem.


In November 2014, Shannon Szabados became the first female goaltender to win an SPHL game, when the Columbus Cottonmouths defeated the Fayetteville FireAntz 5–4 in overtime.[12] In that same game Erin Blair and Katie Guay became the first female officials to referee an SPHL game.[12]


At the end of the 2015–16 season, the Louisiana IceGators announced a one-year leave of absence for renovations to their arena but never returned. The IceGators' franchise was sold and reactivated as the Quad City Storm in 2018. In 2016, the dormant Mississippi Surge franchise was relocated to Southwest Virginia to become the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs. One of the inaugural SPHL teams, the Columbus Cottonmouths, suspended operations in 2017 after failing to find a buyer while an expansion team called the Birmingham Bulls were accepted into the league as the tenth team.


The Knoxville Ice Bears are the most successful team in SPHL history, having won four William B. Coffey Trophy championships as the regular season champions, and four President's Cup championships.



Teams



Current







































































Team
City
Arena
Capacity
Founded
Joined
Head coach

Birmingham Bulls[13][14]
Pelham, Alabama

Pelham Civic Center
3,500
2017
Jamey Hicks

Evansville Thunderbolts

Evansville, Indiana

Ford Center
9,000
2016

Ian Moran

Fayetteville Marksmen

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Crown Coliseum
8,920
2002
2004
Jesse Kallechy

Huntsville Havoc

Huntsville, Alabama

Von Braun Center
6,602
2004
Glenn Detulleo

Knoxville Ice Bears

Knoxville, Tennessee

Knoxville Civic Coliseum
5,937
2002
2004
Jeff Carr

Macon Mayhem

Macon, Georgia

Macon Coliseum
7,182
2010[a]Leo Thomas

Pensacola Ice Flyers

Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola Bay Center
8,150
2009

Rod Aldoff

Peoria Rivermen

Peoria, Illinois

Carver Arena
9,919
2013

Jean-Guy Trudel

Quad City Storm

Moline, Illinois

TaxSlayer Center
9,200
2009[a]Dave Pszenyczny

Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs

Roanoke, Virginia

Berglund Center
8,672
2009[a]Dan Bremner


SPHL map

Bulls

Bulls



Thunderbolts

Thunderbolts



Marksmen

Marksmen



Havoc

Havoc



Ice Bears

Ice Bears



Mayhem

Mayhem



Ice Flyers

Ice Flyers



Rivermen

Rivermen



Storm

Storm



Rail Yard Dawgs

Rail Yard Dawgs




Teams currently in the SPHL


Note


  1. ^ abc Relocated franchise




Timeline



Birmingham Bulls (SPHL)Evansville ThunderboltsPeoria Rivermen (SPHL)Bloomington Thunder (SPHL)Mississippi RiverKingsMacon MayhemAugusta RiverHawksPensacola Ice FlyersRoanoke Rail Yard DawgsMississippi SurgeQuad City StormLouisiana IceGators (SPHL)Richmond Renegades (SPHL)Twin City CyclonesPee Dee CyclonesFlorida SealsWinston-Salem Polar TwinsMacon TraxKnoxville Ice BearsJacksonville BarracudasHuntsville HavocFayetteville MarksmenFayetteville FireAntzColumbus CottonmouthsAsheville Aces


Defunct and relocated teams



  • Asheville Aces (2004–05)


  • Augusta RiverHawks (2010–13) Moved to Macon, Georgia, as the Mayhem for the 2015–16 season.[15][16]


  • Bloomington Thunder (2013–14) Membership terminated to make way for a team in the United States Hockey League.


  • Columbus Cottonmouths (2004–17) Inaugural member of the SPHL, suspended operations when ownership could no longer fund the team; could return under new ownership.[17]


  • Florida Seals (2005–07) Membership terminated in the middle of the 2006–07 SPHL season.[18]


  • Jacksonville Barracudas (2004–08) Suspended for the 2008–09 season and dissolved.[19]


  • Louisiana IceGators (2009–16) Suspended operations for the 2016–17 season claiming the arena needed the year for renovations but later dissolved. In 2018, the franchise was sold and became the Quad City Storm.[20]


  • Macon Trax (2004–05)


  • Mississippi RiverKings (2011–18) Joined from the Central Hockey League in 2011, ownership suspended operations in 2018 while the league searches for new owners.


  • Mississippi Surge (2009–14) Moved to Roanoke, Virginia, as the Rail Yard Dawgs for the 2016–17 season.[21]


  • Pee Dee Cyclones (2005–07) Moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.


  • Richmond Renegades (2006–09)[22]


  • Twin City Cyclones (2007–09)[23]


  • Winston-Salem Polar Twins (2004–05)


Key rule differences


As per minor leagues, there are some rule differences between the SPHL and the NHL (and even the ECHL and the AHL, the two official developmental leagues regulated by the Professional Hockey Players' Association).


  • A team may dress eighteen regular players to a game. Two players dressed for the game will be goaltenders.

  • A mouthpiece is required for all players except the goaltender.

  • No curvature of stick limitations as in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL.

  • Shootouts are five players. After five different players have made an attempt, teams may reuse anyone including those who have previously attempted in later rounds, even using the same player in consecutive rounds if desired.


Champions



Playoffs



President's Cup






























2004–05
Columbus Cottonmouths
2005–06
Knoxville Ice Bears
2006–07
Fayetteville FireAntz
2007–08Knoxville Ice Bears
2008–09Knoxville Ice Bears
2009–10
Huntsville Havoc
2010–11
Mississippi Surge
2011–12Columbus Cottonmouths
2012–13
Pensacola Ice Flyers
2013–14Pensacola Ice Flyers
2014–15Knoxville Ice Bears
2015–16Pensacola Ice Flyers
2016–17
Macon Mayhem
2017–18Huntsville Havoc


William B. Coffey Trophy


Originally known as the Commissioner's Cup, the regular season trophy was renamed in honor of league co-founder Bill Coffey during the 2007–08 season.[24]
































2004–05
Knoxville Ice Bears
2005–06Knoxville Ice Bears
2006–07
Columbus Cottonmouths
2007–08Knoxville Ice Bears
2008–09Knoxville Ice Bears
2009–10
Mississippi Surge
2010–11Mississippi Surge
2011–12
Augusta Riverhawks
2012–13
Fayetteville FireAntz
2013–14
Pensacola Ice Flyers
2014–15
Peoria Rivermen
2015–16Peoria Rivermen
2016–17
Macon Mayhem
2017–18Peoria Rivermen
2018–19Peoria Rivermen


See also


  • List of developmental and minor sports leagues

  • List of ice hockey leagues

  • Minor league


References




  1. ^ "Doug Price Appointed Commissioner of the Southern Professional Hockey League". OurSportsCentral.com. January 17, 2019..mw-parser-output cite.citationfont-style:inherit.mw-parser-output .citation qquotes:"""""""'""'".mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registrationcolor:#555.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration spanborder-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon abackground:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center.mw-parser-output code.cs1-codecolor:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-errordisplay:none;font-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-errorfont-size:100%.mw-parser-output .cs1-maintdisplay:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-formatfont-size:95%.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-leftpadding-left:0.2em.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-rightpadding-right:0.2em


  2. ^ Giardina, A.J. (April 9, 2009). "Local investors may bring another hockey team to the coast". WLOX-TV. Archived from the original on 2009-04-12. Retrieved April 10, 2009.


  3. ^ Press release (April 30, 2009). "Biloxi to join SPHL". SPHL.com. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.


  4. ^ "Coast Hockey announces new team name". The Sun Herald. June 17, 2009. Retrieved June 17, 2009.
    [dead link]


  5. ^ Foote, Kevin (May 15, 2009). "IceGators to skate again; join the discussion". Lafayette Daily Advertiser. Archived from the original on May 19, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.


  6. ^ Blakeney, Jason (April 30, 2009). "Hockey's Back!". Pensacola News Journal. Archived from the original on May 3, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.


  7. ^ Blakeney, Jason (May 9, 2009). "Commentary: New team, new name, new opportunity". Pensacola News Journal. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2009.


  8. ^ "Hockey Returning To Augusta, GA In 2010". TheSPHL.com. February 3, 2010. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2010.


  9. ^ "Mississippi RiverKings Join SPHL For 2011–2012 Season". Press release. Southern Professional Hockey League. June 13, 2011. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2011.


  10. ^ Van Tuyl, Chris (13 June 2011). "Mississippi RiverKings announce change to Southern Professional Hockey League". Memphis Commercial Appeal. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.


  11. ^ Pope, Thomas (May 16, 2013). "Two Illinois teams join SPHL; Augusta out next season". The Fayetteville Observer. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2013.


  12. ^ ab "Shannon Szabados becomes first female goalie to win in Southern Professional Hockey League". NHL.com. Retrieved 23 November 2014.


  13. ^ "Pelham council approves ice arena lease for professional hockey team". WBRC. Retrieved February 21, 2017.


  14. ^ Walsh, Lauren. "Former Birmingham Bulls owner sets sights on Pelham for professional hockey team". ABC 33/40. Retrieved February 21, 2017.


  15. ^ Lee, David (May 14, 2013). "Augusta RiverHawks won't play next season". The Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 8, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2013.


  16. ^ "SPHL Approves RiverHawks' Move To Macon, GA For 2015–2016 Season". The SPHL. Retrieved 25 June 2014.


  17. ^ "Cottonmouths to suspend operations for next season". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. May 3, 2017.


  18. ^ "Florida Seals cease operations". Press release. January 5, 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2010.


  19. ^ Gates, Nick (June 21, 2009). "Murray liking SPHL expansion". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 16 March 2010.


  20. ^ "SPHL adding Quad City for 2018-2019 season". SPHL. May 23, 2018.


  21. ^ "Surge Hockey Operations to Suspend Indefinitely". Press release. May 2, 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.


  22. ^ "Renegades Officially Done". Press release. May 2, 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2010.


  23. ^ "Cyclones To Cease Operations". Press release. March 24, 2009. Retrieved 16 March 2010.


  24. ^ "History of the SPHL". SPHL.com. Retrieved 16 March 2010.



External links



  • Media related to Southern Professional Hockey League at Wikimedia Commons

  • Southern Professional Hockey League website







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