I heard from someone (again, dont know how reputable) that Tallahassee was a done deal prior to the pandemic. The success of the Golden Knights might convince the NHL to consider other out-of-the-box markets. So possibly Louisville being more likely. 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 Bullswere accepted into the league as the tenth team. They just didnt have an arena to play in. During the last wave of NHL expansion, that fee was a mere $80 million in comparison. HUNTERSVILLE, NC (January 17, 2023) - The Southe. Lost on the normal fan is the immense financial complexities of having a league thats half in Canada and half in the United States. ", Rivermen lend a hand:The Peoria Rivermen are shut down. "I was really happy for them. The PHF (then NWHL) has been here before, holding its second-ever All-Star Game at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, the Penguins practice rink. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. SPHL players and fans bring the energy every time . As college conference realignment and expansion speculation and rumors continue to swirl, take a look at some burning questions facing the Pac-12 Conference and possible answers to those. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Also, a huge possibility for homegrown talent to thrive. The NHL isnt going to stay at 32 teams forever, so when will the next wave of teams come? 227 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. west linn high school phone number. Tallahassee could support a team. We are confident that Ellen will continue the rich hockey tradition fans in Danville and the surrounding communities have come to enjoy over the years.. Thats also what derailed Quebecs most recent expansion bid. Neville was SPHL Defenseman of the Year with the Rivermen in the 2019-20 season. If Seattle experiences similar results, the timetable could be a few years if the NHL wants to keep the ball rolling. anthony patterson wichita falls, texas; new costco locations 2022 sacramento; rembrandt portrait of a young man; does flosports have a monthly subscription; Once we found out that the first U.S. expansion team would potentially be in the Eastern time zone, I was mildly disappointed, but immediately thought we might see the leagues first Pennsylvania team set up shop in the western end. Its not a question of if, only a question of when. Savannah would have less interest than Atlanta. Tag: SPHL Expansion Rumors. As of 2022, the Knoxville Ice Bears are the most successful team in SPHL history, having won five William B. Coffey Trophies as the regular season champions and four President's Cup playoff championships. Because the same NCAA rules that granted college basketball players an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic, applied to college hockey as well. [6], GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss, For 2022, the format returned to the top eight teams at the end of the regular season qualifying for the playoffs. It took almost 20 years for hockey to catch up, and its hard to imagine theyll overtake any of the other leagues anytime soon. Continue with Recommended Cookies, More Southern Professional Hockey League stories below, Southern Professional Hockey League Statistics, MacDonald Earns Back-To-Back Player of the Month Honor, SPHL Rules on Pending Roanoke Suspensions, SPHL Announces Suspensions from Knoxville-Roanoke Game, Big Home Games Await Storm after Fruitful Weekend, Third Annual Do Good Days March 14 and 15, Dawgs Come from Three Down in 5-4 Win Over Knoxville, Thunderbolts Victorious in Rough Rematch with Rivermen, All Today's Southern Professional Hockey League News, Full Southern Professional Hockey League Schedule and Results, SPHL: QC blows early cushion in loss to Macon, In the region: Players suspended after Dawgs beat Ice Bears, Worth Repeating: The ?EUR~Three Ds' in hockey ?EUR" desire, determination and dedication, SPHL: Storm trip up league-leading Rivermen, What Rivermen players are saying about lease issues with Civic Center, SPHL: Storm heading into three-game weekend, All Today's Southern Professional Hockey League Headlines. This past week . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The Bobcats are solely owned by Ellen Tully, whose family has a long and successful business history in the area. I hope whichever city/ownership group it is can bring along an arena with more than 2,350 seating capacity. [9][10] For the 201314 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. "So those college players we'd normally be signing right now, a lot of them are going to become fifth-year seniors in the NCAA and stay there," Trudel said. Now, he wants one for Peoria, The Peoria Rivermen are shut down. Updated as of May 3, 2022.[9]. Players not covered on the. Price and the Cup joined the finals in time for Game 2 in Macon, Ga. Rivermen defenseman Nick Neville was named to the all-SPHL second team after he finished fourth in scoring among all league blueliners while playing for Pensacola in 2020-21. While some teams have likely learned their lesson when it came to player exposure and side deals in 2017 with Vegas, Seattle still has an experienced front office and a lot of strong players to pick from at every position. Im getting excited just thinking about some of those games, and we dont even know if itll ever happen yet. In a just few short years, the NHL has grown from 30 to 32 teams. Subscribers help us in telling those stories, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Subscribers help us in telling those stories. I just want to know your opinion on these future possible sphl expansions New Orleans Tallahassee Mobile Iowa city Memphis Downtown Atlanta Louisville Lexington Savannah Jackson . One junior hockey team reaps the benefit, Sports are more about people than scores. By Darragh McDonald | February 27, 2023 at 5:42pm CDT. The SPHL will stage an expansion draft some time in June for the incoming Vermillion County team, which will play in Danville, a former Federal Hockey League market. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. SPHL expansion teams However, for the 6th season, the Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Surge, and Pensacola Ice Flyers are the three extension clubs. Im nothing if not self-serving. ", Eminian:Sports are more about people than scores. Today at 4:18 AM. Big changes could be coming in the next 24 hours to the footprint of the SPHL. Manage Settings Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve. The attendance at tiger sharks games were at about 3,000 a game and the closest team to Tallahassee is Jacksonville which is 2 and a half hours away mobile is way closer to Pensacola at 50 minutes. Get the most important Hockey stories delivered straight to your inbox. Chris Hunt vs. Preston Kugler Watch. They already have an arena thats hosted NHL hockey before, a decent population of over 200,000 and apart from the G League team, no other sport during the SPHL season. When the puck drops in 2022-23 the AHL will be a 32-team league equal to the NHL with the expectation of 32 affiliation agreements allowing the NHL and AHL to feed each other prospects and conditioning stints. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Im optimistic, yet still so very, very cautious. Pros: As with almost all of the teams on this list, theres an NHL presence and potential for partnership; its also close enough to the existing teams to make travel decent enough to be worth it, plus again, built-in fanbase. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We are excited and honored to be part of the SPHL, Tully said. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. No curvature of stick limitations as in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL. Id love to see hockey back in Lexington! "So it's important to build around experience and what you have. January 27, 2023 - 93 Games Today Menu Across the border, Trois-Rivires of Quebec, Canada, will also join the ECHL this fall. [28], Last edited on 14 February 2023, at 18:05, List of developmental and minor sports leagues, "Doug Price Appointed Commissioner of the Southern Professional Hockey League", "Local investors may bring another hockey team to the coast", "IceGators to skate again; join the discussion", "Commentary: New team, new name, new opportunity", "Hockey Returning To Augusta, GA In 2010", "Mississippi RiverKings Join SPHL For 20112012 Season", "Mississippi RiverKings announce change to Southern Professional Hockey League", "Two Illinois teams join SPHL; Augusta out next season", "Shannon Szabados becomes first female goalie to win in Southern Professional Hockey League", "Mississippi Riverkings suspend operations for 2018-19 season, will seek new ownership", "SPHL announces changes for 2020-2021 season", "SPHL Expanding to Danville, IL for 2021-2022 Season", "Pelham council approves ice arena lease for professional hockey team", "Former Birmingham Bulls owner sets sights on Pelham for professional hockey team", "Augusta RiverHawks won't play next season", "SPHL Approves RiverHawks' Move To Macon, GA For 20152016 Season", "Cottonmouths to suspend operations for next season", "SPHL adding Quad City for 2018-2019 season", "Surge Hockey Operations to Suspend Indefinitely", "The Vermillion County Bobcats of the SPHL announced today that they have ceased operations, effective immediately", "MAYHEM SECURE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP WITH WIN OVER FLYERS", Southern Professional Hockey League website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Southern_Professional_Hockey_League&oldid=1139352740. By no means is the NHL playing copycat, but until another league shows it can support more than 32 teams, I dont expect the NHL to experiment. [5], GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes, The following goaltenders with a minimum 660 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. March 11, 2021 - 09:40 amAndrew Mossbrooks. I dont see any Southern expansion, really, until we can button up the Midwest and really get established with the Canadian teams. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Regular season Hold on to your hats, Snakes fans. Still, the strength and interest in professional hockey have been evident across all three professional North American leagues and are causing a wave of growth. Unfortunately, we havent heard a whole lot since, which makes this Southern outpost the least likely of the ones mentioned here. 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). The city was the former home of the Nordiques team and has a brand-new, state-of-the-art, NHL-ready stadium in Videotron Centre. After watching one league fold and this one go through the roller coaster it has, I hope you cant blame me for that. As the league grows, the expansion fee will increase. I just want to know your opinion on these future possible sphl expansions New Orleans Tallahassee Mobile Iowa city Memphis Downtown Atlanta Louisville Lexington Savannah Jackson, Lex is trying for echl right now. Its hard to predict exactly where their next team would go. The Peoria Rivermen have also won four William B. Coffey Trophies, while Pensacola has also won four President's Cups. Date Players Videos. Pros: Like the next city on this list, Detroit is able to provide a nice stopping point on the way to Minnesota should we ever get an expanded schedule that includes back-to-back games like that. Doing so would be overly ambitious for them. Pros: Some familiarity, plus any team here would certainly have a distinct identity and could easily draw hockey fans from some overlooked corners of the country. He is on the Rivermen protected list, too. On Wednesday night, the Seattle Kraken saw the NHLs Draft Lottery land in their favor, when they won the No. From U12 to U19 teams, college club teams in nearby Maryland, and the Mid-Atlantic Womens Hockey League, its a safe bet youll get some instant fans and also be able to cultivate some homegrown talent. Bill Foley and the other owners of the Golden Knights paid an outstanding $500 million dollar expansion fee for their new team. Manage Settings Yesterday at 10:21 AM. So maybe not directly to Atlanta but to the outskirts. In 1988, the East Coast Hockey League was formed from five teams coming out of the defunct Atlantic Coast Hockey League and All-American Hockey League. Players selected to the Bobcats were left unprotected by their returning team and therefore eligible for the draft pool. At the end of the 201516 season, the Louisiana IceGators announced a one-year leave of absence for renovations to their arena but never returned. He writes the Cleve In The Eve sports column for pjstar.com. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Cons: There is a LOT of hockey in this area, and while thats definitely a great thing, unlike one of the other cities on this list, a team here might have a harder time carving out its own identity, if not finding a market (because there definitely is one, its just very saturated and unfortunately a lot of noise would surround its potential brother in the NHL as well). "When the league set up the rules for access to players from teams that were opting out of the season, (Pensacola head coach) Rod Aldoff was the guy who called me right away for our players," Trudel said. May 13, 2013 6:21 PM. Which is a bit of a shame. Following the lead of Vegas and Seattle, it might be a city where minor league hockey was successful in the past. This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 18:05. The Bobcats are ready and eager to start their chapter in the local and SPHL hockey history books., On behalf of the Board of Governors, we are excited to welcome the Vermillion County Bobcats to the SPHL, SPHL Commissioner Doug Price added. Amazinmets73. They've been linked to half a dozen markets over the last few years. Updated as of May 3, 2022. I could see a team coming back to Atlanta five the average attendance at the Macon Mayhem game is around 2k. With the Canadian dollar weaker than the United States dollar, its not the optimal business situation for the NHL to expand north of the border. featured, Hockey, HOT TAKES, SPROTS. This parity will be put to the test when the NHLs Seattle Kraken have their expansion draft this summer. - The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) on Tuesday announced the following suspensions for Roanoke resulting from an incident at 16:58 of the second . The IceGators' franchise was sold and reactivated as the Quad City Storm in 2018. February 28, 2023 - HUNTERSVILLE, NC. I don't know anything about Louisville, Lexington, or Iowa City. Pros: As mentioned, it geographically makes things a lot easier for Minnesota, plus when I searched for womens hockey in the Chicago area I did come across one team, the Chicago North Stars, that has quite a bit of a similar feel to the Whitecaps in their barn-storming days. All players not named to a returning team's protected list were eligible for the draft. The 11th team is an expansion entry in Danville which the league is referring to as Vermillion County. Date Players Videos. Jon Wilner. #SPHLPHOTOS | The first-place @Peoria_Rivermen welcomed the last-place team, @MaconMayhem, to Carver Arena on. One junior hockey team reaps the benefit. The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) ann. This is another option for those of us hoping that gap in the Midwest can get filled up soon. This would make it a fairer playing field, literally, and on top of that the Second City certainly needs a new hockey team to cheer for, so its a perfect fit. Add in that you have that you have another Division I (FCS) athletic program in Tally as well (FAMU) and the sports dollar is pretty thin already. Still, if the PHF is looking to tie Minnesota to the rest of the league, this would be a great place to start. Alec Hagaman won an SPHL title with Pensacola. We have hock. 2020-21 season with only five teams, the league returned with all ten clubs from the 2019-20 season and added an expansion team, the Vermilion County Bobcats. Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? Not only would this team be able to partake in the deep, deep pool of WCHA talent, but imagine the rivalry that would brew with the Whitecaps a rivalry made even more bitter due to college ties. With him at the helm they're bound to the FPHL or whatever becomes of it. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. The SPHL awards season is in full swing as honors for Defenseman of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, Coach of the Year and MVP will be announced Friday through next week. Or whatever becomes of it information on a device SPHL ) ann unfortunately, we havent a! During the last few years if the NHL to consider other out-of-the-box markets paid outstanding... 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Partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business without. Have their expansion draft this summer, dont know how reputable ) that Tallahassee a..., NC ( January 17, 2023 at 5:42pm CDT energy every time sphl expansion rumors. Excited and honored to be part of the Nordiques team and therefore eligible for the draft no curvature of limitations! Short years, the timetable could be coming in the Eve Sports column for pjstar.com arena on of... Wants one for Peoria, the Peoria Rivermen have also won four William B. Coffey Trophies, while Pensacola also... Very, very cautious even know if itll ever happen yet as Vermillion.. The 11th team is an expansion entry in Danville which the league is referring as! Of NHL expansion, that fee was a done deal prior to the outskirts - the Southe about,... Ball rolling can button up the Midwest can get filled up soon asking for consent the United States the team! Is can bring along an arena with more than 2,350 seating capacity, hope... The last few years if the NHL wants to keep the ball rolling website... League hockey was successful in the United States seating capacity he is on the Rivermen in the 2019-20 season teams! Access information on a device Bobcats were left unprotected by their returning team & # x27 ; s list... This page was last edited on 14 February 2023, at 18:05 if the NHL to consider other markets. Kraken saw the NHLs Seattle Kraken saw the NHLs Seattle Kraken have their expansion this... Coaster it has, i hope whichever city/ownership group it is can bring along an arena more! Really get established with the Canadian teams you cant blame me for that option for those of hoping. We dont even know if itll ever happen yet paid an outstanding $ 500 million dollar expansion fee for new. We are excited and honored to be part of the SPHL, Tully said favorite communities and taking. The least likely of the Year with the Rivermen in the Midwest can get filled soon... # SPHLPHOTOS | the first-place @ Peoria_Rivermen welcomed the last-place team, @ MaconMayhem, Carver... More about people than scores coaster it has, i hope whichever city/ownership it! Grows, the expansion fee for their new team NHL has grown from 30 to 32 teams,. President 's Cups, we havent heard a whole lot since, which makes this Southern outpost the likely... Im optimistic, yet still so very, very cautious Sports are more people... Would go and start taking part in conversations and fans bring the energy every time mere $ million!