Any other potential teams?

[perusix]

We are aware of Biloxi, Pensacola and Louisiana. But, are there any other potential teams being mentioned?????

[robster2001]

We are aware of Biloxi, Pensacola and Louisiana. But, are there any other potential teams being mentioned?????

Twin City still has to land somewhere, and a Knoxville newspaper reported the rumor that a new owner might be sniffing around Richmond.

[perusix]

I was hoping that there would be teams in Roanoke, Macon, Augusta, closer to Fayetteville

[wellington]

I think the SPHL will be in Augusta at some point. It may be best to let that market cool for a year or 2 before bringing hockey back to Augusta.

[Geoff]

They were working on getting Augusta in for next season but that has fallen off as legit ownership couldn't be found.

I think the SPHL will announce their next team when they find out more about the Pensacola situation. They want an even number if Pensacola is dark for a year so will the other team, if there even ends up being another season. If Pensacola is a go, we'll see 8.

[perusix]

Augusta would be a great location

[chdahs]

Augusta would be a great location
maybe, but w/ the way Pensacola is having issues and after the surprising and disappointing end to the Lynx as well as the economy;

SPHL has now informed Pensacola they have to be ready by 7/15.

[perusix]

Anymore info out there?

[zcientist]

Pensacola is apparently in. They participated in an SPHL dispersal draft of Twin City and Richmond players.

[Geoff]

Doesn't mean it's final. It's just if they play, they have those players' rights. If not, they're free agents.

[perusix]

Hopefully, in a few years, Macon and Augusta will come back

[perusix]

The GM for the Fireantz's eluded to a fourth team to be added. Does anyone have an idea where that team is located?

[Geoff]

When and where did he say this? The 4th team that was going to join this season was a rebirth in W-S or the relocation of the Cyclones but there will be no more teams joining for 09-10.

[perusix]

This was the article from the Fayetteville Observer...posted this morning


Three new rivals for FireAntz
By Thomas Pope
Assistant sports editor


The Fayetteville FireAntz had better pack a lot of "road songs" on their bus for the 2009-10 Southern Professional Hockey League season.

The league will be composed of seven teams next season, with Fayetteville one of four holdovers. Also returning are league champion Knoxville (Tenn.) Ice Bears, who beat the FireAntz for the title in seven games, along with the Huntsville (Ala.) Havoc, and Columbus (Ga.) Cottonmouths.

The newcomers are all based along Interstate 10 near the Gulf Coast: the Pensacola (Fla.) Ice Flyers; the Louisiana Ice Gators of Lafayette, La.; and a team in Biloxi, Miss., that is scheduled to announce its name today. All three cities formerly had franchises in the ECHL.

"We were hoping for a fourth new team to get us to eight," said FireAntz president Kevin MacNaught. "But we also wanted it to be a team that could come in, ready to go, and not be starting late. This seven worked out pretty well. We've got good coaches coming into the league, and there are good ownership groups in every one of those buildings."

The three newcomers have already picked over the rosters of Richmond, Va., and Winston-Salem, both of whom suspended operations for 2009-10. Those were the only teams that didn't make the SPHL playoffs last season.

"I'm sure those teams will use a few guys off the expansion draft, but most likely there'll be new guys in those markets," FireAntz coach Tommy Stewart said. "It will be great for fans to see new teams, and for some new rivalries built up. It'll be good for everybody."

The holdover teams will be allowed to protect 13 players on their 2008-09 roster, Stewart said. That list has to be provided to the league office by July 1.

The players who are left unprotected can be re-signed by their former teams if the newcomers pass on them.

"Some guys are going to move on or retire," Stewart said of his 2008-09 squad. "Some, I'm not interested in having back. It's a tough situation, but we'll get it done."

Added MacNaught: "We have a pretty good idea of who we'll protect."

MacNaught expects an influx of new players to ratchet up the intensity of the play in the Class A league.

"I think there'll be a little more enthusiam with the players and fans. I anticipate the league being a little more aggressive this year than last year," he said. "Huntsville and Knoxville, both of them are trying to put a little tougher team on the ice than they had last year, and that's our plan, too."

The league said that the 56-game regular-season schedule will be released after July 20. MacNaught said he is pleased with the first two drafts of the schedule he's seen, even though the league's uneven number of teams means fewer weekend home dates - the most profitable ones.

"I think we're probably going to end up with 20 out of 28 (home) games being on the weekends," he said. "Opening night will probably be a Thursday night, but that's not bad. We've done that before."

Six of the seven teams will qualify for the playoffs, with a format to be decided at a later date.

Assistant sports editor Thomas Pope can be reached at popet@fayobserver.com or 486-3520.
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[#1 Guard Fan]

I am glad to see more teams joining the SPHL. I just wish the teams that come into the league would be able to make it more than 1-2 years. This is such a great league and thank god we have had a few SOLID teams to count on year after year