SPHL Expanding to Roanoke, VA for 2016-2017 Season
October 20, 2015 - SPHL (SPHL)
Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs News Release
HUNTERSVILLE, NC (October 20, 2015) - The Southern Professional Hockey League today announced the move of the Mississippi Surge to Roanoke, VA, who will return to the ice for the 2016-2017.
At a press conference held this morning at the Berglund Center, league president Jim Combs stated that in addition to the move, the SPHL Board of Governors last week approved the team's majority transfer of ownership from Surge Ice, LLC to Breakaway Sports and Entertainment, LLC.
Serving as majority owners of Breakaway Sports and Entertainment, LLC are Bob McGinn and his sons, Jamie, Tye and Brock, all three of whom are currently under NHL contracts with Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Carolina, respectively. In addition to the McGinn family, premier sports artist Rob MacDougall, SPHL Chairman Tim Kerr and several local investors are part of the group bringing hockey back to Roanoke.
After 34 years in the heating and air conditioning business, McGinn retired from a successful career as sales and marketing manager in Toronto, Ontario. His lifelong passion has always been sports and along with his wife Cori, this passion was highlighted by raising all three of their boys to earn NHL contracts. His retirement didn't last long, as the passion of owning a professional hockey team led their family to the SPHL and the city of Roanoke, where a drive to win championships and grow the game of hockey is his goal.
"There is a strong fan base for hockey here in Roanoke and the SPHL is the best kept secret in hockey," McGinn said. "We have a city and a league that wants us and we definitely want to be in Roanoke. Our five local owners were a must-have to complete our business plan and my family and I can't wait to drop the puck."
"After several years of searching for a dynamic ownership group, we are excited about the opportunity the McGinn family and Breakaway Sports are bringing to Roanoke and the SPHL," stated Combs.
The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), now in its 12th season, will have nine teams taking the ice when the regular season opens on October 23:
The defending President's Cup Champion Knoxville (TN) Ice Bears, Columbus (GA) Cottonmouths, Fayetteville (NC) FireAntz, Huntsville (AL) Havoc; (Lafayette) Louisiana IceGators, Macon (GA) Mayhem; (Southaven) Mississippi RiverKings; Pensacola (FL) Ice Flyers and Peoria (IL) Rivermen.
For more information on the new Roanoke franchise and the Southern Professional Hockey League, check out our website at www.thesphl.com.
• Discuss this story on the SPHL message board...
SPHL Stories from October 20, 2015
- RiverKings Coach's Show Moves to Tuesday Nights - Mississippi RiverKings
- SPHL Expanding to Roanoke, VA for 2016-2017 Season - Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
- SPHL Expanding to Roanoke, VA for 2016-2017 Season - SPHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
