SPHL facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
SPHL

Sport	Ice hockey
Founded	2004
Commissioner	Doug Price
No. of teams	10
Country	United States
Most recent champion(s)	Peoria Rivermen (2024)
Most titles	Knoxville Ice Bears and Pensacola Ice Flyers (4 each)
Official website	thesphl.com

The SPHL is a professional ice hockey league in the United States. It used to be called the Southern Professional Hockey League. Most of its teams are in the southeastern U.S., but some are also in Illinois and Indiana.

After the 2023–24 season, the Peoria Rivermen are the champions of the President's Cup. The Knoxville Ice Bears are one of the most successful teams in SPHL history. They have won the William B. Coffey Trophy five times and the President's Cup four times. The Peoria Rivermen have also won five William B. Coffey Trophies. The Pensacola Ice Flyers have won four President's Cups.

How the SPHL Started

The SPHL began in 2004. Its roots come from three other hockey leagues that didn't last very long. First, the Atlantic Coast Hockey League played for one season in 2002–03. When it ended, its teams formed two new leagues: the South East Hockey League and the World Hockey Association 2.

After just one season, these two leagues also stopped playing. The teams that were still active joined with two new teams to create the SPHL. This new league started its first season in 2004–05.

Growing the League

In 2009, the SPHL grew a lot. Three new teams joined in Biloxi, Mississippi, Lafayette, Louisiana, and Pensacola, Florida. In 2010, another team was added in Augusta, Georgia.

For the 2011–12 season, the league welcomed the Mississippi RiverKings. They had won championships in another league called the Central Hockey League. In 2013–14, the league lost the Augusta team. However, it expanded north with two teams in Illinois: the Bloomington Thunder and the Peoria Rivermen. The Peoria team replaced an American Hockey League team that had the same name. In 2015, the Augusta team returned and moved to Macon, Georgia, becoming the Macon Mayhem.

Important Moments

In November 2014, something special happened. Shannon Szabados became the first female goalie to win an SPHL game. Her team, the Columbus Cottonmouths, won 5–4 in overtime. In the same game, Erin Blair and Katie Guay became the first female officials to referee an SPHL game.

After the 2015–16 season, the Louisiana IceGators took a break, saying their arena needed repairs. They never returned. Later, their team was sold and became the Quad City Storm in 2018. In 2016, the Mississippi Surge team moved to Southwest Virginia and became the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs.

One of the original SPHL teams, the Columbus Cottonmouths, stopped playing in 2017. They couldn't find new owners. But a new team, the Birmingham Bulls, joined the league. After the 2017–18 season, the Mississippi RiverKings also stopped playing. With the Quad City Storm joining, the league kept ten teams for the 2018–19 season.

Recent Years

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019–20 season ended early, and no champion was named. The next season, only five of the ten teams played. This was because fans couldn't attend games due to health rules. During this time, the league approved a new team, the Vermilion County Bobcats, to join in 2021–22. However, the Bobcats stopped playing after only a year and a half.

In 2023, the league changed its name to just SPHL. This was to show that the league had grown beyond just the southern United States.

Teams in the SPHL

Teams Playing in 2023-24

Here are the teams that are part of the SPHL for the 2023-24 season:

Teams That Are No Longer Playing

Many teams have played in the SPHL over the years but are no longer active. Some moved to new cities, and others stopped playing for different reasons.

• Asheville Aces (2004–05)
• Augusta RiverHawks (2010–13) - This team moved to Macon, Georgia, and became the Macon Mayhem.
• Bloomington Thunder (2013–14) - This team's membership ended to make way for a team in another league.
• Columbus Cottonmouths (2004–17) - This was one of the original SPHL teams. It stopped playing when its owners could no longer fund it.
• Florida Seals (2005–07) - This team's membership ended in the middle of a season.
• Jacksonville Barracudas (2004–08) - This team took a break for the 2008–09 season and then dissolved.
• Louisiana IceGators (2009–16) - This team stopped playing, saying its arena needed repairs. It later dissolved. The team's rights were sold and became the Quad City Storm in 2018.
• Macon Trax (2004–05)
• Mississippi RiverKings (2011–18) - This team joined from the Central Hockey League. Its owners stopped operations in 2018.
• Mississippi Surge (2009–14) - This team moved to Roanoke, Virginia, and became the Rail Yard Dawgs.
• Pee Dee Cyclones (2005–07) - This team moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
• Richmond Renegades (2006–09)
• Twin City Cyclones (2007–09)
• Vermilion County Bobcats (2021-23) - This team stopped playing in February 2023 after 88 games.
• Winston-Salem Polar Twins (2004–05)

SPHL Rule Differences

The SPHL has some rules that are different from bigger hockey leagues like the NHL. This is common for minor leagues.

• A team can have 18 regular players dressed for a game. Two of these players must be goalies.
• All players, except the goalie, must wear a mouthguard.
• There are no rules about how much a stick can curve, unlike in the NHL and other major leagues.
• Shootouts involve five players from each team. After the first five players, teams can use any player again in later rounds. They can even use the same player multiple times in a row if they want.

SPHL Champions

President's Cup

The President's Cup is given to the team that wins the SPHL playoffs each season.

Here's how many times each team has won the President's Cup:

William B. Coffey Trophy

This trophy is given to the team that finishes first in the regular season. It was first called the Commissioner's Cup. In the 2007–08 season, it was renamed to honor Bill Coffey, who helped start the league.

Here's how many times each team has won the William B. Coffey Trophy:

See also

• List of developmental and minor sports leagues
• List of ice hockey leagues
• Minor league