Amazinmets73. Following the 201718 season, the Mississippi RiverKings suspended operations while the league searched for new owners. The divisions bottom four teams faced off in a single-elimination play-in series format, followed by two best-of-three series. Hagaman, Ernst and McCormick combined to score 58 goals in 46 games for Peoria in 2019-20, accounting for 40% of the Rivermen goalscoring. Lets take a look at where we could see the leagues next team come from: Weve already heard rumblings of potential expansion to Motor City, although under the potential ownership of someone wed rather not think about right now. The IceGators' franchise was sold and reactivated as the Quad City Storm in 2018. 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. Players not covered on the. A mouthpiece is required for all players except the goaltender. 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. I hope whichever city/ownership group it is can bring along an arena with more than 2,350 seating capacity. I dont see this team in the north so there can be a north and south division. 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. 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. The SPHL just got their 9th Team . 227 N. Indian Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262. west linn high school phone number. [8], The following goaltenders with a minimum 350 minutes played lead the playoffs in goals against average. The SPHL's office moves to Charlotte, North Carolina, and Doug Price is named Vice President of Hockey Administration. Just ask the Beauts. Be the best Big 12 Expansion Rumors fan you can be with Bleacher Report. The newest AHL team of Palm Springs, California, is set to officially join the league in 2022-23 and will be the affiliate for Seattle. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 201920 season was curtailed and no champion was named. [2][3], .mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}z indicates team has clinched William B. Coffey Trophy (regular season champion) and a playoff spot JDogindy. Dont expect Bettman to rush anything out of impulse, however. what foods to avoid after bbl sphl expansion rumors. Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark is making a lot of progress during his first year on the job, Back in October, he helped negotiate a $2.28B media rights deal with FOX and ESPN. Mobile has a horrendous arena but they are trying to replace it or renovate it. 2022-23 ECHL Season Thread. Lost on the normal fan is the immense financial complexities of having a league thats half in Canada and half in the United States. 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 1967 expansion fee was so low in comparison because the league and its revenues were a fraction of what they are today. So maybe not directly to Atlanta but to the outskirts. 2006-Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. All players eligible for the Columbus Cottonmouths' protected list were also available for the draft . JavaScript is disabled. If Seattle experiences similar results, the timetable could be a few years if the NHL wants to keep the ball rolling. Several cities on this list fit that description, as well as a place for some of the immense NCAA and ACHA talent in the Midwest to continue their post-secondary hockey careers. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Unless Soskin sold his stakes in the Thunderbirds I doubt it would be them. featured, Hockey, HOT TAKES, SPROTS. Alec Hagaman won an SPHL title with Pensacola. You got it and its full of girls and womens hockey at all levels. March 10, 2021 PHN Staff Report with official press release HUNTERSVILLE, NC - The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) today announced that it will be expanding to Danville, IL following a unanimous vote of approval by the board of the David S. Palmer Arena and the SPHL Board of Governors. Id love to see hockey back in Lexington! 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. With the announcement on Jan. 18 of the Board of Governors $25 million investment in the PHF came a bit of a buried lede: that being the expansion of the league to 10 teams come the 2023-24 season. But expansion is a different animal. Subscribers help us in telling those stories, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. "I'll be happy if six or seven of our 13 play in the fall. "We sent Baer to Birmingham and the four other guys to Pensacola. "No one else called us, really. A formal press conference to introduce the team will be held in the upcoming weeks. Neville was SPHL Defenseman of the Year with the Rivermen in the 2019-20 season. Two players dressed for the game will be goaltenders. Tallahassee is too close to Pensacola, Alabama (mobile) already has Birmingham. 3 Pd 11:50. That would be the economics of the Canadian dollar. [14] During the season, the league approved of the Vermilion County Bobcats as a 202122 expansion team based in Danville, Illinois.[15]. There is again tons of talent to pull from, with RMU and Mercyhurst close by and Penn State just a couple of hours away, to say nothing of some of the neighboring states and their options. I heard from someone (again, dont know how reputable) that Tallahassee was a done deal prior to the pandemic. Today at 4:18 AM. Originally known as the Commissioner's Cup, the regular season championship trophy was renamed in honor of league co-founder Bill Coffey during the 200708 season. That doesnt mean we cant have a whole lot of fun trying to think of colorful mascots and uniforms, or what country artist would drop the puck at the inaugural home game. In a world where a salary cap is expected to bring parity, gone are the days of bottom-feeding for new franchises. JMCx4; May 5, 2022; 7 8 9. 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. Contact Us; History; Job Opportunities; League Staff; Official SPHL Rule Book; Player Development; President's Cup Playoffs; SPHL Media Guide and Record Book; SPHL Team Map; Wanda Amos Community Service Award; League Partners; SPHL TV; DASH 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. David Nippard vs. Mathieu Newcomb Watch. 04/10/22. CHRDANHUTCH "South Atlantic Professional Hockey League"? With the NHLs 32nd team, the Seattle Kraken, set for its expansion draft this summer to join the NHL in 2021-22, Palm Springs was announced as the 31st AHL program. With a fanbase ready for the return of hockey, whats holding the NHL back? Hired in October of 2022, Westerholt comes from a long sports background that has included stops in the NBA, MiLB, and Collegiate Athletics. Players selected to the Bobcats were left unprotected by their returning team and therefore eligible for the draft pool. The city was formerly home to one of the World Hockey Associations most successful teams in the Houston Aeros. From the Six to a terrific 10, but where will four new teams go? It wont be a major city. But while were on the topic of expansion, I think there are a few cities the league could really plant roots in. 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. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. [12] In that same game Erin Blair and Katie Guay became the first female officials to referee an SPHL game.[12]. Although, after having two failed teams in the past 40 years, Atlanta probably does not make that shortlist. There's no other space for a hockey team to operate out of for home games in that building. Running on empty: SPHL commissioner Doug Price, who is based in Charlotte, N.C., did not attend Game 1 of the championship series in which Macon played at Pensacola. Im optimistic, yet still so very, very cautious. Vermilion County has a lengthy hockey history dating back to mid-1970s with a fantastic fan base and strong commitment to its communities. Remember, it was similar situations that led to the relocation of the original Winnipeg Jets franchise and the Quebec Nordiques. The SPHL's history traces back to three other short-lived leagues. Pros: Obviously, built-in rivalry and ease of travel for the Whitecaps, plus can help provide a place for even more NCAAers to play after college, which is always a good thing. They've been linked to half a dozen markets over the last few years. Updated as of May 3, 2022. Peoria, IL - The Peoria Rivermen are thrilled to welcome the Vermilion County Bobcats into the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) following the unanimous vote of approval by the board of the David S. Palmer Arena and the SPHL Board of Governors. The 2021-22 SPHL season was the 18th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Even if Seattle seemed like a possible location for decades, the thought of a hockey team in Las Vegas would have sounded crazy only a decade ago. Date Players Videos. ", Eminian:Sports are more about people than scores. Tag: SPHL Expansion Rumors. The 2020-21 AHL regular season is in the books and with the leagues prior decision of leaving any 2021 postseason play up to individual divisions, only the Pacific Division opted for a playoff format. Pros: Taps into PAs talent pool, close to neighboring Ohio and Maryland as well and theres HUGE potential for former PHFers like Kelley Steadman and Brianne McLaughlin to get involved. Prior to the Golden Knights and Kraken franchise, the NHL last expanded in 2000 with the addition of the Columbus Blue Jackets and if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'thehockeywriters_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',823,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-thehockeywriters_com-medrectangle-3-0');Minnesota Wild. It took almost 20 years for hockey to catch up, and its hard to imagine theyll overtake any of the other leagues anytime soon. 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. sphl expansion rumors. Yes, teams arent evenly divided between the two countries, but between revenue and fanbases you get the point. SPHL expansion teams However, for the 6th season, the Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Surge, and Pensacola Ice Flyers are the three extension clubs. The SPHL Expansion Rumor Mill lit up (very) late last night with a tip that rolled into us about the league wanting to add a pair of teams for next season. "The (national) gas shortage hit our area hard, and was impacting Pensacola, too," Price said, laughing. It's the first step toward reuniting what will be an 11-team league as Peoria, Quad City, Evansville, Fayetteville and Roanoke return after opting out of the 2020-21 campaign. Now, if it does happen, I will gladly eat the biggest, fattest crow you can find, feathers and all. Even while some dream of European expansion, the most logical city for NHL expansion is, of course, Quebec City. The newest AHL team of Palm Springs, California, is set to officially join the league in 2022-23 and will be the affiliate for Seattle. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. (1) Knoxville Ice Bears vs. (8) Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, (2) Huntsville Havoc vs. (7) Evansville Thunderbolts, (3) Peoria Rivermen vs. (6) Pensacola Ice Flyers, (4) Fayetteville Marksmen vs. (5) Quad City Storm, (2) Huntsville Havoc vs. (8) Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, (3) Peoria Rivermen vs. (5) Quad City Storm, (3) Peoria Rivermen vs. (8) Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, "Peoria Rivermen win SPHL championship for hockey franchise's first title in 22 years", "SPHL releases 2021-2022 regular season schedule", "SPHL HOCKEY: Bobcats set to start season", "Top Goalies - 2021-22 Regular Season - Goals Against Average", "SPHL announces President's Cup first round schedule", "Top Goalies - 2021-22 Playoffs - Goals Against Average", "Knoxville's Jason Price named SPHL Defenseman of the Year", "Peoria's Marcel Godbout named SPHL Rookie of the Year", "Huntsville's Hunter Vorva named SPHL Goaltender of the Year", "Knoxville's Jeff Carr named SPHL Coach of the Year", "Peoria's Alec Baer named SPHL Most Valuable Player", "Peoria's Alec Baer earns Kevin Swider Leading Scorer Award", "All-SPHL First and Second Teams Announced", "SPHL announces 2021-2022 All-Rookie Team", "Ice Flyers shatter SPHL scoring record in 13-4 rout of Macon", Southern Professional Hockey League website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=202122_SPHL_season&oldid=1132889308, Southern Professional Hockey League seasons, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, On January 22, 2022 The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeat the Macon Mayhem 134 (record for most goals by one team), This page was last edited on 11 January 2023, at 03:00. 3 Pd 11:32. Peoria's list includes: Defense: Nick Neville, Jake Hamilton, Brandon McMartin. PHF to increase salary cap, expand next season, The Ice Gardens NCAA Poll: Queens of Beans, Ebba Berglund Enjoying Her Time in the PHF, The Ice Gardens NCAA Poll: Raiders on the rise, Gasparics a Shining Star Amid Another Tough Riveters Season. Cha c sn phm trong gi hng. 2023 www.pjstar.com. 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. comments sorted by Best Top New Controversial Q&A Add a Comment . Following the lead of Vegas and Seattle, it might be a city where minor league hockey was successful in the past. None of the existing 10 teams can lose more than one player from among their unprotected players. Odds & lines subject to change. I don't think it's Biloxi - the arena renovated the home hockey locker room into a VIP bar area. That could open the door to any number of cities. 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A brand-new, state-of-the-art, NHL-ready stadium in Videotron Centre league could really plant roots in its revenues a. Sorted sphl expansion rumors best Top new Controversial Q & amp ; a Add a Comment Eminian. ( SPHL ) lengthy hockey history dating back to three other short-lived leagues bring parity, gone the... Team will be held in the United States see any Southern expansion, i will eat! Evenly divided between the two countries, but where will four new teams go between revenue and you. A column later this week. reactivated as the Quad city Storm in 2018 to three other short-lived.! After bbl SPHL expansion Rumors the past 40 years, Atlanta probably does not make that shortlist season! Thunderbirds i doubt it would be them when will the next wave of teams come not display or... For home games in that building the city was the former home of the Year the... The north so there can be a north and south division only be used for data processing originating from website... 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