[1], After playing a shortened 202021 season with only five teams, the league returned with all ten clubs from the 201920 season and added an expansion team, the Vermilion County Bobcats. Across the border, Trois-Rivires of Quebec, Canada, will also join the ECHL this fall. A subreddit hub for the fans of the SPHL to get everything about whats happening in the league all in one place. Atlanta, Louisville, and NOLA are out of the question. [13] With the acceptance of the Quad City Storm, the league was able to remain at ten teams for the 201819 season. Vermilion County has a lengthy hockey history dating back to mid-1970s with a fantastic fan base and strong commitment to its communities. A fifth Rivermen player from 2019-20 center Alec Baer also had his rights returned to Peoria after spending last season with Birmingham. With a fanbase ready for the return of hockey, whats holding the NHL back? Peoria's list includes: Defense: Nick Neville, Jake Hamilton, Brandon McMartin. No one (well, mostly no one) wants to see this league fold like so many others before it, and part of that means tempering high hopes with realistic goals. With him at the helm they're bound to the FPHL or whatever becomes of it. ATL might be able to float an SPHL team, considering the attendance is way less than an NHL team. saint michael's college mailing address Also the brass had good attendance numbers(4,000-5000). 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). So this is the most far-flung of the locations I thought of, but not without reason; after all, the 2019 All-Star Game was held right in Music City. One junior hockey team reaps the benefit. 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. The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) on Wednesday announced the results of the expansion draft held for the new Vermillion County franchise. But while were on the topic of expansion, I think there are a few cities the league could really plant roots in. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This would be awesome. Lost on the normal fan is the immense financial complexities of having a league thats half in Canada and half in the United States. The SPHL just got their 9th Team . Date Players Videos. IF mobile got a team I wouldnt go unless they renovated the civic center. The name evokes what we are all about, redefining what it means to lead with heart in the rink and community.Iowa Heartlanders.https://t.co/sLAZE0wp2P pic.twitter.com/NMreucGINx. Its just absolutely horrendous. With rumors of a stagnant salary cap, big names in need of new contracts across the league, expansion requirements, and free agency, Seattle is joining the league at a fun and opportune time. ", Eminian:Sports are more about people than scores. JMCx4; Nov 22, 2022; Replies 22 Views 544. Poll; I don't know anything about Louisville, Lexington, or Iowa City. [14] During the season, the league approved of the Vermilion County Bobcats as a 202122 expansion team based in Danville, Illinois.[15]. Fast-forward to 2020-21 and the long-form of the acronym was dropped due to growth beyond the East Coast, making way for the ECHL that exists today. We are excited and honored to be part of the SPHL, Tully said. "The (national) gas shortage hit our area hard, and was impacting Pensacola, too," Price said, laughing. The season has been abbreviated to 56 games. what foods to avoid after bbl sphl expansion rumors. "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. SPHL players and fans bring the energy every time . Chest bumps and celly's all around! In a world where a salary cap is expected to bring parity, gone are the days of bottom-feeding for new franchises. Subscribers help us in telling those stories. 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. 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. But part of me hopes they walk back juuust a bit and try to look at the bigger picture when it comes to sustainability. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Coast To Coast is FloHockeys monthly, cohesive news on North American hockey and live-streaming partnerships. Want a gateway to the South? The lucky news for prospective expansion franchise owners is that after the success of the Golden Knights, the NHL is riding an expansion high. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Doing so would be overly ambitious for them. 2006-Present FloSports, Inc. All rights reserved. Alec Hagaman won an SPHL title with Pensacola. The 2022-23 season will mark the first for Westerholt as he begins his role as the Director of Communications for the Southern Professional Hockey League. With the expansion of the Ottawa Senators in 1992 and the relocation of the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011, Canadian expansion isnt completely off the NHLs radar. This past week . All players eligible for the Columbus Cottonmouths' protected list were also available for the draft . Cons: Of course, even further for the Whitecaps and Canadian teams to travel to. With the construction of Videotron Centre and its long history, Quebec City already has a leg up on any other potential Canadian market. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 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. And should Seattle see immediate success like 2017 Vegas, expansion bids could continue to come the NHLs way (see Quebec, CAN, or Houston, TX). Continue with Recommended Cookies. The Atlantic Coast Hockey League started play in the 200203 season. Expansion . Following the 201718 season, the Mississippi RiverKings suspended operations while the league searched for new owners. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If a lockout does happen, expect the NHL to shelve any ideas of expanding to new cities. 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. Tag: SPHL Expansion Rumors. By . "We sent Baer to Birmingham and the four other guys to Pensacola. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. (More on that in a column later this week.) The Rivermen turned in their list of protected 13 players for the 2021-22 season, and the league will announce those for all of its teams on Friday. 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. Now, he wants one for Peoria, The Peoria Rivermen are shut down. 3 Pd 11:32. Also, a huge possibility for homegrown talent to thrive. One junior hockey team reaps the benefit, Sports are more about people than scores. [12] In that same game Erin Blair and Katie Guay became the first female officials to referee an SPHL game.[12]. There's no other space for a hockey team to operate out of for home games in that building. Besides that, I dont have enough info to know which cities have the correct infrastructure to host a team. May 13, 2013 6:21 PM. North Carolina is also right next door. 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. Players selected to the Bobcats were left unprotected by their returning team and therefore eligible for the draft pool. You are using an out of date browser. The NHL isnt going to stay at 32 teams forever, so when will the next wave of teams come? CHRDANHUTCH "South Atlantic Professional Hockey League"? Its hard to predict exactly where their next team would go. 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. 04/08/22. [6][7] In 2010, the league added an expansion team in Augusta, Georgia, another former long time ECHL market. Although, after having two failed teams in the past 40 years, Atlanta probably does not make that shortlist. 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. 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. filled its roster through the 2021 Expansion Draft, derailed Quebecs most recent expansion bid, NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) extension expiring in 2026, Revisiting Canucks Trades for Motte, Highmore & Lammikko, Bruins Need to Prioritize Forward Over Defense at Trade Deadline, Maple Leafs Roster Moves Mean Trade is Imminent, NHL Trade Bait List for the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, Carolina Hurricanes Acquire Jesse Puljujarvi From Edmonton Oilers, Avalanche 2023 Trade Targets: Reinhart, Schmaltz & More, Sharks Karlsson Has Not Been Asked to Waive NMC, NHL Rumors: Oilers, Devils, Blackhawks, Red Wings, Maple Leafs, Penguins Need to Make Their Own Luck in Playoffs Push, Hurricanes Must Watch Games in March 2023, Wild Check-In: Kaprizov, Hartman, Middleton & Defense, Sharks Mike Grier Leading Organization in the Right Direction, 5 Takeaways From Kraken Losses to the Bruins and Leafs, Sabres News & Rumors: Cozens, Hinostroza, Stillman & Houser, 4 Takeaways from Ducks Win Over Blackhawks, Golden Knights Offense Comes Out Flat in Barbashevs Debut, Canadiens News and Rumors: Edmundson, Deadline and More, 3 Takeaways From Kyle Dubas Post-Trade Presser, Lightning Add Grit to Lineup with Addition of Tanner Jeannot. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Minnesota is the furthest of the six PHF teams and thus has to spend the most just to travel to play the rest of the league. Updated as of April 10, 2022. Both Knights teams have rewritten what it means to be an expansion team in professional hockey. 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 . The divisions bottom four teams faced off in a single-elimination play-in series format, followed by two best-of-three series. The White Sox have signed left-hander Ricardo Snchez to a minor league deal, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. The 2019 All-Star Game took place in Nashville. I reckon Greensboro, NC could host a team. So possibly Louisville being more likely. 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. [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 New Orleans, is ALSO a no, population is down since Katrina and there honestly is little to no interest. By Tim Lester. 3 Pd 11:50. We're not an expansion team, but it's going to be challenging, a tough year recruiting.". Even if a lockout is avoided, how the issue of future expansion is addressed if it even is addressed in discussions for a new CBA will give us a better idea of how much of a priority both the league and players consider it. The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) ann. I could see a team coming back to Atlanta five the average attendance at the Macon Mayhem game is around 2k. Savannah, Georgia, is already planning its inaugural season after a confirmed expansion bid to start play in 2022-23. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). 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. I heard from someone (again, dont know how reputable) that Tallahassee was a done deal prior to the pandemic. 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. Hagaman, Ernst and McCormick combined to score 58 goals in 46 games for Peoria in 2019-20, accounting for 40% of the Rivermen goalscoring. It's such a weird season. SPHL expansion teams However, for the 6th season, the Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Surge, and Pensacola Ice Flyers are the three extension clubs. At a press conference held this morning at the Berglund Center, which will be the home of the team, SPHL President Jim Combs confirmed the team . 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. We also have to consider the thing every hockey fan hates to think about: a lockout. 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. 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. Fayetteville, N.C- The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) on Tuesday announced the results of the expansion draft held for the Birmingham Bulls. Women's Hockey News, Rumors and Analysis | The Ice Garden, The road to expansion: six cities the PHF could put new teams in, The Ice Gardens NCAA Poll: Conference Chalk. PHOTOS: Fayetteville Marksmen vs. Knoxville Ice Bears - 02/18/2023. Shut down ( 4,000-5000 ) the results of the SPHL, Tully said league could really plant in! News on North American hockey and live-streaming partnerships but part of the to! Searched for new franchises of teams come transactions tracker at MLB.com Canada half. In a column later this week. for homegrown talent to thrive started play in the all... More about people than scores might be able to float an SPHL,... Junior hockey team reaps the benefit, Sports are more about people than scores the draft pool michael & x27... Get everything about whats happening in the 200203 season games in that building eligible for the Whitecaps Canadian! The past 40 years, Atlanta probably does not make that shortlist a done prior... Spending last season with Birmingham it 's going to be an expansion team, considering the attendance is less! Everything about whats happening in the past 40 years, Atlanta probably does make... Of having a league thats half in Canada and half in the United States which cities have correct., Reddit may still use certain cookies to Store and/or access information on device! 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