This is the 2017-18 Southern Professional Hockey League season. This is the league's 13th season.
Membership Changes[]
- In early March 2017, the owner of the Columbus Cottonmouths, who had been trying to sell the team, announced that the team will cease operations after the 2016-17 season if a new owner is not found. The team was reported to be in the process of being sold, however; it would not be in time to keep the team active for the 2017-18 season as the team announced they were suspending operations for the 2017-18 season. The Columbus Burn were supposed to be a replacement team to take up residence in the Columbus Civic Center. As of August 10, 2017 the SPHL announced it was no longer interested in working on adding the team to the league in a vote to terminate working with the team owner who had apparently mised a payment to the league on an expansion fee and then tried to re-negotiate the fee.
- On April 26, 2017 the league announced an expansion team to be based out of the Pelham Civic Center in Pelham, Alabama in suburban Birmingham to be called the Birmingham Bulls (SPHL). The team will begin play for the 2017-18 season. The team is owned by the former owner of the Birmingham Bulls (ECHL).
- During the spring of 2017 the Fayetteville FireAntz were sold and subsequently renamed the Fayetteville Marksmen
- The Louisiana IceGators who had suspended operations for the 2016-17 season were quietly dissolved during early 2017.
- The franchise rights of the former Louisiana IceGators were awarded to a new team to be based out of the TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Illinois.[1] The team is replacing the former Quad City Mallards franchise of the ECHL as that team had announced they were ceasing operations in the ECHL at the end of the 2017-18 season.[2]
- On May 24, 2018 the Mississippi RiverKings announced they were suspending operations for the 2018-19 season. The league is seeking new ownership in the hopes of bringing the organization back for 2019-20.[3]
Teams[]
| Team | City/Area | Arena | Founded | Joined | Head Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Bulls | Pelham, Alabama | Pelham Civic Center | 2017 | Jamey Hicks | |
| Evansville Thunderbolts | Evansville, Indiana | Ford Center | 2016 | Jeff Pyle | |
| Fayetteville Marksmen | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Cumberland County Crown Coliseum | 2002 | 2004 | Nick Mazzolini |
| Huntsville Havoc | Huntsville, Alabama | Von Braun Center | 2004 | Glenn Detulleo | |
| Knoxville Ice Bears | Knoxville, Tennessee | Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum | 2002 | 2004 | Jeff Carr |
| Macon Mayhem | Macon, Georgia | Macon Coliseum | 2010 | 2015 | Kevin Kerr |
| Mississippi RiverKings | Southaven, Mississippi (Memphis area) | Lander's Center | 1992 | 2011 | Derek Landmesser |
| Pensacola Ice Flyers | Pensacola, Florida | Pensacola Bay Center | 2009 | Rod Aldoff | |
| Peoria Rivermen | Peoria, Illinois | Carver Arena | 2013 | Jean-Guy Trudel | |
| Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs | Roanoke, Virginia | Berglund Center | 2009* | Sam Ftorek | |
- Note * - Represents a franchise move.
Standings[]
| Team | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria Rivermen | 56 | 38 | 13 | 5 | 211 | 154 | 81 |
| Macon Mayhem | 56 | 33 | 16 | 7 | 214 | 174 | 73 |
| Pensacola Ice Flyers | 56 | 33 | 16 | 7 | 189 | 156 | 73 |
| Huntsville Havoc | 56 | 30 | 16 | 10 | 203 | 180 | 70 |
| Knoxville Ice Bears | 56 | 30 | 20 | 6 | 205 | 182 | 66 |
| Evansville Thunderbolts | 56 | 27 | 20 | 9 | 186 | 191 | 63 |
| Mississippi RiverKings | 56 | 29 | 25 | 2 | 193 | 181 | 60 |
| Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs | 56 | 26 | 26 | 4 | 170 | 195 | 56 |
| Birmingham Bulls | 56 | 22 | 28 | 6 | 159 | 199 | 50 |
| Fayetteville Marksmen | 56 | 12 | 38 | 6 | 144 | 262 | 30 |
Playoffs[]
The top eight teams qualify. All rounds are best-of-three.
Quarterfinals[]
- Peoria Rivermen defeated Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs 2 games to none
- Macon Mayhem defeated Evansville Thunderbolts 2 games to 1
- Knoxville Ice Bears defeated Pensacola Ice Flyers 2 games to none
- Huntsville Havoc defeated Mississippi RiverKings 2 games to 1
Semifinals[]
- Peoria Rivermen defeated Knoxville Ice Bears 2 games to none
- Huntsville Havoc defeated Macon Mayhem 2 games to 1
Final[]
- Huntsville Havoc defeated Peoria Rivermen 2 games to 1
2018 Southern Professional Hockey League champions Huntsville Havoc