Mississippi Surge

Mississippi Surge
City:	Biloxi, Mississippi
League:	Southern Professional Hockey League
Founded:	2009
Home Arena:	Mississippi Coast Coliseum
Colors:	Blue, Gold, Metallic Silver, White
Owner(s):	Surge LLC (Tim Kerr)
General Manager:	Tim Kerr
Head Coach:	Jeff Bes
Media:	The Sun Herald
Franchise history
2009–2014:	Mississippi Surge
Championships
Playoff Championships:	1

The Mississippi Surge is a professional team in the Southern Professional Hockey League that began play in the 2009-10 season. Based in Biloxi, home games are played at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum also known as "The Power Plant".

History

The Mississippi Surge began play 2009 following the suspension of operations of the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the East Coast Hockey League. The disbandment of the Sea Wolves left South Mississippi without a hockey team or a professional sports team. A new team was announced to begin play in 2009 and the team held a name-the-team contest on their temporary webpage. On June 17, the Surge unveiled their name, logo, and colors. The team was to be coached by long time Sea Wolves player and coach Steffon Walby.

In the franchise's first season in the SPHL the Surge had great success. After finishing first in the league at 34-14-8 at the end of the regular season, the Surge were presented the William B. Coffey Trophy as the regular season champions. The Surge advanced to the play-offs and faced the Columbus Cottonmouths in a series that they won 3-1. In the championship round the Surge were defeated by the Huntsville Havoc, the Huntsville Havoc swept the Surge 3-0. In addition to winning the William B. Coffey Trophy, the Surge also won many of the league’s player awards. Steffon Walby was chosen as Coach of the Year, Steve Weidlich was chosen as Defenseman of the Year and was named team captain the following season, and Bill Zaniboni was chosen as the Goalie of the Year.

In the team's second year of operation, the Surge facing adversity with numerous injuries and call-ups of key players, again managed to finish the season in first place with a over-all record of 37-19. The Mississippi Surge were again crowned the Regular Season Champions and received the 2010-2011 William B. Coffey Trophy for their second year in a row. The Surge played the Knoxville Ice Bears in Round 1 of the 2010-2011 Play-offs and advanced to the SPHL Finals after winning the series 3-2. In the SPHL Finals the Surge were matched up against the 2nd Seed Augusta Riverhawks and swept the series 3-0 claiming their first President's Cup.

The Surge moved into their third year of operation under new ownership as Pensacola Ice Flyers owner, Tim Kerr bought the team from Coast Hockey LLC. They also moved into the season without the guidance of Champion coach Steffon Walby as Kerr and Walby decided to part ways. The Surge will play this season under rookie Head Coach Jeff Bes.

The owner (Tim Kerr) of the franchise announced on May 2, 2014 that the franchise would be suspended indefinitely. A steep decline in revenue was cited as the main reason for the action. Kerr further stated that they are "still seeking opportunities for the following season (2015-16) and if the right one arises, hockey could return to Biloxi."

On October 20, 2015 the ownership of the franchise was transferred from Surge Ice, LLC to Breakaway Sports and Entertainment, LLC. The team will be relocated to Roanoke, Virginia for the 2016-17 Southern Professional Hockey League season.

Season Records

Year	Position	GP	W	L	OTL	Pts	Pct	GF	GA	PIM	Coach	Result
2009-10	1st	56	34	14	8	76	0.607	168	139	1344	Steffon Walby	Lost in Finals
2010-11	1st	56	37	19	*	74	0.660	207	157	1059	Steffon Walby	League Champions
2011-12	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	---	Jeff Bes	TBD*

• 2010/2011 Season no points were given for OTL

Championships and awards

Since its debut in the 2009–2010 SPHL season, The Mississippi Surge and its players have won three different championship trophies and numerous player awards.

Championships

Year	League	Trophy
2009-2010	SPHL	Commissioner's Cup
2010-2011	SPHL	Commissioner's Cup
2010-2011	SPHL	President's Cup

'11 President's Cup Champions roster

Forwards
No.		Player	Pos.	Shoots	Height	Weight	Place of Birth
7		Michael Richard	C		5' 9"	190 lbs.	Saint-Constant, Quebec, Canada
9		Matt Zultek	LW	L	6' 4"	210 lbs.	Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
11		Chris Chambers	F		6' 3"	200 lbs.	Crofton, Maryland, USA
13		Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn	LW	L	5' 11"	190 lbs.	Sharon, Ontario, Canada
14		Rob Campbell	F		5' 10"	175 lbs.	Reading, Massachusetts, USA
15		Rusty Masters	C	L	6' 0"	185 lbs.	Grafton, Ontario, Canada
16		Adam Bartholomay	F	R	5' 11"	216 lbs.	Agoura Hills, California, USA
23		Jeff Grant	F		6' 0"	165 lbs.	Burlington, Massachusetts, USA
26		Jason Beeman	RW	R	5' 11"	213 lbs.	Los Angeles, California, USA
28		Ryan McCarthy	C		5' 10"	185 lbs.	Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Defensemen
#		Player	Pos.	Shoots	Height	Weight	Place of Birth
2		Shane Wagner	D		6' 0"	190 lbs.	Stillwater, Minnesota, USA
3		Jeff Winchester	D	L	6' 2"	205 lbs.	Dalhousie, New Brunswick, Canada
5		Greg Moore	D		5' 10"	200 lbs.	Châteauguay, Quebec, Canada
22		Glenn Cacaro	D	L	6' 0"	190 lbs.	Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
25		Jack Wolgemuth	D		6' 3"	185 lbs.	Anchorage, Alaska, USA
27		Nick Klaren	D		6' 1"	200 lbs.	North St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
42		Steve Weidlich	D	L	6' 2"	210 lbs.	Edmonton, Alberta, USA

Goaltenders
#		Player	Pos.	Catches	Height	Weight	Place of Birth
31		Dan Earles	G		5' 11"	175 lbs.	Penetang, Ontario, Canada
33		Bill Zaniboni	G	R	6' 1"	210 lbs.	Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

• Head Coach: Steffon Walby
• Player-Assistant: Steve Weidlich

Player Awards

2009/2010 SPHL Goal-Tender of the Year: Bill Zaniboni

2009/2010 SPHL Defenseman of the Year: Steve Wiedlich

2009/2010 SPHL Coach of the Year: Steffon Walby

External links

• Mississippi Surge
• The Southern Professional Hockey League website
• WAAY - New Havoc Opponent Causing Controversy
• WKRG-Storm Surge vs Misissippi Surge