Southern Hockey League (1973-77)

The Southern Hockey League was a low-level minor professional ice hockey league that operated from 1973 to 1977. The SHL was one of two leagues along with the North American Hockey League, that were formed after the Eastern Hockey League ceased operations in 1973. The league began with six franchises and ended with seven, then folded midseason, on January 31, 1977.

The league's playoff championship the Crockett Cup was named in honor of James Crockett, Sr. who was a long time sports and entertainment promoter in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was the owner of the Charlotte Checkers, the Charlotte Orioles minor league baseball team, and was a professional wrestling promoter; running Jim Crockett Promotions, which eventually became Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.

Teams

Team name	City	Arena	Seasons	Fate
Charlotte Checkers	Charlotte, North Carolina	Charlotte Coliseum	1973–1977	Fold with league January 1977
Greensboro Generals	Greensboro, North Carolina	Greensboro Coliseum	1973–1977	folded January 7, 1977
Macon Whoopees	Macon, Georgia	Macon Coliseum	1973–1974	February 15, 1974
Roanoke Valley Rebels	Roanoke, Virginia	Roanoke Civic Center	1973–1976	folded after 1975-76 season
Suncoast Suns	St. Petersburg, Florida	Bayfront Arena	1973–1973	folded December 19, 1973
Winston-Salem Polar Twins	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum	1973–1977	Folded January 7, 1977
Fayetteville Arsenal	Fayetteville, North Carolina	Cumberland County Memorial Arena	1974-1974	become Hampton Gulls when could not secure playing dates at arena in Fayetteville
Hampton Gulls	Hampton, Virginia	Hampton Coliseum	1974–1977	Fold with league January 1977
Tidewater Sharks	Norfolk, Virginia	Norfolk Scope	1975–1977	Folded January 7, 1977
Baltimore Clippers	Baltimore, Maryland	Baltimore Arena	1976–1977	Fold with league January 1977
Richmond Wildcats	Richmond, Virginia	Richmond Coliseum	1976–1977	Folded January 3, 1977

Season	Regular Season Champion	James Crockett Cup Playoff Champion
1973-74	Roanoke Valley Rebels	Roanoke Valley Rebels
1974-75	Charlotte Checkers	Charlotte Checkers
1975-76	Charlotte Checkers	Charlotte Checkers
1976-77	Hampton Gulls (best record when league folds)	None (League folds January 1977)

References

• League history & standings