Huntsville Tornado

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Huntsville Tornado
100
City: Huntsville, Alabama
League: CHL
Founded: 2000
Operated: 2000 - 2001
Home Arena: Von Braun Center Arena
Colors: Red and White
Owner(s): Ice Sports Inc.
General Manager: John Cherney
Head Coach: Craig Coxe / Kent Hawley
Franchise history
1995 - 2000: Huntsville Channel Cats
2000 - 2001: Huntsville Tornado
2003 - 2004: Huntsville Channel Cats
For tornadoes that have struck Huntsville, Alabama, see Huntsville, Alabama Tornado.

The Huntsville Tornado was a professional ice hockey team. The franchise was a member of the CHL – Central Hockey League for one season (2000 - 2001). They played their home games at the Von Braun Center arena in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.


[edit] (2000-2001)

Following the 1999 championship season the Huntsville Channel Cats was sold to a Boaz (Alabama) businessman, John Cherney. The team stayed in the CHL but Cherney changed the name to Huntsville Tornado along with the team colors to red and white. Many fans took offense to the new name that referenced a tornado that struck south Huntsville in 1989, killing 21 people. The season saw many fan favorites leave the team, and the drop in the standings caused a drop in attendance. Amid concerns over sharing arena space and weekend dates with the UAH Chargers hockey team and the new NBDL basketball team, as well as the CHL's desire to contract to more south central U.S. markets, the team did not compete in the next two seasons (2001 - 2002 and 2002 - 2003). Mr. Cherney threatened to move the team to Madison, a suburb of Huntsville, if he did not get the dates he wanted, but to no avail.

In 2003, Cherney renamed the team back to Huntsville Channel Cats as a result of fan requests and played the team in his newly founded league named the South East Hockey League (SEHL).

[edit] Other Huntsville, Alabama Professional Hockey Teams

The Huntsville Blast (ECHL) 1993 – 1994 The Huntsville Tornado (CHL) 2000 – 2001 The Huntsville Havoc (SPHL) 2004 – Present