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The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) is a low-level professional ice hockey league with teams located in the southeastern United States.
The SPHL's history traces back to three other short-lived leagues. The Atlantic Coast Hockey League started play in the 2002-03 season. After its only season, the ACHL dissolved with member teams forming the nucleus for two rival leagues, the South East Hockey League and the World Hockey Association 2. After one season the SEHL and WHA2 disbanded, with their surviving teams rejoining with two expansion teams to form the SPHL, commencing with the 2004-05 season.
[edit] Current
- Columbus Cottonmouths (Columbus, Georgia) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Fayetteville FireAntz (Fayetteville, North Carolina) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Jacksonville Barracudas (Jacksonville, Florida) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member. Will suspended operations for the 2008/09 season pending league approval. May return in 2009/10. [1] [2]
- Huntsville Havoc (Huntsville, Alabama) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Knoxville Ice Bears (Knoxville, Tennessee) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Twin City Cyclones (Winston-Salem, North Carolina) Joined SPHL 2005-06 as Pee Dee. Relocated to Winston-Salem 2007-08. [3] [4]
- Richmond Renegades (Richmond, Virginia) Joined SPHL 2006-07.
[edit] Relocated teams
[edit] Defunct teams
[edit] Standings
y - Clinced Regular Season Championship
x - Clinched Playoff Berth
For games played through 21 March 2008
[edit] Key rule differences
As per minor leagues, there are some rule differences between the SPHL and the NHL (and even the ECHL and AHL, the two official developmental leagues regulated by the Professional Hockey Players Association).
- A team may dress sixteen regular players to a game. Two players dressed for the game will be goaltenders.
- There is no trapezoid restriction limiting the goaltender playing the puck and is eligible to play the puck anywhere on his side of the center redline.
- A mouthpiece is required for all players except the goaltender.
- No curvature of stick limitations as in the NHL, AHL, and ECHL.
- Shootouts are five players (as in the ECHL and AHL).
- All overtime periods in the regular season are between three skaters per team and the goaltender (3 on 3, compared to 4 on 4 in other leagues). Penalty rules differ during the overtime:
- During the first three minutes of overtime, in case of a penalty, the non-offending team is awarded one extra skater per penalty (up to two extra, five total).
- In the final two minutes, any minor penalty results in an automatic penalty shot. [2]
[edit] Champions
[edit] Playoffs
[edit] President's Cup
| 2007-08 |
Knoxville Ice Bears |
| 2006-07 |
Fayetteville FireAntz |
| 2005-06 |
Knoxville Ice Bears |
| 2004-05 |
Columbus Cottonmouths |
[edit] Regular Season
[edit] William B. Coffey Trophy [6]
| 2007-08 |
Knoxville Ice Bears |
| 2006-07 |
Columbus Cottonmouths |
| 2005-06 |
Knoxville Ice Bears |
| 2004-05 |
Knoxville Ice Bears |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Current arenas in the Southern Professional Hockey League |
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United States
