2023-24 SPHL Season Thread

[battra]

Tell Momma y'all're gonna be back-ta-home later'n usual ... SPHL to test video replay in 2023-2024 season

This is a terrible idea.

 

[JMCx4]

Opening weekend for the SPHL yields three sweeps: defending champs Roanoke, former champs Huntsville, and ... drum roll please ... THE MACON MAYHEM! The miracles of modern hockey should not be lightly dismissed.

 

[MMC]

 

[VaCaps Fan]

This thread reminds me of the days of the SPHL renegades coached by John Brophy. Hockey on its last legs in Richmond.

 

[JMCx4]

From: The Southern Professional Hockey League > News

SPHL mourns loss of Cottonmouths owner Shelby Amos

December 1, 2023

HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 1, 2023) – The Southern Professional Hockey League and its member teams mourn the loss and express their condolences to the family and friends of former Columbus Cottonmouths owner John “Shelby” Amos II, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 71.

Amos co-owned the Cottonmouths from 2001-2017 with wife and former SPHL governor Wanda Amos and were founding members of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Under their leadership, the Cottonmouths won the SPHL championship in 2005 and 2012 and together they were instrumental in developing the league’s early commitment to community involvement. ...

 

[VaCaps Fan]

RIP, Quite the investment for going that long in SPHL.

 

[JMCx4]

SPHL standings as December play is underway ...

 

[JMCx4]

SPHL standings update as the calendar year flips ...

Reigning playoff champs Roanoke are in the #4 slot where they started their run in the 2023 playoffs. Peoria continue to benefit from their "North Division" heavy scheduling. The top two teams (Birmingham & Fayetteville) have only faced off once so far in the 23-24 season (the Bulls winning 2-1 at home in regulation), so that story remains to be written.

 

[GindyDraws]

And Evansville back to doing Evansville things, I see.

 

[JMCx4]

From: Y!Sports / Peoria Journal Star

The Peoria Rivermen have a new one-game re-brand. Here's a look at the specialty jersey and logo

Dave Eminian, Peoria Journal Star
Thu, Feb 15, 2024, 3:47 AM

PEORIA — Playing against the Peoria Rivermen has been a bitter pill to swallow for SPHL opponents ever since the powerhouse franchise came into the league.

Now the six-time regular-season league champions are ready to celebrate Peoria's ties to an important advance in medical history made decades ago.

The Rivermen, for one game on March 9 against the Pensacola Ice Flyers, will re-brand the team and play as the Peoria Penicillin. Peoria played one game last season as the Flying Carp, a nod to the invasive species in the Illinois River. ...


Read more about a Moldy Cantaloupe in Peoria at:

The Peoria Rivermen have a new one-game re-brand. Here's a look at the specialty jersey and logo

The Rivermen will re-brand as the Penicillin, launch a ticket campaign, host NHLer Ben Bishop in a HOF induction, and work around roster suspensions.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[MMC]

 

[jabberoski]

Weren't they just sold less than a year ago as well?

 

[JMCx4]

Weren't they just sold less than a year ago as well?

Good memory ... Mayhem Announce New Majority Owner

 

[jabberoski]

Good memory ... Mayhem Announce New Majority Owner

8 month tenure as owner is no bueno

 

[JMCx4]

8 month tenure as owner is no bueno

Maybe the Goochs got an offer they couldn't refuse.

 

[GindyDraws]

Weren't they just sold less than a year ago as well?

On the other hand, being owned by the Marksmen would ensure some kind of stability, albeit it ensures that all the good players stay in Fayetteville.

 

[VaCaps Fan]

We should pool our money and buy the team.

 

[JMCx4]

On the other hand, being owned by the Marksmen would ensure some kind of stability, albeit it ensures that all the good players stay in Fayetteville.

How many "I've gotta buy this team to sustain the league & keep a regional competitor to hold my team travel costs down" minor pro hockey business strategies have ever stood the test of more than 2-3 years' time?

 

[JMCx4]

We should pool our money and buy the team.

You go first ...

 

[VaCaps Fan]

You go first ...

We can revive the bobcats…

 

[I am Bettman]

You go first ...

It’s a minor league hockey team in the SPHL, what could it cost? 5 dollars and a no-takebacks agreement?

 

[JMCx4]

The SPHL regular season wrapped up on Saturday night, with the 4th through 6th place playoff participants determined in the season standings only after the final game ended in Peoria. The post-season first round best-of-3 matchups will be:

#1 Birmingham Bulls vs. #8 Evansville Thunderbolts

#2 Peoria Rivermen vs. #7 Pensacola Ice Flyers

#3 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. #6 Quad City Storm

#4 Fayetteville Marksmen vs. #5 Huntsville Havoc

The playoff structure is documented HERE.

 

[JMCx4]

2024 President's Cup first round playoff series schedules were announced late on Saturday night. Best-of-3 format, all times are local ...

#1 Birmingham Bulls vs. #8 Evansville Thunderbolts
Game 1 – Wednesday, April 10 @ Birmingham – 7:05 pm
Game 2 – Thursday, April 11 @ Evansville – 7:00 pm
Game 3 – Saturday, April 13 @ Birmingham – 7:05 pm (if necessary)

#2 Peoria Rivermen vs. #7 Pensacola Ice Flyers
Game 1 – Wednesday, April 10 @ Pensacola – 7:05 pm
Game 2 – Friday, April 12 @ Peoria – 7:15 pm
Game 3 – Saturday, April 13 @ Peoria – 7:15 pm (if necessary)

#3 Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs vs. #6 Quad City Storm
Game 1 – Tuesday, April 9 @ Quad City – 6:10 pm
Game 2 – Friday, April 12 @ Roanoke – 7:05 pm
Game 3 – Saturday, April 13 @ Roanoke – 7:05 pm (if necessary)

#4 Fayetteville Marksmen vs. #5 Huntsville Havoc
Game 1 – Wednesday, April 10 @ Huntsville (at Ice Sports Complex) – 7:30 pm
Game 2 – Friday, April 12 @ Fayetteville – 7:00 pm
Game 3 – Sunday, April 14 @ Fayetteville – 3:00 pm (if necessary)

 

[I am Bettman]

Any predictions for which team wins it all? I’ve got Peoria.

 

[JMCx4]

Any predictions for which team wins it all? I’ve got Peoria.

You are bucking the PEO narrative ... The League HATES the Rivermen, and will do everything in their power to stack the pucks against them when it comes to winning the playoff championship. 2022 was clearly a screw up, but maybe the League's BoG didn't know Peoria had resumed play after taking a COVID Siesta in 2020-21. The League was punished by the hockey gods for that loss of focus, in the form of the ill-advised Vermilion County Bobcats entry.

Meanwhile, I'm going with the #1 seed. The Bulls are overdue.