2026 Silly Season

[GindyDraws]

As far as single A hockey goes, both leagues are moving in the right direction. I understand why Pee Dee bailed and I understand why the Fed added the California teams. The SP is always going to be better quality in terms of orgs and players but the Fed is on the right track.

This season will be out of whack with the configuration of the 17 teams but in the next year or two it will settle itself out. If there isn’t arena progress in Indiana, they’ll be gone, Watertown’s on borrowed time even with the new ownership but everything else is getting where it needs to be. . I don’t care if a few teams fail here and there, the overall vision is where it needs to be

Indiana is definitely going to be gone.

They originally wanted to play at the Fairgrounds in Indianapolis but were worried about encroaching on the Indy Fuel. Columbus seems to not have progressed on arena talks, and I doubt they will want to build a white elephant.

 

[Atlantian]

Indiana is definitely going to be gone.

They originally wanted to play at the Fairgrounds in Indianapolis but were worried about encroaching on the Indy Fuel. Columbus seems to not have progressed on arena talks, and I doubt they will want to build a white elephant.

I wouldn't say definitely. The Fed may support them as a travel partner until they get a good foothold in the Midwest area. They are now fighting a war on two fronts, so I feel like they would want to keep a market near the USHL footprint

 

[GindyDraws]

I wouldn't say definitely. The Fed may support them as a travel partner until they get a good foothold in the Midwest area. They are now fighting a war on two fronts, so I feel like they would want to keep a market near the USHL footprint

With Grant Park building a hockey facility, that would be a golden opportunity to thaw the Indiana Ice out of dormancy (they never did officially fold, they just never built their facility on the northwest side of Indianapolis) within a few years, so I see why the Fed would want to try and keep Indiana.

But, at the same time, the Fed also has a reputation of slapping pro teams anywhere and everywhere in markets that absolutely do not need or want hockey teams, often putting them in rec rinks. They're trying to shed that reputation by moving into more legitimate markets, but at the same time, you can't help but look at Minnesota and Indiana and go "here we go again".

 

[SemireliableSource]

If the Fed doesn't add a 4th team out west, they could act like a 14-team league out east and then the Cali teams just play in their own little pod. They probably won't, though, and they'll have teams flying out and the Cali teams flying east at least once.

 

[SemireliableSource]

So we've got the ECHL looking at Houston now for 28-29

Client Challenge

and can't remember if it was mentioned here or not, but they're already looking at Louisville for 28-29 as well. (I can't find a non-paywalled link right now)

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2026/04/17/louisville-hockey-arena-proposal-echl-new-team-expansion/89646423007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx54p117050l115850c117050e1189xxv11xx54d--34--b--34--&gca-ft=230&gca-ds=sophi&taid=69e20125bd318b0001db36d6

We need to have at least one more relocation to make both locations work.

 

[SemireliableSource]

And now Pee Dee is fully approved by the SPHL

SPHL fully approves Pee Dee for 2026-2027 season

www.thesphl.com

 

[Atlantian]

So we've got the ECHL looking at Houston now for 28-29

Client Challenge

and can't remember if it was mentioned here or not, but they're already looking at Louisville for 28-29 as well. (I can't find a non-paywalled link right now)

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2026/04/17/louisville-hockey-arena-proposal-echl-new-team-expansion/89646423007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z11xx54p117050l115850c117050e1189xxv11xx54d--34--b--34--&gca-ft=230&gca-ds=sophi&taid=69e20125bd318b0001db36d6

We need to have at least one more relocation to make both locations work.

The Houston one at least would be relocation:

"The commitment from the ECHL is already made," Petit told Chron. "The contract for the team that will be here ends right at the same time we're going to be done with our arena, which turns out to be perfect."

Could be Wheeling since there has been rumblings of them moving now that they have lost the Pittsburgh affiliation. The Iowa franchise is expected to be on the move soon too.