From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 league became the South East Hockey League, in the same season as the World Hockey Association 2 began play. As both the SEHL and WHA2 folded, surviving teams from both leagues as well as two expansion teams formed the SPHL for the 2004-05 season.
Members for the 2006-07 season are the:
- Columbus Cottonmouths (Columbus, Georgia) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Fayetteville FireAntz (Fayetteville, North Carolina) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Huntsville Havoc (Huntsville, Alabama) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Jacksonville Barracudas (Jacksonville, Florida) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Knoxville Ice Bears (Knoxville, Tennessee) Joined SPHL 2004-05, Charter Member.
- Pee Dee Cyclones (Florence, South Carolina) Joined SPHL 2005-06.
- Richmond Renegades (Richmond, Virginia) Joined SPHL 2006-07.
[edit] Defunct Teams
[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).
- 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.
- 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 five).
- In the final two minutes, any minor penalty results in an automatic penalty shot.
http://www.thesphl.com/news/?id=4229
[edit] Champions
[edit] President's Cup (playoffs)
| 2005-06 |
Knoxville IceBears |
| 2004-05 |
Columbus Cottonmouths |
[edit] Commissioner's Cup (regular season)
| 2006-07 |
Columbus Cottonmouths |
| 2005-06 |
Knoxville Ice Bears |
| 2004-05 |
Knoxville Ice Bears |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
United States
