New SPHL Team

It looks like the Champion Ice Bears will have some new competition coming from the Mississippi Gulf.


From TheSPHL.com:

Jim Combs, Commissioner of the Southern Professional Hockey League announced tonight that the Southern Professional Hockey League’s Board of Governors has received an application from an ownership group to operate an SPHL team in Biloxi Mississippi for the 2009-10 season.

The ownership group has secured a lease from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and is expected to receive final SPHL membership approval shortly pending formal review of their application by the Board of Governors.

Combs stated that “our league’s Governors are delighted about the opportunity to bring the SPHL’s brand of professional hockey to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” The new Biloxi team will compete against returning SPHL members Fayetteville, Knoxville, Columbus and Huntsville.

Additionally, Combs advised that the SPHL is in active discussions with prospective ownership in Pensacola, Florida and other cities and expects to provide information on additional expansion over the next few weeks.

Combs stated that “while there is still work to be accomplished the Board of Governors is committed to expansion within our league’s geographical footprint within a time frame that allows new members the lead time to prepare for the
2009-10 season.