Augusta RiverHawks

Last updated
Augusta RiverHawks
AugustaRiverhawks.PNG
City Augusta, Georgia
League Southern Professional Hockey League
Operated 2010–2013
Home arena James Brown Arena
ColorsRed, White, Blue
   
Owner(s)Bob & Diane Kerzner
Franchise history
2010–2013Augusta RiverHawks
2015–present Macon Mayhem
Championships
Regular season titles1 (2011–12)

The Augusta RiverHawks were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Augusta, Georgia. They played in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) from 2010 to 2013. They played their home games at the James Brown Arena.

Contents

History

The Augusta RiverHawks were established as a new franchise [1] in the Southern Professional Hockey League in 2010 by Bob and Diane Kerzner, who had formerly owned a different franchise, the Pee Dee/Twin City Cyclones. The RiverHawks replaced the Augusta Lynx, who had played in the city for ten years in the ECHL before folding in 2008. [2] The name "RiverHawks" was announced for the new club on March 13, 2010, as the winning result of a fan vote. [3] The RiverHawks opened their inaugural season on the road on October 21, 2010, losing to the Fayetteville FireAntz. [4] They had their home opener the following evening, against 2009–10 SPHL champions the Huntsville Havoc, ultimately losing 5–3, however they went on to place second in league by the season's close. [5]

In late February 2013, the ice refrigeration system at the James Brown Arena malfunctioned, causing the ice surface to melt. This forced the RiverHawks to play their remaining home games at their practice facility, where attendance was limited to season ticket holders and sponsors. [6] Team owner Bob Kerzner, the city of Augusta, and arena operator Global Spectrum could not reach an agreement on repairing or replacing the arena's ice system in time for the club to commit to the 2013–14 SPHL season, forcing Kerzner to temporarily suspend team operations. Kerzner stated that he would retain his franchise rights during the RiverHawks' hiatus, hoping to return to play in the 2014–15 season. [7]

After considering relocating to either Greensboro, North Carolina, or Tallahassee, Florida, Kerzner, the SPHL, and the Macon-Bibb County Board of Commissioners announced on June 25, 2014, that the RiverHawks would relocate to Macon, Georgia, and resume play as the Macon Mayhem. The Mayhem signed a five-year lease with the city of Macon and played their home games in the Macon Coliseum starting in the 2015–16 season. The SPHL previously had a franchise in Macon called the Macon Trax during its inaugural 2004–05 season. [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacksonville Barracudas</span> Ice hockey team in Jacksonville, Florida

The Jacksonville Barracudas were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were established in 2002, and played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002–2003), the World Hockey Association 2 (2003–2004), and the Southern Professional Hockey League (2004–2008), before folding in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SPHL</span> Ice hockey league of the eastern United States

The SPHL is a professional ice hockey independent minor league based in Huntersville, North Carolina, with teams located primarily in the southeastern United States as well as Illinois and Indiana in the midwestern United States.

The Florida Seals were a minor league ice hockey franchise, a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Originally based in Orlando, Florida, as the Orlando Seals, they later moved to Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb thirty miles south of Orlando in Osceola County. The Seals were one of eight minor league hockey teams purchased or founded by David Waronker starting in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Columbus Cottonmouths</span> Ice hockey team in Columbus, Georgia

The Columbus Cottonmouths were three separate professional ice hockey teams based in Columbus, Georgia. The team is nicknamed the Snakes and played their home games at the Columbus Civic Center. In 2017, the third franchise suspended operations after failing to find a new owner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fayetteville Marksmen</span> American ice hockey team

The Fayetteville Marksmen are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They currently play in the SPHL and play their home games in the Crown Coliseum.

The Huntsville Havoc are a professional ice hockey team in the SPHL. They play their home games at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knoxville Ice Bears</span> Professional ice hockey team in Knoxville, Tennessee

The Knoxville Ice Bears are a professional ice hockey team. The team competes in the SPHL. They play their home games at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Ice Bears have made the playoffs in every season of their existence. In 2006, the Ice Bears defeated the Florida Seals to take their first President's Cup. The Ice Bears won back to back President's Cup Championships in the 2007–08 and 2008–09 seasons. On April 18, 2015, the Ice Bears defeated the Mississippi RiverKings 4–2 to sweep the 2015 SPHL Finals and win their 4th President's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Trax</span> Ice hockey team in Macon, Georgia

The Macon Trax were a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Macon, Georgia. They played in the low minor league Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002–03), World Hockey Association 2 (2003–04), and Southern Professional Hockey League (2004–05), playing their home games at the Macon Coliseum. They went to the championship finals in both the WHA2 and the SPHL, losing in each series to the league champion. This history prompted head coach Tommy Stewart to tell the Macon Telegraph that the team was "always a bridesmaid, never a bride."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Brown Arena</span> Multi-purpose complex located in Augusta, GA, US

James Brown Arena is a multi-purpose complex located in Augusta, Georgia. It is managed by Spectra Experiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin City Cyclones</span> Ice hockey team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Originally called the Pee Dee Cyclones, the Twin City Cyclones were a minor league ice hockey team based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They began play in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) in the 2005–06 season. In the 2005–06 season, they finished sixth out of seven teams in the regular season standings, made the playoffs, but lost in the first round to the Knoxville Ice Bears. In the 2006–07 season, their final in Florence, South Carolina, the Cyclones finished in seventh place and failed to make the playoffs. They were called the Pee Dee Cyclones as the region of South Carolina around Florence that is usually named after the Pee Dee River.

Sports in Georgia include professional teams, Olympic Games contenders and medalists, collegiate teams in major and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur teams and individual sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pensacola Ice Flyers</span> American ice hockey team

The Pensacola Ice Flyers are a professional ice hockey team of the SPHL. The team played their first season in 2009–10. Home games are played at the Pensacola Bay Center, previously home to the ECHL's Pensacola Ice Pilots from 1996 until their folding in 2008.

The 2006–07 Southern Professional Hockey League season was the third season of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The regular season began October 27, 2006, and ended April 18, 2007, after a 56-game regular season and a six-team playoff. The Fayetteville FireAntz won their first SPHL championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willmar WarHawks</span> Ice hockey team in Willmar, Minnesota

The Willmar WarHawks are a Tier III junior ice hockey team playing in the North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL). The team plays their home games at the Willmar Civic Center located in Willmar, Minnesota.

The 2012–13 Southern Professional Hockey League season was the ninth season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The regular season began October 26, 2012 and ended April 14, 2013, after a 56-game regular season and an 8-team playoff. The Fayetteville FireAntz captured their first SPHL regular season title. The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeated the Huntsville Havoc in the President's Cup final 2 games to 1 to win the team's first President's Cup.

The 2013–14 Southern Professional Hockey League season is the 10th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeated the Columbus Cottonmouths in the President's Cup final 2 games to none to repeat as winners of the President's Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Macon Mayhem</span> Ice hockey team in Macon, Georgia

The Macon Mayhem is an SPHL team based in Macon, Georgia that plays in the Macon Coliseum. The team was formerly the Augusta RiverHawks, which suspended operations for the 2013–14 season due to an ice-system failure at James Brown Arena.

The 2014–15 SPHL season was the 11th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Knoxville Ice Bears defeated the Mississippi RiverKings in the President's Cup final 2 games to none to win their 4th SPHL title.

The 2015–16 SPHL season was the 12th season of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeated the Peoria Rivermen in the President's Cup final 3 games to none to win their 3rd SPHL title in 4 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ice hockey in Georgia</span>

Georgia has a very mixed history with ice hockey. The state has seen many expansion teams at multiple levels but few have been able to establish a foothold in the public consciousness.

References

  1. ↑ Money, Don (February 10, 2010). "Kerzner, Richard bring hockey back to Augusta". Pro Hockey News. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Hockey Returning To Augusta, GA In 2010". Southern Professional Hockey League . February 3, 2010. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  3. ↑ Byler, Billy (March 13, 2010). "Fans pick River Hawks as hockey team's nickname". The Augusta Chronicle . Archived from the original on November 5, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
  4. ↑ Vezina, Ken (October 22, 2010). "Riverhawks Nearly Spoil FireAntz Home Opener". Augusta RiverHawks. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  5. ↑ Vezina, Ken (October 22, 2010). "RiverHawks Edged by Havoc in Home Opener". Augusta RiverHawks. Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2010.
  6. ↑ Lee, David (March 4, 2013). "Augusta RiverHawks move home games to Augusta Ice Sports Center". The Augusta Chronicle . Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Augusta RiverHawks won't be playing hockey in 2013-14". WRDW-TV . May 14, 2013. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ Seibel, Ron (June 25, 2014). "Macon Mayhem to hit ice in 2015". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  9. ↑ "SPHL Approves RiverHawks' Move To Macon, GA For 2015-2016 Season". Southern Professional Hockey League . June 25, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.