| Ice hockey in Alabama | |
|---|---|
 Flag of Alabama | |
| Country | United States |
| Governing body | USA Hockey [1] |
| National team(s) | Men's national team Women's national team |
| First played | 1976 |
Club competitions | |
List
| |
Alabama has a checkered history with ice hockey in the United States. Like many states of the Deep South hockey did not arrive in any organized fashion for many years and, when it did, the sport had a hard time establishing itself in the Gulf Coast states.
The earliest appearance of ice hockey in the state occurred in Birmingham when the Toronto Toros moved to become the Birmingham Bulls. The team played for another three seasons in the World Hockey Association before the league was forced to fold. During the NHL–WHA merger, the Bulls had hopes that they would be accepted into the NHL, however, no proposals that included Birmingham were ever seriously considered by the NHL. [2] Knowing that they would not join the major leagues, Birmingham searched for a different home and managed to secure a spot in the Central Hockey League, a top-tier minor league. The team was unable to adjust to their new circumstances and began experiencing financial difficulties. The Bulls were forced to suspend operations mid-way through the 1980–81 season.
The state wasn't without a team for long as two successive attempts were made to bring hockey back to Birmingham. However, neither the Birmingham South Stars nor the second Birmingham Bulls lasted more than a year. Instead it was the University of Alabama in Huntsville that proved to be the savior of ice hockey in Alabama. Due in part to the number of out-of-state personnel who worked in the area as aerospace and defense industries, Huntsville had an appetite for the sport and fielded a club team as far back as the late 1970s. [3] The team at Huntsville was so popular that the school decided to promote it to varsity status in 1985 and, just two years later, it was such a welcome spectacle that Governor George Wallace declared Huntsville to be the "Hockey Capital of the South" in 1987.
In spite of their difficulties scheduling opponents and the cost of running a program so far away from any of their opponents (their closest contemporaries were hundreds of miles away), Alabama Huntsville quickly became a player on the national stage and appeared in the 1992 Division II national championship. Two years later the team became just the fifth program to complete a season with an undefeated record since World War II and was only the second (after Cornell in 1970 and Bemidji State in 1984) to win a national title in the process. After a second championship in 1998, Huntsville raised their program to Division I but found themselves mired in mediocrity. The Chargers had a few good years but were mostly relegated to the lower levels. Even when the team won their league championship and made the NCAA tournament, they did so with losing records and lost both games. After the collapse of the men's division of College Hockey America in 2010, UAH was forced to play as an independent for three seasons.
In 2013 the major conference realignment enabled the Chargers to join the WCHA but the team had lost all of its momentum in the interim. Over an 8-year span, Alabama Huntsville never finished better than 7th in the conference and posted losing records every year. The team never came close to finishing any season with an even record and slipped further from the thoughts of even the local sports fans. By 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic his an already reeling program and the school announced that the team could not continue unless it received $750,000 in donations. [4] It took less than a week for the funds to be raised, however, The school's distance from the rest of their conference opponents led to UAH facing another existential threat. In 2021, the bulk of WCHA teams decided to leave the conference and reform as the CCHA. The primary reason for this was to reduce the travel costs as the conference had members in Alaska and Alabama while seven of its members were situated around the Great Lakes. Alabama Huntsville applied for membership in the CCHA, hoping to convince the other teams to keep the Chargers as members but their petition was eventually denied. Once their last appeal went for naught, UAH announced that the program would be ceasing operations but, because enough funding had been secured in the interim, the program would be reinstated as soon as they could find a conference to accept the program. [5]
During the heyday of the UAH Chargers, several attempts at establishing minor league hockey were made. In 1992, a team relocated to Birmingham and became the second Bulls franchise. Art Clarkson, the owner of the Birmingham Barons, brought the team from Cincinnati and the next year had a local rival wen the Huntsville Blast arrived from Virginia. The two teams played one another in the first round of the ECHL playoffs that year but their rivalry was short-lived. Huntsville moved out of state after the year, leaving Birmingham as the only professional team in the state. [6] A year later, however, that situation was remedied when the Mobile Mysticks were founded. The Mysticks had some success but began to see falling attendance almost immediately. The team stated with an average of more than 5,300 in their first season but average attendance fell every year afterwards save one. Going 0–7 in their first three playoff series didn't help matter and by the time the 21st century rolled around Mobile was getting less than 3,500 per game. The bottom fell out in 2002 with an average of about 2,600 and, with the team failing to make the postseason, the franchise suspended operations after the year.
Starting the same year as the Mysticks, the Huntsville Channel Cats were founding members of the SHL, winning the inaugural league championship. When the league folded after the year, Huntsville had enough of a presence to continue and joined the CHL. The team was one of the top teams in the league over the next few years and won their second championship in 1999. The late 90s saw a change in ownership for both Birmingham and Huntsville; Clarkson sold the Bulls in 1997 and the team soon became a laughingstock. In 2000, the team lost 18 in a stretch of 20 games and were forced to forfeit several games for using ineligible players. Diminishing attendance eventually forced Charles Felix to sell the team to George Shinn, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, and the team was moved to New Jersey. Huntsville, meanwhile, was sold to John Cherney after their second championship and one of his first orders of business was to chance the team's name. Entering the '01 season, the team was rechristened the 'Tornado' but instead of engendering support, all the new name did was rankle fans. Many were survivors of the 1989 tornado that had killed 21 residents and were unhappy with the rebranding. [7] Compounding matters was the departure of many fan-favorite players while the team had its worst on-ice performance since its inaugural season. The Tornado lasted just one season before leaving the CHL amid Cherney's threat to move out of the Von Braun Center if he did not get better game dates. After two years away, the team resurfaced with the old Channel Cats name as members of the new South East Hockey League. Huntsville won the regular season and playoff championship but the league folded after the season.
That summer the SPHL, a brand-new minor league, was seeking to found teams and came to an arrangement with the Von Braun Center about a new franchise in Huntsville. When the Huntsville Havoc began in 2004, their appearance brought an end to the Channel Cats' stay and caused the old franchise to cease operations. While the Havoc had an inauspicious start, the team did eventually capture the interest of the fan base and trended upwards in their attendance figures over their first 15 seasons. Three league championships in that time helped the Havoc consistently draw above the league average and allowed them to survive the rocky period during the pandemic. [8] The success of the Havoc led to the SPHL expanding to Birmingham in 2017 and the resurrection of the 'Bulls' name. The third Birmingham Bulls saw a decent amount of success in their first few seasons, making the league finals twice in six years. Art Clarkson was integral in bringing the team back and was managing partner for the first few years. He stepped down after their first run to the title game and died later in 2019. [9]
| Team | City | League | Arena | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville Havoc | Huntsville | SPHL | Von Braun Center | 2004 |
| Birmingham Bulls (fourth) | Birmingham | SPHL | Pelham Civic Center | 2017 |
* relocated
| Team | City | League | Years Active | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Bulls | Birmingham | WHA CHL | 1976–1979 1979–1981 | Defunct |
| Birmingham South Stars | Birmingham | CPHL | 1982–1983 | Defunct |
| Birmingham Bulls (second) | Birmingham | ACHL | 1983–1984 | Defunct |
| Birmingham Bulls (third) | Birmingham | ECHL | 1992–2001 | Adirondack Thunder |
| Huntsville Blast | Huntsville | ECHL | 1993–1994 | Utah Grizzlies |
| Mobile Mysticks | Mobile | ECHL | 1995–2002 | Atlanta Gladiators |
| Huntsville Channel Cats | Huntsville | SHL CHL SEHL | 1995–1996 1996–2001 2003–2004 | Defunct |
| Alabama Slammers | Pelham | WHA2 | 2003–2004 | Defunct |
| Team | City | Gender | Division | League | Years active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama–Huntsville Chargers | Huntsville | Men's | NCAA Division I | WCHA | 1985–2001 |
Active Active (out of state)
With low statewide engagement (just over 2,000 players were registered as members of USA Hockey in 2023), [10] Alabama has been able to produce just a few notable players. Unsurprisingly, the only two native Alabamians to reach the NHL both hail from Huntsville.
† relocated from elsewhere.
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 Von Braun Center is an entertainment complex, with a maximum arena seating capacity of 9,000, located in Huntsville, Alabama. The original facility debuted in 1975 and has undergone several significant expansions since its opening. In addition to the arena, the VBC complex features multiple exhibit halls, a concert hall, a playhouse, a music venue, and several additional facilities for meetings and exhibitions.
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.
The Mobile Mysticks were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Mobile, Alabama that played in the ECHL. They played their home games at the Mobile Civic Center. The team was founded in 1995 as an expansion franchise, joining the ECHL alongside the Louisville RiverFrogs and the Louisiana IceGators. The Mysticks owed their name to the prevalence of mystic societies—social organizations responsible for throwing parades and balls during the Carnival season—that existed in Mobile since the early 18th century.
The Huntsville Channel Cats was a professional ice hockey team based in Huntsville, Alabama. The franchise was a member of several different leagues, the Southern Hockey League (1995–1996), the Central Hockey League (1996–2001) and the South East Hockey League (2003–2004). They played their home games at Von Braun Center Arena in downtown Huntsville.
Danton Edward Cole is an American former professional hockey player and the former head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's hockey team. He had guided the USA Hockey Under-18 team to a pair of gold medals and a bronze medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships during his seven seasons at the helm from 2010 to 2017. As a player, he spent seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.
The Birmingham Bulls were a minor professional ice hockey team in the East Coast Hockey League from 1992 to 2001. Their home arena was the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. The team moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey and was renamed the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies in 2001. After the 2005 season, the franchise was sold to a California investor group and became the Stockton Thunder, affiliated with the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL.
Christopher John Luongo is an American ice hockey coach and former ice hockey player. Luongo played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators, and New York Islanders between 1991 and 1996. The rest of his career, which lasted from 1989 to 2004, was spent in various minor leagues, and then several years in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Internationally Luongo played for the American national team at three World Championships. After retiring from playing, Luongo turned to coaching, and has spent several years as an assistant coach at the American collegiate level.
The Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey were an NCAA Division I college ice hockey program that represented the University of Alabama in Huntsville. The program was discontinued in 2021 due to funding issues and lack of conference membership.
The 2009–10 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team represented the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The Chargers were coached by Danton Cole who was in his third season as head coach. His assistant coaches were Chris Luongo and John McCabe. The Chargers played their home games in the Von Braun Center, and were a member of College Hockey America.
The Alabama–Huntsville Chargers are the athletic teams that represent the University of Alabama in Huntsville, located in Huntsville, Alabama, in intercollegiate sports at the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Chargers have primarily competed in the Gulf South Conference since the 1993–94 academic year.
The 2010–11 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team represented the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The Chargers were coached by Chris Luongo who was in his first season as head coach. His assistant coaches were Mike Warde and Gavin Morgan. The Chargers played their home games in the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center, competed as an independent and finished with an overall record of 4–26–2.
The 2012–13 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team represents the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the 2012–13 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The Chargers are coached by Kurt Kleinendorst who is in his first season as head coach. His assistant coaches are Gavin Morgan and Tim Flynn. The Chargers play their home games in the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center and compete as an independent.
The 2013–14 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team represented the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the 2013–14 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The Chargers were coached by Mike Corbett who was in his first season as head coach. His assistant coaches were Gavin Morgan and Matty Thomas. The Chargers played their home games in the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center and competed for the first time in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Kārlis Zirnis is a Latvian former professional ice hockey player and coach. As of 2021, he is the director of player personnel for the Amarillo Wranglers in the North American Hockey League
The 2015–16 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team represented the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the 2015–16 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The Chargers were coached by Mike Corbett who was in his third season as head coach. His assistant coaches were Gavin Morgan and Matty Thomas. The Chargers played their home games in the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center and competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
The Birmingham Bulls are a professional ice hockey team in Pelham, Alabama, that began to play in the 2017–18 season as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The team is named after the previous Birmingham-area teams in the World Hockey Association and East Coast Hockey League.
Lance West is a Canadian ice hockey coach.
The 2016–17 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers ice hockey team represented the University of Alabama in Huntsville in the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The Chargers were coached by Mike Corbett who was in his fourth season as head coach. His assistant coaches were Gavin Morgan and Matty Thomas. The Chargers played their home games in the Propst Arena at the Von Braun Center and competed in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
The 2019-20 Alabama–Huntsville Chargers men's ice hockey season was the 35th season of play for the program, the 27th at the Division I level and the 7th in the WCHA conference. The Chargers represented the University of Alabama Huntsville and were coached by Mike Corbett, in his 7th season.