2020-21 SPHL Season Thread

[Atlantian]

Lotz was suspended for 8 games for that brutal slash.

 

[JMCx4]

Lotz was suspended for 8 games for that brutal slash.

8 games off in SPHL play this season oughta bring him back just in time for the 2021-22 season.

 

[JMCx4]

Some individual player accomplishments, as the SPHL skates through Weekend #8 of their shortened (and short-handed) 2020-21 season ...

 

[Atlantian]

A letter sent out by Knoxville says to expect a new expansion team coming soon to bring the league total to 12 teams.

 

[JMCx4]

But before they reach the Promised Land of Expansion, here's our occasional looks at the 2020-21 Irregular Season ...

Awards & Leaders ...

And current standings ...

 

[JMCx4]

With just three weeks to go in the regular season (to be followed by a 4-outta 5 team playoff scheme), the 2020-21 SPHL is a story of rans & also rans ...

 

[JMCx4]

From: The Macon Mayhem > News

MAYHEM SECURE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP WITH WIN OVER FLYERS

April 17, 2021

MACON, GA – Wake up and smell the Coffey! Coming into the season series-finale against Pensacola, the Macon Mayhem found themselves in a position to secure the William B. Coffey Trophy as Regular Season Champions. Facing off one last time against the Ice Flyers, who the Mayhem stand 9-0-2 against, the Mayhem came in with six-straight wins overall and five-straight over Pensacola. ...

Ryan Smith and Dean Balsamo would score their ninth’s of the season through the course of the (third) period, and the Ice Flyers would see goals from Jordan Ernst and Darren McCormick to draw the game close, but it would ultimately be the Mayhem who would come away and close out with a 5-3 win.

With the victory, the Macon Mayhem have clinched the Regular Season Championship with the William B. Coffey Trophy, thanks to a tiebreaker over Knoxville. This is the second-time in Mayhem team history they’ve earned the Regular Season Championship, coming for the first time since the 2016-17 season – also under Coach Kevin Kerr. Macon finishes their season-series against Pensacola 10-0-2, and very well may see them in the first round of the playoffs. With the championship, the Mayhem secure the #1 seed in the SPHL Post-Season, only weeks away. ...

Read more at: MAYHEM SECURE REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP WITH WIN OVER FLYERS

 

[JMCx4]

Friday night's home victory by the Pensacola Ice Flyers over the two-time defending champion (with a 2020 COVID asterisk) Huntsville Havoc earned P'cola the fourth & final 2021 playoff spot. The Birmingham Bulls are the odd men out of the five active teams this season. The League's remaining 6 regular season games will determine the final seeding for the SPHL playoffs.

 

[JMCx4]

This is the final day of play in the 2020-21 SPHL irregular season, with Pensacola visiting Huntsville (4-4 in head-to-heads) @ 5:00 p.m. Central to wrap it up. See below the playoff match-ups & scheduling possibilities, depending on the outcome of tonight's game ...

• If Pensacola wins: 1) Macon vs. 4) Huntsville and 2) Knoxville vs. 3) Pensacola
• If Huntsville wins: 1) Macon vs. 4) Pensacola and 2) Knoxville vs. 3) Huntsville

NOTE: Even if the Havoc wins in OT resulting in a season standings tie at 41 points, they own the tie-breaker advantage with 20 regular season wins to the Ice Flyer's 17 wins.

Macon Semifinals Schedule:
Game 1 - Thursday night in Huntsville at 7:00 PM CDT -or- Friday night in Pensacola at 7:35 PM CDT
Game 2 - Saturday night in Macon at 6:30 PM EDT
Game 3 - (if necessary) Sunday afternoon in Macon at 4:00 PM EDT

Knoxville Semifinals Schedule:
Game 1 - Wednesday night in Knoxville at 7:35 PM EDT
Game 2 - Thursday night in Huntsville at 7:00 PM CDT -or- Friday night in Pensacola at 7:35 PM CDT
Game 3 - (if necessary) in Knoxville (start time TBA)

 

[JMCx4]

Pensy secures the #3 seed with a 4-2 victory over the Havoc in Hu'ville. Ice Flyers end their irregular season with a .500 record.

 

[JMCx4]

From: The Sin Bin > SPHL

It’s Time for SPHL Playoff Predictions

by Brad Harrison
May 4, 2021

Four teams. Only one of them will earn the right to be called a President’s Cup Champion for the 2020-21 season.

The SPHL President’s Cup Playoffs start this week with Knoxville taking on Pensacola and Macon playing Huntsville.

The winners of those two best-of-three series will then meet in the President’s Cup Finals.

But who’ll really end up being the champion? We’re here to make predictions ...

Read the TSB Staff Predictions at: It’s Time for SPHL Playoff Predictions - The Sin Bin

 

[JMCx4]

Pensacola defeats Knoxville 5-2 in Game #1. The final score would've been much more lopsided had the Ice Bears not brought in Peter Di Salvo to replace starter Austyn Roudebush after the 4th Ice Flyers' goal. Game #2 Friday night, with the Flyers positioned to sweep the best-of-3 semifinals series.

 

[JMCx4]

And in the other semifinal series, Macon defeats Huntsville in Alabama 4-1 to take Game #1. First place Mayhem with a dominant offensive game, making it tough for the Havoc to generate much offense themselves after the 1st period. Things got ugly in the final minute, so expect to see a continuation on Saturday night in Georgia.

 

[Atlantian]

And in the other semifinal series, Macon defeats Huntsville in Alabama 4-1 to take Game #1. First place Mayhem with a dominant offensive game, making it tough for the Havoc to generate much offense themselves after the 1st period. Things got ugly in the final minute, so expect to see a continuation on Saturday night in Georgia.

Already got my tickets. Making the trip down for my first SPHL game. Arena is open to 100% capacity but knowing Macon they won’t hit it

 

[JMCx4]

Already got my tickets. Making the trip down for my first SPHL game. Arena is open to 100% capacity but knowing Macon they won’t hit it

This from the Mayhem announcement of their 1st round games: "... with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted and vaccinations becoming widely available across Middle Georgia, the Macon Coliseum will be opened to 100% capacity for the playoffs. However, socially distant seating will still remain available upon request to the Mayhem front office (contact information listed below). Masks will still be required." This leads me to believe they don't truly expect a full house, and (in the event of a wave of enthusiasm after last night's Game #1 victory) they will limit ticket sales to accommodate some number of "pod" areas within the Centreplex Coliseum seating horseshoe. That arena has been intriguing architecturally to me since I first saw interior photos; I hope to visit someday. Have a safe & enjoyable trip to The Heart of Georgia.

 

[Atlantian]

The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeat the Knoxville IceBears to advance to the SPHL finals. Their opponent could (hopefully) be decided tomorrow night as Macon plays Huntsville. But never count the defending champs out.

 

[JMCx4]

The Pensacola Ice Flyers defeat the Knoxville IceBears to advance to the SPHL finals. Their opponent could (hopefully) be decided tomorrow night as Macon plays Huntsville. But never count the defending champs out.

Game summary from TSB ... Ice Flyers Bound For Finals - The Sin Bin

 

[Atlantian]

Here at the Macon Huntsville game. 0-0 after 1. Huntsville goalie with an absolutely insane save to keep it scoreless. Everyone in the stadium thought it was in. All 500 or so. You’d never know it was 100% capacity in the Centreplex

 

[JMCx4]

Macon sweeps Huntsville with a 2-1 victory in Game #2. Mayhem vs. Ice Flyers in the Finals.

ETA: Pensacola will host Game #1 of the 2021 President's Cup Finals on Friday, May 14.

 

[JMCx4]

The League wants to put this season behind it ...

The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) on Saturday announced the schedule for the best-of-three 2021 President’s Cup Finals:

#1 Macon Mayhem vs. #3 Pensacola Ice Flyers
Game 1 – Friday, May 14 at Pensacola 7:05 pm (CT)
Game 2 – Saturday, May 15 at Macon (ETA: 7:30 pm ET)
Game 3 – Sunday, May 16 at Macon 4:00 pm (ET) (if necessary)

All President’s Cup Finals games can be seen on SPHL TV, powered by HockeyTV, and are included free with the SPHL Season Pass.

 

[JMCx4]

From: The Pensacola Ice Flyers > News

Ice Flyers Play in Championship for Fifth Time, Seeking Fourth League Title

Pensacola, Fla. (May 13, 2021) – It has been five years since the Ice Flyers have played for an SPHL league championship, but on Friday, the puck will drop at the Pensacola Bay Center for Game 1 as they face off against the Macon Mayhem in the SPHL President’s Cup championship series. ...

The Ice Flyers opponent is the Macon Mayhem who won the regular season and swept the fourth seed Huntsville Havoc to advance. The Knoxville Ice Bears were the Ice Flyers’ opponent in the previous round and were the second seed, however the Ice Flyers took Game 1 in Knoxville 5-2 and then 4-2 in Pensacola for Game 2. Both games saw the Ice Flyers down 2-1 before launching a comeback and taking the best-of-three series. ...

In 2012, the Ice Flyers came into the playoffs and surprised everyone, making it to the finals before losing out to the Columbus Cottonmouths. The following season, they entered the playoffs as the third seed and won their first championship and Pensacola’s first pro team championship defeating the Huntsville Havoc.

In 2014, they were back in familiar territory but this time as the #1 seed. That year, they became the second SPHL team to win back-to-back championships and getting revenge on the Columbus Cottonmouths. Then in 2016, they faced their biggest rival, the Peoria Rivermen, on home ice and scored with :00.1 remaining to win their third championship in four years. ...

Read more at: Ice Flyers Play in Championship for Fifth Time, Seeking Fourth League Title

 

[JMCx4]

From: The Pensacola (FL) News Journal > Sports

Ice Flyers ready to face Macon Mayhem in Game 1 of SPHL championship series

Bill Vilona
Special to the News Journal
Published 3:30 p.m. CT May 13. 2021

During the roughest point of his team's season, Pensacola Ice Flyers coach Rod Aldoff maintained belief a change was near.

His faith has been rewarded.

The Ice Flyers peaked at the right moment, resulting in a chance to win another Southern Professional Hockey League championship when the President's Cup Finals begin with Game 1 Friday night at the Pensacola Bay Center against the Macon Mayhem.

"This is where we expected to be and came here to win this thing," said Aldoff, who has led the Ice Flyers to championship titles all three times his team reached the finals. "We're happy to be here in the finals, be in this position, but we're not satisfied unless we win this thing." ...

Read more at: Ice Flyers to face Macon Mayhem in Game 1 of SPHL championship series

 

[JMCx4]

From: WEAR-TV 3 > Sports > Ice Flyers

Pensacola Ice Flyers prepare for championship series against Macon
by Dan Shugart
Thursday, May 13th 2021

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The Pensacola Ice Flyers are in the League Championship Series for the first time in five years.

In 2016, they won their third title in a four-year stretch.

The Flyers host the Macon Mayhem Friday night in Game One of their best-of-three series. Games Two and Three would be in Macon on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday’s game is not only a championship series opener, it’s the last home game of the year. And the most important. ...

It's a time of year for goaltending and special teams. Both Macon and Pensacola have been spectacular in both areas, especially recently. And experience pays at a premium at this time of year. The Flyers' line-up is loaded with leaders who've been here before, which can be big during the inevitable emotional swings of a playoff hockey game.

Defenseman Cam Bakker explains how experience can pay off.

"Capitalize when we have that momentum," he said. "And then, when we don't have the momentum, it's just knowing that, 'Hey, they're coming at us, so we gotta buckle down and weather the storm, if you will. I think, mentally, the experience helps know that you're going to get through it." ...

Read & See more at: Pensacola Ice Flyers prepare for championship series against Macon

 

[JMCx4]

Courtesy of The Sin Bin ... Road to the Finals: Macon Mayhem

 

[JMCx4]

Final Score in Game #1 = Pensacola Ice Flyers 4 - Macon Mayhem 2. Alec Hagaman & Brennan Blaszczak with two goals each for Pensy, and goalie Jake Kupsky played strong & confidently. Macon played well, but always from behind, with goals from Mason Baptista & Casey Johnson. Mayhem goalie Jake Theut played tentatively, but the goals against him were all solid plays.

Series switches to Macon, for Game #2 on Saturday night and Game #3 (as needed) on Sunday afternoon.