The 2004–05 Southern Professional Hockey League season was the first season of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The regular season began October 29, 2004, and ended April 1, 2005, after a 56-game regular season and a six-team playoff. The Columbus Cottonmouths won the first SPHL championship.
Teams 2004-05 Southern Professional Hockey League Team City Arena Asheville Aces Asheville, North Carolina Asheville Civic Center Columbus Cottonmouths Columbus, Georgia Columbus Civic Center Fayetteville FireAntz Fayetteville, North Carolina Cumberland County Crown Coliseum Huntsville Havoc Huntsville, Alabama Von Braun Center Jacksonville Barracudas Jacksonville, Florida Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Knoxville Ice Bears Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville Civic Auditorium and Coliseum Macon Trax Macon, Georgia Macon Coliseum Winston-Salem Polar Twins Winston-Salem, North Carolina LJVM Coliseum Annex
Map of teams
Regular season
Final standings Team Knoxville Ice Bears‡ 56 34 22 235 185 68 Macon Trax 56 33 23 220 199 66 Jacksonville Barracudas 56 33 23 230 195 66 Fayetteville FireAntz 56 32 24 226 158 64 Columbus Cottonmouths 56 30 26 224 200 60 Huntsville Havoc 56 29 27 183 181 58 Asheville Aces 56 19 37 182 256 38 Winston-Salem Polar Twins 56 14 42 147 300 28
‡ Commissioner's Cup winners Advanced to playoffs
Attendance Team Total Games Average Knoxville 93,564 28 3,341 Fayetteville 85,744 28 3,062 Huntsville 75,978 28 2,713 Columbus 73,063 28 2,609 Jacksonville 63,542 28 2,269 Asheville 59,901 28 2,139 Macon 53,082 28 1,895 Winston-Salem 41,816 28 1,493
President's Cup playoffs
Quarterfinals Note: game-winning goal scorer indicated in italics
(1) Knoxville Ice Bears and (2) Macon Trax The Knoxville Ice Bears and the Macon trax get byes for the Quarter Finals round of the playoffs. The teams will be reseeded for the Simi Finals round.
(3) Jacksonville Barracudas vs. (6) Huntsville Havoc
Game-by-GameScoreJacksonville goalsHuntsville goalsWinning goalie1March 23at Jacksonville 2, Huntsville 1 Brad Federenko, Jason SilverthronJeff DamsKelly ShieldsJacksonville win series 1–0
(4) Fayetteville FireAntz vs. (5) Columbus Cottonmouths
Game-by-GameScoreFayetteville goalsColumbus goalsWinning goalie1March 23at Fayetteville 2, Columbus 4 Chad Peck, George NistasRyan Haggarty, Tylor Keller, Daryl Moor, Tim GreenChad RycroftColumbus win series 1–0
Semifinals Note: game-winning goal scorer indicated in italics
(1) Knoxville Ice Bears vs. (5) Columbus Cottonmouths
Game-by-GameScoreKnoxville goalsColumbus goalsWinning goalie1March 25at Knoxville 2, Columbus 4 David Bagley, Doug SearleOrrin Hergott, Tylor Keller, Ryan Haggarty 2Chad Rycroft2March 27at Columbus 3, Knoxville 2 Chris Bodnar, Craig DesjarlaisCraig Stahl 2, Orrin HergottChad RycroftColumbus win series 2–0 Hergott 2, Haggarty 2, Stahl 2
(2) Macon Trax vs. (3) Jacksonville Barracudas
Game-by-GameScoreMacon goalsJacksonville goalsWinning goalie1March 25at Jacksonville 1, Macon 2 Craig Miller, Casey HandrahanJason SilverthornMark Cairns2March 26at Macon 3, Jacksonville 4 John Gurskis 2, Steve ZorykJoe Koslakiewicz 2, Brad Federenko 2Kelly Shields3March 27at Macon 7, Jacksonville 1 Edan Welch, Ryan Rivard, Steve Zoryk 2, Lou Dimasi, Mark Allen, David DeevesBrent RumbleKelly ShieldsMacon win series 2–1 Zork 3, Koslakiewicz 2, Federenko 2
Finals
Awards The Coach of the Year award was announced on March 21, 2005, followed by the All-Star team on March 22, Goalie of the Year on March 23, Defenseman of the Year on March 24, and MVP and Rookie of the Year on March 25.
President's Cup: Columbus Cottonmouths Commissioner's Cup: Knoxville Ice Bears League MVP: Kevin Swider (Knoxville) Rookie of the Year: Chad Collins (Fayetteville) Defenseman of the Year: Curtis Menzul (Knoxville) Goalie of the Year: Chad Collins (Fayetteville) Coach of the Year: Derek Booth (Fayetteville)
All-Star selections All-Stars F Brent Rumble (Jacksonville) F Kevin Swider (Knoxville) F K.J. Vorhees (Knoxville) D Ryan Aikia (Columbus) D Curtis Menzul (Knoxville) G Chad Collins (Fayetteville)
References