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.
Preseason Following the 2013-14 season, the Bloomington Thunder announced that they would cease operations as a professional franchise to field a junior team in the United States Hockey League.
In May 2014, the Mississippi Surge announced that they would suspend operations for the 2014-15 season.
In June 2014, the league approved the move of the Augusta Riverhawks to Macon, Georgia, with the team being rebranded the Macon Mayhem. The Mayhem will sit out the 2014-15 season, and will begin league play in the 2015-16 season.
Teams 2014-15 Southern Professional Hockey League Team City Arena Columbus Cottonmouths Columbus, Georgia Columbus Civic Center Fayetteville FireAntz Fayetteville, North Carolina Crown Complex Huntsville Havoc Huntsville, Alabama Von Braun Center Knoxville Ice Bears Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville Civic Coliseum Louisiana IceGators Lafayette, Louisiana Cajundome Mississippi RiverKings Southaven, Mississippi Landers Center Pensacola Ice Flyers Pensacola, Florida Pensacola Bay Center Peoria Rivermen Peoria, Illinois Carver Arena
Map of teams
Regular season The October 25, 2014 game between the Peoria Rivermen and the Huntsville Havoc was postponed after Huntsville player Justin Cseter fell onto Peoria's Dennis Sicard's skate, slashing his thigh early in the second period. The conclusion of the game was played on February 7, prior to a regularly scheduled game between the teams. Peoria won the completion of the October 25 game 3-1, but Huntsville won the regularly scheduled game also by the score of 3-1.
Standings Team Peoria Rivermen‡ 56 36 17 3 186 149 75 Columbus Cottonmouths 56 33 19 4 182 161 70 Pensacola Ice Flyers 56 32 18 6 179 148 70 Mississippi RiverKings 56 33 21 2 169 140 68 Knoxville Ice Bears 56 31 22 3 159 166 65 Louisiana IceGators 56 27 21 8 177 184 62 Fayetteville FireAntz 56 21 27 8 143 193 50 Huntsville Havoc 56 11 38 7 130 184 29
‡ William B. Coffey Trophy winners Advanced to playoffs
Attendance Team Total Games Average Peoria 113,710 28 4,061 Pensacola 110,632 28 3,951 Huntsville 100,381 28 3,585 Knoxville 98,408 28 3,514 Fayetteville 85,122 28 3,040 Columbus 82,290 28 2,938 Mississippi 71,711 28 2,561 Louisiana 65,433 28 2,336 League 727,687 224 3,248
President's Cup playoffs
Playoff bracket
Finals The best of three series would have been played with the Riverkings as home team. However, prior contractual obligations with the Riverkings home ice forced the championship games to be played in Knoxville. All times are local (EDT)
Awards The SPHL All-Rookie team was announced on April 1, 2015, the All-SPHL teams on April 2, the Defensemen of the Year on April 3, the Rookie of the Year on April 6, the Goaltender of the Year on April 7, the Coach of the Year on April 8, and the Most Valuable Player on April 9.
+ 2014–15 SPHL awards Award Recipient(s) Finalists President's Cup Knoxville Ice Bears Mississippi RiverKings William B. Coffey Trophy(Best regular-season record) Peoria Rivermen Easton Defenseman of the Year Andrew Randazzo (Mississippi) Louis Belisle (Columbus) Easton Rookie of the Year Bryce Williamson (Columbus) Kevin Murdock (Fayetteville)Trevor Hertz (Fayetteville) Sher-Wood Goaltender of the Year Kyle Rank (Peoria) Peter Di Salvo (Mississippi) Easton Coach of the Year Jean-Guy Trudel (Peoria) Derek Landmesser (Mississippi) Easton Most Valuable Player Matt Gingera (Columbus) Adam Pawlick (Pensacola) Kevin Swider Leading Scorer Award Adam Pawlick (Pensacola)
All-SPHL selections Position First Team Second Team All-Rookie GKyle Rank (Peoria)Peter Di Salvo (Mississippi)Kevin Murdock (Knoxville) DLouis Bélisle (Columbus)Stuart Stefan (Huntsville)Louis Bélisle (Columbus) DAndrew Randazzo (Mississippi)Jan Safar (Fayetteville)Robbie Donahoe (Knoxville) FMatt Whitehead (Mississippi)Ryan Salvis (Knoxville)Linden Bahm (Mississippi) FAdam Pawlick (Pensacola)Corey Banfield (Pensacola)Shawn Bates (Columbus) FMatt Gingera (Columbus)Bryce Williamson (Columbus)Bryce Williamson (Columbus)
References