Augusta RiverHawks

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.

Augusta RiverHawks
CityAugusta, Georgia
LeagueSouthern Professional Hockey League
Operated2010–2013
Home arenaJames Brown Arena
ColorsRed, White, Blue
     
Owner(s)Bob & Diane Kerzner
Franchise history
2010–2013Augusta RiverHawks
2015–presentMacon Mayhem
Championships
Regular season titles1 2011–12

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. 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.[6]

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.[7][8]

References
  1. "Kerzner, Richard bring hockey back to Augusta". Pro Hockey News. February 10, 2010.
  2. "Hockey Returning To Augusta, GA In 2010". TheSPHL.com. February 3, 2010. Archived from the original on 6 February 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  3. Byler, Billy (March 13, 2010). "Fans pick River Hawks as hockey team's nickname". Augusta Chronicle. Archived from the original on 5 November 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. "Augusta RiverHawks won't be playing hockey in 2013-14". WRDW. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
  7. Seibel, Ron. "Macon Mayhem to hit ice in 2015". Macon Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
  8. "SPHL Approves RiverHawks' Move To Macon, GA For 2015-2016 Season". The SPHL. Retrieved 25 June 2014.


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