Miami Screaming Eagles

The Miami Screaming Eagles were Miami's first attempt at a professional ice hockey team.

Businessman Herb Martin bought a franchise in the World Hockey Association in 1972. The Eagles were the first to sign players from NHL clubs, such as Bernie Parent from the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins standout Derek Sanderson. The most likely home arena for the Eagles, had they chosen to stay in Miami, would have been the then-new Hollywood Sportatorium, which had been constructed for that purpose; Eagles ownership, however, felt the arena to be substandard for professional sports as it had no air conditioning and an open roof, and there was no other suitable arena in existence at the time in the region. Instead, the team moved to Philadelphia and became the Philadelphia Blazers before playing a single game. After one season, the franchise was moved to Vancouver and then to Calgary in 1975 before folding in 1977.

Two decades later, Miami was awarded the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers franchise.

Although they never iced a team, replicas of the projected Screaming Eagles jersey continue to sell along with those of actual WHA teams.