History
The SPHL's history traces back to three other short-lived leagues. The Atlantic Coast Hockey League started play in the 2002–03 season. After its only season, the ACHL dissolved with member teams forming the nucleus for two rival leagues, the South East Hockey League and the World Hockey Association 2. After one season the SEHL and WHA2 disbanded, with their surviving teams rejoining with two expansion teams to form the SPHL, commencing with the 2004–05 season.
In 2009, the SPHL saw a large expansion as three new franchises in Biloxi, Mississippi, Lafayette, Louisiana and Pensacola, Florida, all three of which were former ECHL markets within the past five years that produced competitive teams, each of which either won the league's championship or regular season title. For the 2011–12 season, the league added 2-time Central Hockey League champions, the Mississippi RiverKings.
Read more about this topic: Southern Professional Hockey League
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