The United States Premier Hockey League (“USPHL”) is pleased to announce a number of team changes and new franchises as follows:
• The Columbia Infantry have been sold to Shannon and Greg Albers. Shannon and Greg have been involved in the club for years and live locally. The team will continue to play out of the Flight Adventure Park in Irmo, S.C., near Columbia, S.C., and will remain in the Southeast Division;
• The former Buffalo Stampede have been sold to Michaela Conrad, Kyle Gagneau and Jacob Lainesse. They are relocating to Griff’s Ice House West in Holland, Mich., and have changed their name to the Fresh Coast Freeze. They will remain in the Great Lakes Division;
• The former Las Vegas Thunderbirds are changing their name to the Henderson Force and are changing their home arena to the America First Center in Henderson, Nev.;
• The Battle Creek Kernels will be moving from the Midwest East Division into the Great Lakes Division for the 2024-25 season, to better align with their location in Michigan;
• The former Casper Roughnecks will be relocating to Enoch, Utah, just outside of Cedar City, playing out of KJ’s Ice Barn in the 2024-25 season as the Iron County Yeti (originally founded as the Southern Utah Yeti). The Yeti will play in the Northwest Division;
• The Twin City Thunder will be adding a Premier team beginning in the 2024-25 season, in addition to their NCDC team. The Thunder will play in the New England Division;
• The West Chester Wolves will be adding a Premier team starting in the 2024-25 season, in addition to their NCDC team. The Wolves will play in the Atlantic division;
• The Mercer Chiefs will be adding a Premier team starting in the 2024-25 season, in addition to their NCDC team. The Chiefs will play in the Atlantic Division;
• The Bremerton Sockeyes, under the ownership of Andrew Eustis, will be adding a Premier team beginning in the 2024-25 season playing out of the Bremerton Ice Center, in Bremerton, Wash. The team will play in the Northwest Division;
• The Colorado Fighting Elk, under the ownership of Donovan Gault, will be adding a Premier team beginning in the 2024-25 season, playing out of Moffat County Ice Arena in Craig, Colo. The team will play in the Northwest Division, and;
• The South Shore Kings will be adding an Elite team beginning in the 2024-25 season playing out of Foxboro Sports Center in Foxboro, Mass. The team will play in the New England Division.
“We are thrilled to welcome these new owners to our Premier and Elite Division(s),” said Interim Commissioner, Murry N. Gunty. “These new ownership groups and relocations will serve to strengthen our footprint and create strong travel partners for our existing clubs. These announcements mark the end of the expansion phase of the USPHL. Other than rare, targeted growth, we are turning our attention inward to enhance our operations and to focus primarily on player development.”
About the United States Premier Hockey League
Founded in 2012, the United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL) is comprised of over 150 teams, fielding more than 20,000 players aged 8-21 in more than 100 organizations across the North, South, Midwest, West, and Canada. Our Junior Divisions consist of the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), a tuition-free, Tier 2 Junior hockey division and our Premier and Elite Divisions, all geared toward college and pro placement. Our youth and midget divisions (operated through the Tier 1 Hockey Federation) field full season 9U through 18U teams. The USPHL has sent over 8,000 players to all levels of college hockey including over 3,300 into NCAA college hockey and over 200 players into NCAA Division 1 hockey. The USPHL has also had 17 players who played in the NCDC drafted by NHL teams.
