Fayetteville FireAntz
Encyclopedia
The Fayetteville FireAntz are a professional minor league
ice hockey
team based in Fayetteville, North Carolina
, U.S. They currently play in the Southern Professional Hockey League
(SPHL). They play their home games in the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum
.
The team, originally known as the Cape Fear Fireantz, began play in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the 2002–2003 season. After the league's collapse they joined the South East Hockey League
for the 2003–2004 season, and joined what would become the SPHL in 2005. Since their inception they won the 2007 SPHL championship in 2007 and have made a number of playoff appearances.
announced he was withdrawing his four teams from the unstable league to form the World Hockey Association 2
. The Fireantz and other remaining ACHL teams formed the South East Hockey League
. They played the SEHL for the 2003-2004 season, with Scott Rex serving as coach.
. The Fireantz joined the new league, changing their name to "Fayetteville FireAntz", abandoning the reference to the nearby Cape Fear River
. Derek Booth
took over as head coach in 2004. After two seasons behind the bench, coach Derek Booth left in 2006 to coach the Bloomington Prairie Thunder
of the United Hockey League
.
In the 2006–2007 season, under the guidance of head coach John Marks
, the FireAntz advanced to the finals of the league's post-season playoffs for the first time in team history. The first two games of the best-of-five final series were won by Fayetteville on the FireAntz' home ice, before the series returned to Jacksonville, Florida
, where the Jacksonville Barracudas
won Game 3 of the series by a 3-2 score. On April 18, 2007 the FireAntz won the fourth game of the series by a score of 5-3 to win the SPHL President's Cup. It was the first championship for the FireAntz, and Fayetteville's first professional sports championship in 51 years. John Marks resigned after the team's championship run to take the head coach position with the Pensacola Ice Pilots
of the East Coast Hockey League. Shortly after Marks' resignation the FireAntz announced that former Florida Seals
coach, Tommy Stewart
, had been hired to coach the team for the 2007-2008 season.
Tommy Stewart was let go after the 2010-2011 season and was soon replaced by Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees' assistant coach, Sean Gillam
.
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
, U.S. They currently play in the Southern Professional Hockey League
Southern Professional Hockey League
The Southern Professional Hockey League is a low-level professional ice hockey league based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with teams located in the southeastern United States.- History :...
(SPHL). They play their home games in the Cumberland County Crown Coliseum
Cumberland County Crown Coliseum
Cumberland County Crown Coliseum is an 8,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Fayetteville, North Carolina that opened in 1997. It is currently home to the Fayetteville FireAntz ice hockey team, the Fayetteville Force indoor football team, and formerly home to the Fayetteville Patriots of the NBA...
.
The team, originally known as the Cape Fear Fireantz, began play in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the 2002–2003 season. After the league's collapse they joined the South East Hockey League
South East Hockey League
The South East Hockey League was a minor ice hockey league formed in August 2003. It succeeded the short-lived Atlantic Coast Hockey League and had 4 teams for its first and only season. Jim Riggs was the commissioner....
for the 2003–2004 season, and joined what would become the SPHL in 2005. Since their inception they won the 2007 SPHL championship in 2007 and have made a number of playoff appearances.
ACHL and SEHL years
The team, then known as the Cape Fear Fireantz, joined the fledgling Atlantic Coast Hockey League for the 2002–2003 season. Their first coach was Shawn Ulrich. After the season David WaronkerDavid Waronker
David Waronker is a real estate investor, the President of CBD Real Estate Investment, L.L.C., and a lifelong ice hockey enthusiast. Waronker was the founder and commissioner of the World Hockey Association 2.- Biography :...
announced he was withdrawing his four teams from the unstable league to form the World Hockey Association 2
World Hockey Association 2
The World Hockey Association 2 was a minor professional ice hockey league created at the instigation of the organizers of the proposed recreated World Hockey Association to serve as its development league. The WHA2 teams — some of which had played the 2002–03 season in the Atlantic Coast...
. The Fireantz and other remaining ACHL teams formed the South East Hockey League
South East Hockey League
The South East Hockey League was a minor ice hockey league formed in August 2003. It succeeded the short-lived Atlantic Coast Hockey League and had 4 teams for its first and only season. Jim Riggs was the commissioner....
. They played the SEHL for the 2003-2004 season, with Scott Rex serving as coach.
SPHL
In 2004 teams from the SEHL and WHA2 joined together to form the league now known as the Southern Professional Hockey LeagueSouthern Professional Hockey League
The Southern Professional Hockey League is a low-level professional ice hockey league based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with teams located in the southeastern United States.- History :...
. The Fireantz joined the new league, changing their name to "Fayetteville FireAntz", abandoning the reference to the nearby Cape Fear River
Cape Fear River
The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...
. Derek Booth
Derek Booth
Derek Booth is a former professional ice hockey player and coach, and a former professional roller hockey player. After retiring as a player, Booth went on to become the head coach of the Fayetteville FireAntz in the SPHL, the Bloomington PrairieThunder in the UHL and the Bloomington...
took over as head coach in 2004. After two seasons behind the bench, coach Derek Booth left in 2006 to coach the Bloomington Prairie Thunder
Bloomington Prairie Thunder
The Bloomington PrairieThunder was a minor league professional ice hockey team based in Bloomington, Illinois. They were a member of the Central Hockey League in the Turner Conference. The team was originally a member of the International Hockey League before it merged into the CHL in 2010. They...
of the United Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
.
In the 2006–2007 season, under the guidance of head coach John Marks
John Marks (hockey player)
John Garrison Marks is a retired former professional ice hockey player. He is currently the head coach of the Winkler Flyers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League...
, the FireAntz advanced to the finals of the league's post-season playoffs for the first time in team history. The first two games of the best-of-five final series were won by Fayetteville on the FireAntz' home ice, before the series returned to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
, where the Jacksonville Barracudas
Jacksonville Barracudas
The Jacksonville Barracudas were a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They were established in 2002, and played in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League , the World Hockey Association 2 , and the Southern Professional Hockey League , before folding in 2008.They won...
won Game 3 of the series by a 3-2 score. On April 18, 2007 the FireAntz won the fourth game of the series by a score of 5-3 to win the SPHL President's Cup. It was the first championship for the FireAntz, and Fayetteville's first professional sports championship in 51 years. John Marks resigned after the team's championship run to take the head coach position with the Pensacola Ice Pilots
Pensacola Ice Pilots
The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the...
of the East Coast Hockey League. Shortly after Marks' resignation the FireAntz announced that former Florida Seals
Florida Seals
The Florida Seals was a minor league ice hockey franchise, a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League . Originally based in Orlando, Florida, they later moved to Kissimmee, Florida, a suburb thirty miles south of Orlando in Osceola County...
coach, Tommy Stewart
Tommy Stewart
Tommy Stewart is an American rock drummer, currently for the rock band Lo-Pro. He is probably best known for his stint with heavy metal band Godsmack...
, had been hired to coach the team for the 2007-2008 season.
Tommy Stewart was let go after the 2010-2011 season and was soon replaced by Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees' assistant coach, Sean Gillam
Sean Gillam
Sean Gillam is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 3rd round of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft....
.
Championships
| Year | League | Trophy |
|---|---|---|
| 2006–2007 | SPHL | President's Cup President's Cup (SPHL) The President's Cup is the trophy awarded annually to the playoff champions of the Southern Professional Hockey League.-Winners:... |
Honors
| 2004–2005 | SPHL | Derek Booth | Coach of the Year |
| 2004–2005 | SPHL | Chad Collins | Rookie of the Year |
| 2005–2006 | SPHL | Mike Clarke Mike Clarke (ice hockey b. 1979) Mike Clarke is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player.Clarke attended Elmira College where he played four seasons of NCAA III college hockey before turning professional to play in the inaugural 2003–04 season of the Elite Ice Hockey League with the Edinburgh Capitals.-Awards and... |
Defenseman of the Year |
| 2006–2007 | SPHL | Tim Velemirovich | Rookie of the Year |
| 2006–2007 | SPHL | Rob Sich | SPHL MVP |
| 2006–2007 | SPHL | John Marks | Coach of the Year |
| 2006–2007 | SPHL | Chad Collins | SPHL Playoff MVP |
2009-10 Roster
| # | Player | Catches | Date of birth | Place of birth | Height | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Bryan Bridges Bryan Bridges Bryan Bridges is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:Bridges played major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League for five seasons with the Kootenay Ice and Seattle Thunderbirds. While playing for the Ice 2001–02 he won the memorial cup... |
L | Dec. 27, 1985 | Victoria Victoria, British Columbia Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian... , British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... |
5' 11" | 170 lbs. |
| 35 | |
Guy St. Vincent | Dec. 26, 1982 | Ste. Anne, Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
6' 2" | 190 lbs. |
| # | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Height | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | |
Geoff Patton | L | Dec 2, 1984 | Lindsay Lindsay, Ontario Lindsay is a community of 19,361 people on the Scugog River in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-eastern Ontario, Canada. It is approximately west of Peterborough... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
6' 0" | 176 lbs. |
| 6 |  |
C Cory Hessler | R | May 19, 1977 | Mendota Heights Mendota Heights, Minnesota At the 2000 census, there were 11,434 people, 4,178 households and 3,237 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,222.2 per square mile . There were 4,252 housing units at an average density of 454.5 per square mile... , Minnesota Minnesota Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state... |
6' 1" | 205 lbs. |
| 7 | |
Sean Cryer | May 4, 1983 | Stoney Creek Stoney Creek, Ontario Stoney Creek is a community in Ontario, Canada.Note: This article will only deal with matters up to its amalgamation with Hamilton.-Geography and population:... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
6' 0" | 185 lbs. | |
| 8 | |
Shawn Connors | R | Jun. 30, 1988 | Chatham Chatham, Ontario Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
6' 0" | 223 lbs. |
| 26 | |
Lawne Snyder | R | Jul. 6, 1979 | Peterborough Peterborough, Ontario Peterborough is a city on the Otonabee River in southern Ontario, Canada, 125 kilometres northeast of Toronto. The population of the City of Peterborough was 74,898 as of the 2006 census, while the census metropolitan area has a population of 121,428 as of a 2009 estimate. It presently ranks... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
5' 9" | 190 lbs. |
| 27 | |
Craig Geerlinks | L | Oct 30, 1980 | St. Thomas St. Thomas, Ontario St. Thomas is a city in southern , Ontario, Canada. It is the seat for Elgin County and gained its city charter on March 4, 1881.-History:... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
6' 1" | 205 lbs. |
| # | Player | Shoots | Date of birth | Place of birth | Height | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | |
Murray Free | L | May 25, 1988 | Campbellford Campbellford, Ontario Campbellford is a small town in Northumberland County, Ontario, Canada, in the municipality of Trent Hills.Located at , Campbellford lies approximately midway between Toronto and Ottawa. It is situated on both the Trent-Severn Waterway and the Trans Canada Trail. It can be reached from Highway... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
5' 10" | 183 lbs. |
| 14 | |
Brett Needham | L | Aug. 19, 1985 | The Pas The Pas, Manitoba The Pas is a town in Manitoba, Canada, located in Division No. 21, Manitoba in the Northern Region, some 630 kilometres northwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, near the border of Saskatchewan. It is sometimes still called Paskoyac by locals as the first trading post was called Fort Paskoyac... , Manitoba Manitoba Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other... |
6' 2" | 215 lbs. |
| 15 | |
Nathan Daly | L | Apr. 5, 1984 | North Bay North Bay, Ontario North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
6' 0" | 175 lbs. |
| 21 | |
Keith Mason | L | Mar. 19, 1988 | Thunder Bay Thunder Bay, Ontario Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario, and the second most populous in Northern Ontario after Greater Sudbury... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
5' 9" | 194 lbs. |
| 22 | |
Brett McConnachie | R | Mar. 1, 1985 | Ajax Ajax, Ontario Ajax is a town in the Durham Region in the Greater Toronto Area.The town is named for the HMS Ajax a Royal Navy cruiser that served in World War II. Ajax is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and the... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
5' 11" | 200 lbs. |
| 23 | |
Emery Olauson | Jul. 23, 1981 | Canmore Canmore, Alberta Canmore is a town in Alberta, Canada, located approximately west of the City of Calgary near the southeast boundary of Banff National Park. It is located in the Bow Valley within Alberta's Rockies. The town shares a border with Kananaskis Country to the west and south and the Municipal District of... , Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
6' 2" | 195 lbs. | |
| 28 | |
Steve Cooke | Jul. 2, 1983 | Stirling, Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
5' 11" | 190 lbs. | |
| 42 | |
Kai Magnussen | R | Feb. 12, 1984 | Okotoks Okotoks, Alberta Okotoks is a town situated on the Sheep River, south of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The town is a member of the Calgary Regional Partnership, a cooperative of communities within the Calgary Region. Okotoks has become a popular bedroom community for the City of Calgary... , Alberta Alberta Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces... |
5' 10" | 190 lbs. |
| 48 | |
Chris Leveille | L | Aug. 30, 1987 | Guelph Guelph, Ontario Guelph is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly east of Waterloo and west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but is politically independent of it... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
5' 10" | 180 lbs. |
| 67 | |
Rob Sich | R | Feb. 28, 1984 | Windsor Windsor, Ontario Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
6' 0" | 200 lbs. |