World Hockey Association 2
Encyclopedia
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 Hockey League
— were all in the southeastern United States
. David Waronker
was the league's founder and also served as the league's commissioner.
The WHA2 operated in the 2003–2004 season only, after which (due to a falling-out with the parent organization) it was served a cease-and-desist from the WHA and ceased operations. David Waronker was credited with both the founding and collapse of the league. In addition he owned or co-owned all of the teams in the league. Its surviving teams merged with survivors of the South East Hockey League
to form the Southern Professional Hockey League
for the 2004–2005 season.
The Jacksonville Barracudas
won the WHA2's first and only President's Cup. Jacksonville also hosted the first and only WHA2 All-Star Game.
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...
league created at the instigation of the organizers of the proposed recreated World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association (proposed)
The World Hockey Association was a proposed professional hockey league intended to compete with the established National Hockey League during the 2004–05 NHL lockout...
to serve as its development league. The WHA2 teams — some of which had played the 2002–03 season in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League
Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002)
The Atlantic Coast Hockey League was a professional minor league ice hockey league based in the United States. The second league to bear the name Atlantic Coast Hockey League, it operated for only one season, 2002–2003, before its franchises split into two new leagues.-History:The 2002 incarnation...
— were all in the southeastern United States
Southeastern United States
The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....
. David Waronker
David 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 :...
was the league's founder and also served as the league's commissioner.
The WHA2 operated in the 2003–2004 season only, after which (due to a falling-out with the parent organization) it was served a cease-and-desist from the WHA and ceased operations. David Waronker was credited with both the founding and collapse of the league. In addition he owned or co-owned all of the teams in the league. Its surviving teams merged with survivors of 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....
to form 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 :...
for the 2004–2005 season.
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 the WHA2's first and only President's Cup. Jacksonville also hosted the first and only WHA2 All-Star Game.
Teams
- Orlando Seals (became the Florida SealsFlorida SealsThe 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...
in the 2005–06 SPHL season) - Jacksonville BarracudasJacksonville BarracudasThe 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...
(moved to SPHL for 2004–05) - Macon TraxMacon TraxThe Macon Trax were a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Macon, Georgia. They played in the low minor leagues Atlantic Coast Hockey League , World Hockey Association 2 and Southern Professional Hockey League , playing their home games at the Macon Coliseum...
(moved to SPHL for 2004–05) - Miami ManateesMiami ManateesThe Miami Manatees were a minor league ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association 2. The Manatees originally played their home games at Miami Arena; however, owner David Waronker had an out clause in the teams lease that stated that if the team's attendance average was under 1,500 after 20 of...
(folded after 2003–04) - Lakeland Loggerheads (folded after 2003–04)
- Alabama SlammersAlabama SlammersThe Alabama Slammers were a professional ice hockey team. They were a member of the World Hockey Association 2, and played their home games at Pelham Civic Center in Pelham, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. The Slammers were one of eight minor league hockey teams purchased or founded by real...
(folded after 2003–04)
Regular season
| GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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... |
59 | 40 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 233 | 175 | 81 |
| Alabama Slammers Alabama Slammers The Alabama Slammers were a professional ice hockey team. They were a member of the World Hockey Association 2, and played their home games at Pelham Civic Center in Pelham, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. The Slammers were one of eight minor league hockey teams purchased or founded by real... |
58 | 34 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 224 | 196 | 72 |
| Macon Trax Macon Trax The Macon Trax were a minor-league professional ice hockey team based in Macon, Georgia. They played in the low minor leagues Atlantic Coast Hockey League , World Hockey Association 2 and Southern Professional Hockey League , playing their home games at the Macon Coliseum... |
56 | 30 | 20 | 3 | 3 | 218 | 193 | 66 |
| Orlando 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... |
57 | 27 | 25 | 2 | 3 | 198 | 197 | 59 |
| Miami Manatees Miami Manatees The Miami Manatees were a minor league ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association 2. The Manatees originally played their home games at Miami Arena; however, owner David Waronker had an out clause in the teams lease that stated that if the team's attendance average was under 1,500 after 20 of... |
48 | 24 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 215 | 213 | 53 |
| Lakeland Loggerheads | 58 | 13 | 38 | 4 | 3 | 181 | 295 | 33 |