Pensacola Ice Flyers
OUR TEAM
The Pensacola Ice Flyers were formed in the summer of 2009, succeeding the Ice Pilots who were a part of the ECHL since 1996. They began playing hockey at the Pensacola Bay Center in the 2009-10 season as a member team of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). Since then, the Ice Flyers have grown to become one of the premier teams in the league with multiple championships, high attendance numbers and a significant community impact.
They first reached the SPHL Finals in 2012, and although they lost to the Columbus Cottonmouths that season, it was the start of an amazing run. A year later, the Ice Flyers won their first SPHL championship, and won it on home ice at The Hangar defeating the Huntsville Havoc. This was Pensacola hockey’s first championship and Pensacola’s first professional team championship. In 2014, they went on a tremendous streak to finish the season and continued their success in the playoffs, winning back-to-back titles defeating Columbus. In 2016, the Ice Flyers were back in the SPHL Finals, this time against their biggest rival, the Peoria Rivermen. Up 2-0 in the best of five series, the Ice Flyers were on home ice when the most iconic goal in Pensacola hockey history and SPHL history was scored. The go-ahead, game-winning and championship-clinching goal was scored with :00.1 second remaining, sending the Bay Center, Pensacola and Escambia County into a complete frenzy. The Ice Flyers were crowned champions three times in four seasons.
On March 15, 2020, the SPHL Board of Governors decided to postpone the season, and then ultimately cancelling the season on March 18, 2020, leaving no champion for that season. The 2020-21 season saw only the southern-based teams being able to play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the truncated, 42-game season, the Ice Flyers finished healthy and on a role. They ended up upsetting the top-seed, Macon Mayhem, in the finals. This gave the Ice Flyers their fourth SPHL championship in eight seasons that the President’s Cup was contested.
The Ice Flyers are owned by Greg Harris who took over the team in 2012. Their four championships are tied for the most in league history. They continually rank in the top three in attendance amongst the league and just celebrated 25 years of hockey in Pensacola with the combined Ice Pilots and Ice Flyers franchises.
The economic impact the Ice Flyers brings to Escambia County is upwards of $20 million each season. They have also impacted the local charities through donations, special-themed jerseys, designated theme nights and utilizing their platform and audience to spread awareness. Local charities that the Ice Flyers have supported are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, Autism Pensacola, Pensacola Humane Society, Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, Gulf Coast Kids House and USO Northwest Florida. They are also large supporters of the local active duty and veterans of the military, hosting three Military Appreciation Nights and one Veterans Appreciation Night each season while also donating large numbers of tickets to the military and their families.
4-Time SPHL Champions
Our Success
May 15, 2021
President's Cup Champions
The Ice Flyers won their 4th championship and capped off a season no one will ever forget. During the COVID season of 2020-21, the Ice Flyers battled through postponed games due to COVID outbreaks, played in hockey's first 4-on-4 regular season game, seating capacity restrictions, inability to go and do anything in public, COVID tests every week, and they still came out on top, raising the President's Cup and tying the league lead in most cups by a franchise.
May 5, 2016
President's Cup Champions
It was and still is the most iconic goal scored in not only Ice Flyers history, but SPHL history as well. With :00.1 on the clock, Josh Cousineau scored the championship-clinching goal as the Ice Flyers won their 3rd championship in 4 years. It was a matchup of the #1 seed Peoria Rivermen and the #2 seed Ice Flyers, and it was a sweep of the Rivermen in the best of 5 series that was won on home ice in front of nearly 5,000 fans.
April 12, 2014
President's Cup Champions
After winning the Regular Season Championship, the Ice Flyers were the clear favorite to win it all, and they did it in deciding fashion, beating the Columbus Cottonmouths 9-1 and 5-1 in the SPHL Finals. This was the Ice Flyers second straight championship and first under new Head Coach, Rod Aldoff. His dominating team was comprised of 11 rookies out of the 20-man roster which would set the franchise up for its future success.
April 14, 2013
President's Cup Champions
After getting a taste of the Finals in 2012, the Ice Flyers made it back in 2013 and won their first SPHL championship and brought the city of Pensacola and Escambia County their first professional team championship. They defeated the Huntsville Havoc in Game 1 2-1 in a thrilling overtime in Pensacola. The Havoc scored with 9 seconds left in Game 2 to force a deciding Game 3. A 2-0 shoutout performance clinched the President's Cup, and it was fitting to celebrate the franchise's and city's first in front of the home crowd.
