Hockey Returning to Roanoke

Southern Professional Hockey League logo with bold white "SPHL" letters over a navy shield, a red-and-white streak, and a hockey puck.

SPECTRA VENUE MANAGEMENT AND BREAKAWAY SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE HOCKEY RETURNING TO BERGLUND CENTER IN 2016!

October 20, 2015 (Roanoke, VA) – Spectra Venue Management, operators of Berglund Center, and Breakaway Sports & Entertainment, LLC, today announced professional hockey would be returning to Roanoke in the fall of 2016 as part of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL).

Mayor David Bowers and SPHL President Jim Combs were in attendance at a news conference to introduce the team’s ownership group. Majority owner, Breakaway Sports and Entertainment, LLC, includes President Bob McGinn and his sons, Jamie, Tye and Brock, all three of whom are currently under NHL contracts with Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Carolina, respectively. In addition to the McGinn family, premier sports artist Rob MacDougall, SPHL Chairman Tim Kerr, and several local investors are part of the group bringing hockey back to Roanoke.

“There is a strong fan base for hockey here in Roanoke and the SPHL is the best-kept secret in hockey,” McGinn said. “We have a city and a league that wants us and we definitely want to be in Roanoke. Our five local owners were a must-have to complete our business plan and my family and I can’t wait to drop the puck in a renovated facility that’s in a welcoming community to fill a much-needed niche in sports and entertainment.”

McGinn, a retired sales and marketing manager from Toronto, Ontario, brings his passion for hockey to owning a professional team with a goal to grow the game in Roanoke and win championships.

More information about the team, including the name and logo, will be announced at a press conference to be held on the Berglund Center ice Nov. 19 at 10 a.m. The press conference is open to the public.

The team is now taking season ticket inquiries at this link: http://www.thesphl.com/view/thesphl/roanoke-hockey.

The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL), now in its 12th season, will have nine teams taking the ice when the regular season opens on Oct. 23.

The defending President’s Cup Champion Knoxville (TN) Ice Bears, Columbus (GA) Cottonmouths, Fayetteville (NC) FireAntz, Huntsville (AL) Havoc;  (Lafayette) Louisiana IceGators, Macon (GA) Mayhem; (Southaven) Mississippi RiverKings; Pensacola (FL) Ice Flyers and Peoria (IL) Rivermen.

 For more information on the Southern Professional Hockey League, check out their website at www.thesphl.com.

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