Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs
| Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Roanoke, Virginia |
| League | Southern Professional Hockey League |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Home arena | Berglund Center |
| Colors | Blue, Gold, Red, White |
| Owner(s) | Bob McGinn |
| Head coach | Sam Ftorek |
| Media | The Roanoke Times |
| Franchise history | |
| 2009–2014 | Mississippi Surge |
| 2016–present | Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs |
| Championships | |
| Playoff championships | 1 (2010–11) |
The Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs are a professional ice hockey team set to begin play as a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League for the 2016–17 season. Based in Roanoke, Virginia, the Rail Yard Dawgs will play their home games at Berglund Center.
The Rail Yard Dawgs will be the fourth pro hockey team to call Roanoke home, following the Roanoke Valley Rebels of the Eastern Hockey League and later the Southern Hockey League (1970–1976), the Roanoke Express of the East Coast Hockey League (1993–2004) and the Roanoke Valley Vipers of the United Hockey League (2005–2006).
History
On October 20, 2015, it was announced that Bob McGinn had purchased the dormant Mississippi Surge franchise and would relocate the team to Roanoke for the 2016-17 season.[1][2] On November 19, the Rail Yard Dawgs name, logo and colors were officially announced.[3][4] On April 29, 2016, Sam Ftorek was announced the team's first head coach.
References
- ^ Berman, Mark (October 20, 2015). "Roanoke, hockey are 'a good match,' mayor says". Roanoke.com. The Roanoke Times. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- ^ "SPHL expanding to Roanoke, VA for 2016-2017 season". Southern Professional Hockey League. October 20, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- ^ McFarling, Aaron (November 19, 2015). "New hockey team will be called the Rail Yard Dawgs". Roanoke.com. The Roanoke Times. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
- ^ "New Roanoke SPHL team to be called Rail Yard Dawgs". Southern Professional Hockey League. November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
