Will Birmingham join the Federal Professional Hockey League?

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Will Birmingham join the Federal Professional Hockey League?

2017
Although it was not ever reported on at the time, Birmingham came very close to landing a team in the Federal Hockey League before their 2017-18 season.

The Federal Professional Hockey League, or FHL as they refer to themselves, is a professional hockey league that began play in 2010-11 with six teams. Franchises are located in Midwestern and Northeastern states.

In 2017, the FHL wanted to expand into the South and were looking at a number of cities as possibilities. Birmingham was among those cities.

The league was in negotiations with the city of Pelham to rent the Pelham Civic Complex Ice Arena, which was about to begin a major renovation. This renovation was taking place to lure a team to the city.

The FHL's lease had been agreed to in principal; a two year lease with an additional two year option.

The league had a president/general manager ready to go by March. A head coach had been hired as well. Offices in the PCC were being readied.

However, just as the FHL was on the verge of finalizing the lease, the city instead awarded a lease to Art Clarkson's new Southern Professional Hockey League team, the Birmingham Bulls.

In the months before, the SPHL was also trying to place a franchise in Birmingham, but were getting nowhere with officials at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Complex to rent the arena. Reportedly, Clarkson reached out to Pelham officials at the last minute and secured a lease at the FHL's expense.

October 2017

			2017-18 Federal Hockey League
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	Carolina Thunderbirds		Cornwall Nationals		Danville Dashers		North Shore Knights		Port Huron Prowlers


	Watertown Wolves

Epilogue
The FHL had just about everything in place. The team would be named the Alabama Bullz and team colors would be navy and yellow. A website and a season ticket plan were ready to go.

If they had been successful in securing the Birmingham market, the FHL would then go after Columbus, Georgia and Mississippi, possibly in Jackson and Tupelo.

Before the season started, the FHL did expand into the South with a team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

In July 2018, the Federal Professional Hockey League quietly rebranded the league the "Federal Prospects Hockey League", but will still refers to itself as the FHL.

Clarkson's Birmingham Bulls began Southern Professional Hockey League play in October of 2017. The league and the Bulls continue to play to this day.

			Teams of the Federal Prospects Hockey League
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	1000 Islands Privateers 2010-11 to 2012-13		Akwesasne Warriors 2010-11 to 2011-12		Athens Rock Lobsters 2024-25		Baton Rouge Zydeco 2023-24 to 2024-25		Battle Creek Rumble Bees 2019-20


	Berkshire Battalion 2014-15		Berlin River Drivers 2015-16 to 2016-17		Binghamton Black Bears 2021-22 to 2024-25		Blue Ridge Bobcats 2023-24 to 2024-25		Brewster Bulldogs 2015-16


	Brooklyn Aviators 2011-12		Broome County Barons 2010-11		Cape Cod Bluefins 2011-12 to 2012-13		Carolina Thunderbirds 2017-18 to 2024-25		Columbus River Dragons 2019-20 to 2024-25


	Cornwall Nationals 2016-17 to 2017-18		Danbury Hat Tricks 2019-20 to 2024-25		Danbury Titans 2015-16 to 2016-17		Danbury Whalers 2010-11 to 2014-15		Danville Dashers 2011-12 to 2019-20


	Dayton Demolition 2015-16		Dayton Demonz 2012-13 to 2014-15		Delaware Federals 2011-12		Delaware Thunder 2019-20 to 2022-23		Elmira Enforcers 2018-19 to 2020-21


	Elmira Mammoth 2022-23		Elmira River Sharks 2023-24		HC Venom 2024-25		Hudson Valley Venom 2024-25		Mentor Ice Breakers 2018-19 to 2019-20


	Mississippi Sea Wolves 2023-24 to 2024-25		Monroe Moccasins 2024-25		Motor City Rockers 2023-24 to 2024-25		New Jersey Outlaws 2011-12		New York Aviators 2010-11


	New York Bluefins 2012-13		North Shore Knights 2017-18		Northern Federals 2017-18		Pennsylvania Blues 2012-13		Port Huron Prowlers 2015-16 to 2024-25


	Rome Frenzy 2010-11		Southwest Pennsylvania Magic 2014-15		St. Clair Shores Fighting Saints 2016-17		Steel City Warriors 2014-15		Vermont Wild 2011-12


	Watertown Privateers 2013-14		Watertown Wolves 2014-15 to 2024-25		Williamsport Outlaws 2012-13