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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.

     Federal Hockey League logo
   
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                           
xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx
  Carolina Thunderbirds logo   Corwall Nationals logo   Danville Dashers logo   North Shore Knights logo   Port Huron Prowlers logo  
  Carolina Thunderbirds   Cornwall Nationals   Danville Dashers
Champion
  North Shore Knights   Port Huron Prowlers  
                     
  Watertown Wolves logo                  
  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                           
xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx   xxx
  1000 Islands Privateers logo   Akwesasne Warriors logo   Baton Rouge Zydeco logo   Battle Creek Rumble Bees logo   Berkshire Battalion logo  
  1000 Islands Privateers
2010-11 to 2012-13
  Akwesasne Warriors
2010-11 to 2011-12
  Baton Rouge Zydeco
2023-24
  Battle Creek Rumble Bees
2019-20
  Berkshire Battalion
2014-15
 
                     
  Berlin River Drivers logo   Binghamton Black Bears logo   Blue Ridge Bobcats logo   Brewster Bulldogs logo   Brooklyn Aviators logo  
  Berlin River Drivers
2015-16 to 2016-17
  Binghamton Black Bears
2021-22 to 2023-24
  Blue Ridge Bobcats
2023-24
  Brewster Bulldogs
2015-16
  Brooklyn Aviators
2011-12
 
                     
  Broome County Barons logo   Cape Cod Bluefins logo   Carolina Thunderbirds logo   Columbus River Dragons logo   Corwall Nationals logo  
  Broome County Barons
2010-11
  Cape Cod Bluefins
2011-12 to 2012-13
  Carolina Thunderbirds
2017-18 to 2023-24
  Columbus River Dragons
2019-20 to 2023-24
  Cornwall Nationals
2016-17 to 2017-18
 
                     
  Danbury Hat Tricks logo   Danbury Titans logo   Danbury Whalers logo   Danville Dashers logo   Dayton Demolition logo  
  Danbury Hat Tricks
2019-20 to 2023-24
  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 logo   Delaware Federals logo   Delaware Thunder logo   Elmira Enforcers logo   Elmira Mammoth logo  
  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 logo   Mentor Ice Breakers logo   Mississippi Sea Wolves logo   Motor City Rockers logo   New Jersey Outlaws logo  
  Elmira River Sharks
2023-24
  Mentor Ice Breakers
2018-19 to 2019-20
  Mississippi Sea Wolves
2023-24
  Motor City Rockers
2023-24
  New Jersey Outlaws
2011-12
 
                     
  New York Aviators logo   New York Bluefins logo   North Shore Knights logo   Northern Federals logo   Pennsylvania Blues logo  
  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 logo   Rome Frenzy logo   Southwest Pennsylvania Magic logo   St. Clair Shores Fighting Saints logo   Steel City Warriors logo  
  Port Huron Prowlers
2015-16 to 2023-24
  Rome Frenzy
2010-11
  Southwest Pennsylvania Magic
2014-15
  St. Clair Shores Fighting Saints
2016-17
  Steel City Warriors
2014-15
 
                     
  Vermont Wild logo   Watertown Privateers logo   Watertown Wolves logo   Williamsport Outlaws logo      
  Vermont Wild
2011-12
  Watertown Privateers
2013-14
  Watertown Wolves
2014-15 to 2023-24
  Williamsport Outlaws
2012-13
     
                     
 
 
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Alabama Bullz logo, home & road jerseys, and secondary logo
 
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Federal Hockey League puck
 
Federal Hockey League logo Federal Prospects Hockey League logo
Federal Hockey League secondary logo Federal Prospects Hockey League logo 2018 to present
 
 
 
Contact Gene Crowley
Last update: January 23, 2024