Pee Dee Ice Cats join SPHL, expansion continues for 2026-27 season
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 2:50 AM
Last updated Jun 2, 2026
The Pee Dee Ice Cats will join the SPHL for the 2026-27 season after leaving the FPHL. The move follows the addition of the Athens Rock Lobsters, which also transitioned from the FPHL to the SPHL. The SPHL is poised for further expansion, potentially reaching 13 teams by 2027-28. Bart Rogers, co-owner of the Peoria Rivermen, cited a favorable operating model as a reason for this influx. The FPHL continues to undergo changes with teams moving and others entering new markets, including California.
- •Pee Dee Ice Cats leave FPHL for SPHL.
- •Athens Rock Lobsters joined SPHL last month.
- •SPHL could expand to 13 teams by 2027-28.
- •Bart Rogers highlights operational efficiency as a key factor.
- •FPHL faces identity challenges with new California teams.
- 2:50 AMYahoo Sports — Long-ago Peoria Rivermen foe joins SPHL for 2026-27 season
"The minor-league hockey landscape seems to be going through an informal re-alignment, with a former Rivermen foe now joining the SPHL.
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