Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina. With a population of over 200,000, it is the 6th largest city in North Carolina. Fayetteville serves as the county seat and is home to Fort Bragg, one of the largest military installations in the world. The city has a long history and played a role in the American Revolutionary War. Today, Fayetteville has a diversified economy and is considered one of the best places to live in North Carolina.
When it comes to sports, Fayetteville has professional minor league baseball and arena football teams. However, what many people want to know is – does Fayetteville have a hockey team? Ice hockey has grown tremendously in popularity in the southern United States in recent years. The question of whether Fayetteville has a hockey team is a valid one.
Background on Hockey in North Carolina
North Carolina has seen substantial growth in hockey participation and interest over the past couple of decades. NC first got an NHL team in 1997 when the Hartford Whalers relocated to become the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes play their home games in Raleigh at the PNC Arena. Interest in hockey grew rapidly with the addition of the NHL team.
Youth and amateur hockey organizations have expanded across NC and there are more opportunities for kids to learn to skate and play hockey. The Hurricanes even have youth hockey development programs. High school hockey is sanctioned by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. There are currently 43 high school varsity hockey teams in the state.
North Carolina also has several minor league professional hockey teams. The Charlotte Checkers play in the AHL and the ECHL has teams located in Jacksonville, Fayetteville and Greensboro. Interest in hockey continues to grow throughout the state.
Hockey in Fayetteville
The city of Fayetteville has seen hockey grow along with the rest of the state. There are youth hockey organizations like the Fayetteville Area Hockey Association that provide opportunities for local kids to get involved with the sport. Hockey is popular at the high school level as well in Fayetteville. Terry Sanford High School has had a successful varsity ice hockey team since 2001. The Sanford High Bulldogs have made several playoff runs competing against other NC high school teams.
While Fayetteville doesn’t have an NHL or major junior hockey team, there is professional minor league hockey in the city. The Fayetteville Marksmen are a member of the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). The SPHL is a mid-level professional league that operates primarily in the southeastern United States.
The Fayetteville Marksmen
The Fayetteville Marksmen joined the SPHL as an expansion team in 2002. They play their home games at the Crown Coliseum in downtown Fayetteville. The Marksmen have been one of the more successful teams in the SPHL, making the playoffs in 9 of their 12 seasons. Their peak was reaching the SPHL finals in 2012.
Some notable facts about the Fayetteville Marksmen:
- Team colors – red, black, silver, and white
- Head coach – Cory Melkert
- Affiliation – no NHL/AHL affiliation
- 2022-23 record – TBD
- All-time regular season record – 270-194-51
- Home arena – Crown Coliseum (capacity 5,200)
The Marksmen’s roster consists of players who mostly played college or junior hockey and are looking to keep playing professionally. The SPHL season runs from October through April. Tickets to Marksmen games are very affordable, making professional hockey accessible to all fans in the Fayetteville area.
The Marksmen provide Fayetteville with exciting minor league hockey during the cold weather months. Fans can enjoy the hard-hitting, fast-paced action of professional hockey without having to travel far. The team has cultivated a dedicated fanbase over its history.
Youth Hockey in Fayetteville
For young hockey players growing up in Fayetteville, there are a couple of organizations that provide opportunities to learn hockey skills and compete with area teams:
Fayetteville Area Hockey Association
The Fayetteville Area Hockey Association (FAHA) has programs for youth and adult hockey players in the region. FAHA was established back in 2003 to help promote the growth of hockey in the Fayetteville area.
FAHA offers learn to skate and learn to play hockey programs for kids as young as 4 years old. They have house league teams as well as travel teams for more advanced players that compete across North Carolina. The teams play and practice at the Planet Ice Skating Rink, the main ice arena in Fayetteville.
Carolina Junior Hurricanes
The Carolina Junior Hurricanes (CJHL) is a youth hockey organization affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes NHL team. The CJHL has divisions across North Carolina, including a Fayetteville Junior Hurricanes team.
The Fayetteville Jr. Hurricanes organization provides youth hockey programs for kids 5 to 18 years old. Teams compete in the CJHL league with teams from Raleigh, Greensboro, Wilmington and elsewhere in North Carolina. The Jr. Canes compete in tournaments and championships organized by the CJHL.
The Jr. Hurricanes program uses the Hurricanes model of emphasizing skill development through practices and off-ice training. For Fayetteville area kids aspiring to advance in hockey, the Jr. Hurricanes provide high quality coaching and competitive teams.
Hockey Leagues and Teams
Here is a summary of the main hockey leagues and teams that play in Fayetteville:
League | Team | Founded | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
SPHL | Fayetteville Marksmen | 2002 | Crown Coliseum |
CJHL | Fayetteville Jr. Hurricanes | 2003 | Planet Ice Arena |
NCHSAA | Terry Sanford HS Bulldogs | 2001 | Planet Ice Arena |
As the table shows, while Fayetteville does not have an NHL or major junior hockey team, there are still opportunities for fans to enjoy professional, youth, and high school hockey.
Future Possibilities
While Fayetteville has developed into a good minor league and amateur hockey city, some hockey fans still want to know if a major pro hockey team could ever come to Fayetteville. There are a couple factors that could potentially allow Fayetteville to attract a higher level team someday:
Population Growth
Fayetteville continues to grow rapidly in population. The latest estimates have the city’s population over 200,000 and the metro area population around 530,000. As the population increases, Fayetteville becomes more attractive for a possible AHL or ECHL team. A major junior team like the OHL or WHL could also work if population trends continue.
New Arena Construction
Another scenario where Fayetteville could get a bigger hockey team is if a new modern arena is constructed. The Crown Coliseum, built in 1995, seats just 5,200 for hockey. A new arena with a capacity of 8,000-10,000 seats would make the city much more viable for an AHL or ECHL team. There are no definite plans for a new arena, but it remains a possibility long-term.
Of course, attracting a higher level hockey team also depends on available ownership and interest from specific leagues. But if Fayetteville continues growing over the next decade or more, the potential is there for professional hockey to expand its presence in the city.
Conclusion
In summary, while Fayetteville does not currently have an NHL or major junior hockey franchise, there are still opportunities for hockey in the city. Fans can watch minor league professional hockey with the SPHL’s Fayetteville Marksmen playing at the Crown Coliseum. Youth hockey is available through organizations like the Jr. Hurricanes and high school hockey is growing as well. The potential for attracting a higher level team in the future also exists if the population grows sufficiently to support AHL/ECHL hockey. The bottom line is that hockey has a presence in Fayetteville and will look to continue growing in the city in the years ahead.