The Jacksonville Icemen are a professional ice hockey team that plays in the ECHL (formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League). The Icemen play their home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Jacksonville, Florida.
The Icemen joined the ECHL in 2018 as an expansion team, taking over for the former Jacksonville Barracudas franchise that folded in 2008. They replaced the Jacksonville Tomcats, who played in the Southern Professional Hockey League from 2012-2017.
Some quick facts about the Jacksonville Icemen:
- Team colors: Navy blue, light blue, white, silver
- League: ECHL, Eastern Conference
- Division: South Division
- Founded: 2018 (expansion team)
- Arena: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
- Capacity: 13,000 for hockey
- Team chairman/governor: Andy Kaufmann
- Head coach: Jason Christie
In their short history, the Icemen have quickly developed a loyal fan base in Jacksonville and established themselves as an integral part of the downtown sports scene. Their home arena, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, has a capacity of around 13,000 for hockey games.
History of Professional Hockey in Jacksonville
Jacksonville has an on-again, off-again history when it comes to professional ice hockey teams. Here is a quick overview of pro hockey franchises that have called Jacksonville home over the years:
Jacksonville Barracudas (1992-2008)
– Played in East Coast Hockey League (ECHL)
– Folded after the 2007-2008 season
– Played home games at Jacksonville Coliseum
Jacksonville Lizard Kings (1995-2000)
– Played in ECHL
– Folded after 1999-2000 season
– Shared Jacksonville Coliseum with Barracudas
Jacksonville Tomcats (2012-2017)
– Played in Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL)
– Folded after 2016-2017 season
– Played home games at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
After the Tomcats folded in 2017, Jacksonville went without a pro hockey team until the Icemen arrived in 2018. The Icemen brought ECHL hockey back to Jacksonville after a 10-year absence.
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
The Jacksonville Icemen play home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in downtown Jacksonville. The arena has the following features:
- Opened in 2003
- Replaced Jacksonville Coliseum as the city’s main indoor arena
- Managed by ASM Global
- Capacity:
- 15,000 for basketball
- 13,000 for hockey
- 13,000 for concerts
- Home to the Jacksonville Icemen (ECHL) and Jacksonville Giants (ABA)
- Formerly home to Jacksonville Barracudas (ECHL), Jacksonville Tomcats (SPHL), Jacksonville Sharks (AFL)
- Hosts concerts and other events
The arena is located along the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville, close to restaurants, bars, and other attractions. It is accessible via I-95 and I-10. There is parking available in surrounding parking garages and lots.
Arena Amenities
VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena offers the following amenities for Icemen fans and guests:
- Concessions – Food and beverages available for purchase
- Pro Shop – Icemen merchandise store
- Premium seating – Luxury suites and club seats
- Smoking area
- ATMs
- Handicap seating and accessibility
- Nursing suite for mothers
- Free public Wi-Fi
The arena completed a $35 million renovation in 2019 which upgraded seating, suites, concourses, restrooms, locker rooms, and back-of-house areas. This provides an enhanced experience for fans.
2022-2023 Icemen Roster and Staff
The current 2022-2023 Jacksonville Icemen roster features players from across North America and Europe. Here is a look at the current Icemen roster:
Position | Player | Hometown |
---|---|---|
Center | Brendan Harris | Carleton Place, ONT |
Left Wing | Craig Martin | Yardley, PA |
Right Wing | Luke Lynch | Maple Ridge, BC |
Defense | Jacob Panetta | Belleville, ONT |
Goalie | Charles Williams | Buffalo, NY |
The Icemen coaching and management staff for 2022-2023:
- Head coach – Jason Christie
- Assistant coach – Nick Bootland
- Goaltending coach – Andrew Allen
- Athletic trainer – Ryan Snider
- Equipment manager – Andy Exner
- Team president – Bob Ohrablo
The roster comprises a mix of veteran players and young prospects. Under head coach Jason Christie, the Icemen play an up-tempo, high-energy brand of hockey. The team looks to build off its 2021-2022 season where they finished second in the South division and reached the division finals.
Player Acquisition and Affiliation
The ECHL utilizes several player acquisition methods:
- Direct assignment – players assigned directly from an NHL or AHL affiliate
- ECHL rights – acquisition of ECHL exclusive rights through trades
- Free agency – signing undrafted rookie free agents
- ECHL protected lists – each ECHL team maintains a protected list of players
The Icemen have a hybrid affiliation with two NHL teams for 2022-2023:
- New York Rangers (NHL)
- New Jersey Devils (NHL)
This hybrid affiliation allows the Icemen to receive players assigned from either organization. The Rangers and Devils provide prospects and depth players to supplement the Icemen’s core roster.
2022-2023 Regular Season Schedule
The Icemen’s regular season consists of 72 games played between October and April. The schedule features:
- 36 home games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
- 36 road games against other ECHL teams
- Games against each ECHL team in 3-4 game season series
- 12 games each against division rivals Orlando, Florida, Greenville, and Atlanta
- Friday-Saturday and some Wednesday games to accommodate travel
Here is a sample from the Icemen’s 2022-2023 regular season schedule:
Date | Opponent | Location |
---|---|---|
October 22 | Orlando Solar Bears | Home |
November 4 | Florida Everblades | Away |
November 23 | Savannah Ghost Pirates | Home |
December 21 | Atlanta Gladiators | Home |
January 13 | Greenville Swamp Rabbits | Away |
February 17 | Norfolk Admirals | Home |
March 10 | Orlando Solar Bears | Away |
The Icemen play a balanced schedule featuring rivalry games that Icemen fans look forward to each season. The games against South division foes help fuel regional rivalries.
Ticket Information
Icemen tickets can be purchased through the following methods:
- Online via Ticketmaster or the Icemen website
- Phone – 904-602-7825
- In person at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena box office
Season ticket packages, partial plans, group tickets, individual game tickets, and promotional deals are available. Current Icemen ticket pricing:
Seating Section | Price Range |
---|---|
Glass Seats | $40-60 |
Prime and Club Level | $25-45 |
Corners and Ends | $18-30 |
Upper Level | $16-25 |
Discounts are available for military members, students, seniors, children, and groups of 15 or more. The Icemen offer promotional nights with discounted ticket prices throughout the season.
Season Tickets
Icemen season tickets include:
- Same seat location for all home games
- Playoff priority and access to buy Calder Cup playoff tickets before public
- Exclusive events
- Discounts on merchandise and concessions
- Flexible payment plans
Full season (72 games), half season (36 games), and partial season plans (18 games) are available. Season tickets range from a few hundred dollars to a couple thousand for prime, lower-level seating.
Conclusion
The Jacksonville Icemen offer an exciting, affordable option for live hockey in Northeast Florida. Games at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena provide a fun, family-friendly environment to cheer on the home team.
With a talented squad, led by coach Jason Christie, and talented young prospects provided by the Rangers and Devils, the Icemen look to build on recent success. Catching a game and cheering on the Icemen is a great way to spend an evening or weekend for Jacksonville sports fans.