Jacksonville is getting its first minor league hockey team since the Barracudas disbanded in 2008.
TheJacksonville IceMen are coming to the Veterans Memorial Arena in October. The East Coast Hockey League team is transferring to the First Coast after after eight seasons in Evansville, Indiana.
Team President Bob Ohrablo said it’s going to show the First Coast a whole new side of hockey.
“For those who are new to hockey, especially live hockey — and I make that point because if you’ve watched it on TV— you haven’t really seen hockey. Wait until you experience what you’ve been missing,” Ohrablo said.
The IceMen will play play 36 regular-season home games per not including playoff games.
The team will announce a series of events prior to the start of the season onits website called Faceoff Jacksonville. They will lead up to the opening game in October.
They are looking to hire coaches in the upcoming months and also plan on offering student internships with the University of North Florida.
The 27-team ECHL is a development league for the National Hockey league.
IceMen CEO Ron Greary transferred to Jacksonville with the team and said the city is a natural fit for professional hockey. The IceMen are the sixth professional hockey team to play in Jacksonville, dating back to1964. Jacksonville’s first hockey team were the Rockets.
“We’re not here for a one-year deal. We’re here to stay,” Ohrablo said.
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Intern Serena Summerfield can be contacted at newsteam@wjct.org, 904.358.6317, or Twitter @sumserfield