# 2008–09 SPHL season

The 2008–09 Southern Professional Hockey League season was the fifth season of the Southern Professional Hockey League. The regular season began August 24, 2008, and ended April 16, 2009, after a 60-game regular season and a four-team playoff. The Knoxville Ice Bears captured their second consecutive championship.

## Preseason

The Jacksonville Barracudas franchise was suspended from the season due to lack of a search for a arena. The team would eventually fold.

## Teams

2008-09 Southern Professional Hockey League :
| Team | City | Arena |
| Columbus Cottonmouths | Columbus, Georgia | Columbus Civic Center |
| Fayetteville FireAntz | Fayetteville, North Carolina | Cumberland County Crown Coliseum |
| Huntsville Havoc | Huntsville, Alabama | Von Braun Center |
| Knoxville Ice Bears | Knoxville, Tennessee | Knoxville Civic Coliseum |
| Richmond Renegades | Richmond, Virginia | Richmond Coliseum |
| Twin City Cyclones | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | LJVM Coliseum Annex |

## Regular season
### Final standings

| Team | GP | W | L | OTL | GF | GA | Pts |
| Knoxville Ice Bears$^‡$ | 60 | 35 | 16 | 9 | 216 | 171 | 79 |
| Columbus Cottonmouths | 60 | 31 | 22 | 7 | 194 | 196 | 69 |
| Fayetteville FireAntz | 60 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 212 | 224 | 65 |
| Huntsville Havoc | 60 | 29 | 24 | 7 | 204 | 197 | 65 |
| Richmond Renegades | 60 | 30 | 27 | 3 | 215 | 235 | 63 |
| Twin City Cyclones | 60 | 25 | 29 | 6 | 208 | 236 | 56 |
    $^‡$ William B. Coffey Trophy winners
    Advanced to playoffs

### Attendance

| Team | Total | Games | Average |
| Huntsville | 106,848 | 30 | 3,561 |
| Fayetteville | 102,637 | 30 | 3,421 |
| Knoxville | 101,054 | 30 | 3,368 |
| Richmond | 99,071 | 30 | 3,302 |
| Columbus | 82,415 | 30 | 2,747 |
| Twin City | 33,909 | 30 | 1,130 |

## President's Cup playoffs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| 1 | Knoxville Ice Bears | 6 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Huntsville Havoc | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | | | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Huntsville Havoc | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | Knoxville Ice Bears | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| | | | | | | | 3 | Fayetteville FireAntz | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | Fayetteville FireAntz | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | Fayetteville FireAntz | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 2 | Columbus Cottonmouths | 9 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | | | | | | | | | |

### Finals
## Awards

SPHL Award winners were announced April 23, 2009.
| President's Cup: | Knoxville Ice Bears |
| Coffey Trophy: | Knoxville Ice Bears |
| League MVP: | Travis Kauffeldt (Huntsville) |
| Rookie of the Year: | Michael Richard (Twin City) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Kevin Harris (Knoxville) |
| Goaltender of the Year: | Andrew Gallant (Knoxville) |
| Coach of the Year: | Scott Hillman (Knoxville) |
| Playoff MVP: | Kirk Irving (Knoxville) |

### All-Star selections

* 1st Team All-Stars
* F Travis Kauffeldt (Huntsville)
* F Donald Melnyk (Twin City)
* F Kevin Swider (Knoxville)
* D Kevin Harris (Knoxville)
* D Dan Vandermeer (Richmond)
* G Andrew Gallant (Knoxville)
* 2nd Team All-Stars
* F Tim Green (Columbus)
* F Beau McLaughlin (Richmond)
* F Rob Sich (Fayetteville)
* D Corey Hessler (Fayetteville)
* D Lawne Snyder (Fayetteville)
* G Ian Vigier (Columbus)
* Rookie All-Stars
* F Sam Bowles (Columbus)
* F Ryan Busby (Richmond)
* F Michael Richard (Twin City)
* D Kyle Lundale (Columbus)
* D Travis Martell (Knoxville)
* G Ryan Scott (Richmond)