Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002-2003)

For the other league of the same name, see Atlantic Coast Hockey League.
The 2002 version of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League was the second league to carry this name. It shared the name with the Atlantic Coast Hockey League, the early 1980s predecessor of the ECHL. The ACHL would last only one season, and was notable for the early-season move of the St. Petersburg Parrots to Winston-Salem, NC. After a bitter split among the franchises, the league split into two new leagues, the South East Hockey League and World Hockey Association 2. The franchhises would later rejoin each other for the 2004-05 season in a league that eventually became known as the Southern Professional Hockey League.
The Orlando Seals won the ACHL's only regular season and playoff championships.
==Teams==
Team 	Location 	Arena 	Tenure 	Notes
Cape Fear Fire Antz 	Fayetteville, North Carolina 	Crown Coliseum 	2002-2003	join South East Hockey League for 2003-04
Jacksonville Barracudas	Jacksonville, Florida 	Jacksonville Coliseum 	2002-2003	
join World Hockey Association 2 for 2003-04
Knoxville Ice Bears 	Knoxville, Tennessee 	Knoxville Civic Coliseum 	2002-2003	join South East Hockey League for 2003-04
Macon Trax 	Macon, Georgia 	Macon Coliseum 	2002-2003	join World Hockey Association 2 for 2003-04
Orlando Seals 	Orlando, Florida 	Amway Arena 	2002-2003	join World Hockey Association 2 for 2003-04
St. Petersburg Parrots 	St. Petersburg, Florida 	Bayfront Arena 	2002-2002	
relocated to Winston-Salem November 30, 2002
Tallahassee Tide 	Tallahassee, Florida 	Tallahassee-Leon County Civic Center	2002 	Could not secure lease; fold prior to playing
Winston-Salem Parrots 	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	LJVM Coliseum Annex 	2002-2003	fold after season ends
Huntsville Channel Cats	Huntsville, Alabama 	Von Braun Civic Center 	2003 	awarded as an expansion team; join South East Hockey League for 2003-04
Miami Manatees 	Miami, Florida 	Miami Arena 	2003 	awarded as an expansion team; join World Hockey Association 2 for 2003-04
==League Split==
After the 02-03 season the Jacksonville Barracudas, the Macon Trax, the Orlando Seals, and, the ACHL expansion team, the Miami Manatees formed the WHA2 with the addition of the Lakeland Loggerheads and the Alabama Slammers. The Cape Fear Fire Antz and the Knoxville Ice Bears joined the SEHL with the Huntsville Channel Cats (who were also briefly an ACHL expansion team), the Tupelo T-Rex (who never played due to contractual issues with a previous professional league), and eventually the Winston-Salem T-Birds (who began the season known as the Winston-Salem Hockey Club) as the 4th team.
==Final standings==
Team 	GP	W 	L 	OTL	Pts
Orlando 	59	43	14	2 	88
Knoxville 	59	36	21	2 	74
Macon 	59	31	25	3 	65
St. Pete/W-S	57	28	23	6 	62
Cape Fear 	60	21	37	2 	44
Jacksonville	60	18	41	1 	37
===Playoffs===
Category:Defunct ice hockey leagues
Category:Atlantic Coast Hockey League (2002-2003)