South Atlantic Professional Hockey League

The South Atlantic Professional Hockey League is a proposed low level professional hockey league located in the state of Florida. The league was originally intended to begin play with the 2023-24 playing season.
==Operations==
Nick Russo, who has been involved with various minor league teams, most recently the Motor City Rockers of the Federal Prospects Hockey League, has been the spearhead behind the league and will serve as league commissioner. Orlando, Florida, Fort Myers, Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, West Palm Beach, Florida Manatee County and Space Coast are among the proposed locations for teams. The league is planned on being a bus league with no overnight stop overs, to reduce expenses, as all teams are planned to be under 4 hour driving time apart. A 40 game schedule in smaller arenas with capacities of around 1,000 is planned. The league is planning on using a profit sharing model for the league members. Despite several of the mentioned cities already being home to minor league teams, the intent is not to be competition to the other teams in their home communities.https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-5902161https://benchminorhockey.com/2022/10/26/professional-hockey-league-coming-to-the-sunshine-state/
==First Franchise==
On a January, 2023 podcast it was announced that Fort Lauderdale, Florida would be the location of the first franchise.https://benchminorhockey.com/2023/01/11/first-saphl-team-location-announced/
==March 2022 update==
Due to legal issues with using the the name the league announced it would be changing its' name, with the name to be announced at a later date. Also, due to the legal issue the league is now planning on beginning play with the 2024-25 season.https://benchminorhockey.com/2023/03/25/saphl-update/
==Sources==
*benchminorhockey.com
*oursportscentral.com weekly league and franchise report November 28, 2022
*March 23, 2023 update on benchminorhockey.com
Category:Ice hockey leagues in the United States
Category:Established in 2022