By Dr Tony Carlton, Director of Performance Science/Reconditioning Coach, Fayetteville Marksmen
As the 2025–26 SPHL regular season concludes, Peoria finished at the top of the league standings, with Huntsville, Roanoke, Evansville, Pensacola, Birmingham, Knoxville, and Macon also securing playoff spots for the President’s Cup. Best of luck to all teams as they head into the playoffs, and thank you to the athletic trainers, equipment managers, strength staff, and medical staff across the league for the work they have put in throughout the season.
By Dr Tony Carlton, Director of Performance Science/Reconditioning Coach, Fayetteville Marksmen
The SPHL’s 22nd season brings a longer schedule focusing on playoff-caliber hockey. Two regular-season games have been added, and 25% of those games will feature a four-man officiating system, primarily in the second half of the season. This mirrors the structure used in the playoffs to help ensure consistency as teams make their postseason push. The season opens Friday, October 17, with Evansville at Birmingham and Roanoke hosting Huntsville, followed by a packed weekend of home openers across the league. With the additional games and intense rivalries on deck, this is shaping up to be the best SPHL season yet.
By Tony Carlton, Director of Performance Science/Reconditioning Coach, Fayetteville Marksmen
As the end of the 2024–25 SPHL regular season approaches, the competition for the President’s Cup Playoffs is intensifying. The top eight teams will compete for the championship, with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals all organized as best-of-three series. Currently, Huntsville leads the league in points, closely followed by Peoria, Knoxville, and Fayetteville, creating a tight race at the top. Every game in the season’s final stretch will be critical for determining playoff seeding.
In other league news, the SPHL recently announced an expansion to a 58-game schedule for the 2025–26 season. This expansion reflects the league’s ongoing growth and increased attendance figures. It will give teams more competitive opportunities and offer fans additional games.
With the President’s Cup Playoffs on the horizon, anticipate high-stakes hockey, intense rivalries, and standout performances as teams make their final push for the championship. Best of luck to all as we conclude the regular season and prepare for what promises to be an exhilarating playoff run!
By Tony Carlton, Director of Performance Science/Reconditioning Coach, Fayetteville Marksmen
Chuck Norris, the team owner of the Fayetteville Marksmen, has recently purchased the Macon Mayhem, finalizing the acquisition at the end of the 2023-2024 season. Throughout the winter, he has been working diligently to make significant updates to the Macon franchise, much like he did for the Fayetteville Marksmen. With the new SPHL season set to kick off on October 18, the Knoxville Ice Bears are looking to defend their top position. Meanwhile, with the changes made by Norris and his management team, we are optimistic that the Macon Mayhem will have a successful season ahead.