Did you know Mississippi got its first professional hockey team in 1992?
That’s right, pro hockey has been in The Magnolia State for over 30 years!
The Mississippi RiverKings were a minor league professional hockey team in Southaven, Mississippi. They played in the Central Hockey League (then the SPHL) between 1992 and 2018.
In this article, I’ll show you what pro hockey teams are in Mississippi, a history of high-level hockey in the state, and whether or not there are college and junior hockey teams in the state.
Pssssst! Are you curious about hockey teams in other U.S. states? You can learn more by checking out our other posts: What Hockey Team Is in Florida, What Hockey Team Is in Arizona, and What Hockey Team Is in Pennsylvania.
Let’s dive in.
Here’s What Hockey Teams Are In Mississippi:
While Mississippi doesn’t have an NHL team, they do have one pro hockey team: The Mississippi Sea Wolves of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). The top college hockey team in the state is The University of Mississippi (College Hockey Federation (CHF) which is a D2 ice hockey team.
Does Mississippi Have a Hockey Team?
So, what is Mississippi’s top hockey team?
Mississippi has several ice hockey teams. However, they don’t have an NHL team.
The top hockey team in Mississippi is a lower-level professional hockey team: The Mississippi Sea Wolves and Huntsville Havoc of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL).
The top college hockey team is the University of Mississippi which plays in the College Hockey Federation (CHF) as a D2 team.
Does Mississippi Have an NHL Team?
Wondering if you’ll find an NHL hockey team in Mississippi?
Unfortunately, no. Mississippi has a population of about 3 million people which is simply too small for an NHL market, let alone any major sports team. The state is also pretty close to the Nashville Predators and would take a decent chunk of its market share if Mississippi got its own NHL team.
What NHL Team Does Mississippi Root For?
Mississippi doesn’t have its own NHL team. However, The Magnolia State still has an active NHL fanbase.
The most popular NHL team for Mississippians is the Nashville Predators. This is primarily due to the fact that the Predators (in Nashville, Tennessee) are the closest geographical NHL team to Mississippi.
The second favorite NHL team for Mississippians is the St. Louis Blues.
What Hockey Teams Are in Mississippi?
So, what hockey teams are in Mississippi? The state has one professional ice hockey team (and a few former pro teams) as listed below:
NHL
While Mississippi has a professional hockey team, they, unfortunately, don’t have an NHL team.
AHL
Mississippi doesn’t currently have an American Hockey League (AHL) team. The AHL is a high-level professional sports league just one step below the NHL.
SPHL
Mississippi used to have one professional ice hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL). This is a lower-level professional sports league just one step below the ECHL.
Their team was The Mississippi RiverKings. They were originally based in Memphis, Tennessee, and played in the CHL between 1992 and 2011. Then, in 2011, the RiverKings joined the SPHL and played out of Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi until 2018.
FPHL
Mississippi has one professional ice hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). This is a lower-level professional sports league just one step below the ECHL.
What is the name of the Mississippi FPHL team? The Mississippi Sea Wolves.
So, where do the Mississippi Sea Wolves play? The Mississippi Sea Wolves play their home games at Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center located at 2350 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39531.
D2 College Hockey
Mississippi has one team at the D2 college hockey level. The University of Mississippi is a part of the College Hockey Federation (CHF) since the start of the 2020-21 season. The Ole Miss Hockey Club plays as a member of the Southeastern Collegiate Hockey Conference (SCHC).
Juniors
Mississippi unfortunately doesn’t have any junior ice hockey teams.
What Is the Jackson, Mississippi Hockey Team?
Jackson, Mississippi doesn’t currently have a pro hockey team. However, the city used to be home to the Jackson Bandits, a mid-level professional hockey team that played in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL).
The team played their home games at the Mississippi Coliseum between 1999 and 2003.
Is There High School Hockey in Mississippi?
Yes, there is high school hockey in Mississippi. However, it’s few and far between. There isn’t a single governing body for high school hockey in the state. There are some high school hockey teams but they typically play in a more sporadic, travel tournament format rather than a typical league with set teams in the area.
Are you curious to know more about hockey in other states across the U.S.? Don’t forget to check out our other full guide: Hockey Teams in Every U.S. State: Complete NHL & College List (2023).
Sources
https://www.mississippiseawolves.com/
https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-hockey/colleges
https://blog.hockeymap.com/2018/08/acha-college-hockey-teams-map-list.html