Pensacola Ice Pilots

Lore & Background

The Ice Pilots moved to Pensacola from Nashville after the 1995–96 season, replacing the Nashville Knights. Their colors and nickname honored the long history of Naval aviation in Pensacola, home to the Blue Angels and the National Museum of Naval Aviation. The team played at the Pensacola Civic Center, nicknamed "The Hangar," which seated 8,150. The Ice Pilots had affiliations with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders (2006–07), and Chicago Blackhawks, and a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the AHL for the 2004–05 season. Their most successful season was 1997–98, when they won the Southern Conference championship and advanced to the Kelly Cup Final against the Hampton Roads Admirals. After taking a 2–1 series lead, a nine-day scheduling delay at the Admirals' arena forced the Ice Pilots to stay in Virginia; Hampton Roads won the next three games to take the series. The team won the Brabham Cup in 2004–05 for the best regular-season record but lost in the first round of the playoffs. After three consecutive last-place finishes, owner Mario Forgione announced he would not field an ECHL team for 2008–09, and the league terminated the franchise on June 23, 2008. A new team, the Pensacola Ice Flyers, was formed in the SPHL in 2009.

Reader's Guide

The Pensacola Ice Pilots represent a brief but memorable chapter in ECHL history, particularly for their near-miss in the 1998 Kelly Cup Final, where a scheduling quirk may have cost them a championship. The team's identity as a tribute to Naval aviation gave it a unique character among minor-league franchises. Several Ice Pilots alumni went on to notable NHL careers: Glen Metropolit played 407 NHL games; Raitis Ivanans became a feared enforcer; Ryan Craig and Kevin Colley later became coaches; and Brian Eklund set ECHL records for minutes played and saves in a season. The franchise's demise after three years of poor performance and the owner's decision to seek a lower league led to the ECHL revoking its membership. The subsequent formation of the Pensacola Ice Flyers in the SPHL, owned by former NHL player Tim Kerr, continued hockey in the city but under a new name. The Ice Pilots' legacy also includes the return of NHL hockey to Nashville in 1998 with the expansion Nashville Predators, who succeeded the Knights but have no formal connection to the Ice Pilots.

Did You Know?

• The Ice Pilots' nickname and navy blue and gold colors honored the Naval aviation history of Pensacola, home of the Blue Angels.
• Goaltender Brian Eklund set ECHL records in 2003–04 for minutes played (3,724), saves (2,194), and saves in a single game (83), and tied the league record for wins (38).
• The 1998 Kelly Cup Final was delayed nine days between Games 3 and 4 due to a scheduling conflict at the Hampton Roads Admirals' arena.
• Former Ice Pilot Kevin Colley won the Bob Nystrom Award with the New York Islanders in 2005–06 for leadership, hustle, and dedication.