Pensacola Ice Pilots

The Pensacola Ice Pilots are a defunct minor league ice hockey team in Pensacola, Florida.

The Ice Pilots were formerly the Nashville Knights but moved to Pensacola following the 1995-1996 season. The team was owned by Henley Sports, Inc., headed by Mario Forgione, and was previously affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs until July 10, 2006. Three weeks later, on July 31 2006, the team announced a new affiliation with the New York Islanders and its AHL partner, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The home of the Pensacola Ice Pilots was the Pensacola Civic Center, which is referred to as "The Hangar", and has a capacity of 8,150.

The team announced on March 26, 2007 that Escambia County had agreed to release them from the final year of their lease in the Pensacola Civic Center, and as such that the team would not return for the 2007-08 season. After renewed negotiations, an agreement was reached on April 12, 2007 to keep the team in Pensacola for at least next season. Negotiations for a longer-term deal were reportedly underway.

On June 23, 2008, the ECHL terminated the Ice Pilots' membership in the league, citing the owners' decision not to field a team for the 2008-09 season as grounds for termination. Team management was reportedly investigating the possibility of joining a less expensive league, like the CHS or the SPHL.

Notable achievements

• The 1997-1998 Ice Pilots finished the season with a record of 36-24-10 and won the ECHL Southern Conference championship.
• The 2004-2005 Pensacola Ice Pilots won the Brabham Cup for the most points overall in the league during the regular season.
• Former Head Coach Dave Farrish is now the Assistant Coach of the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL.
• The Pensacola Ice Pilots Hall of Fame was created in 2005 with two players, number 13 Chad Quenneville and number 22 Shane Calder.

Before the termination of their ECHL membership, the Ice Pilots had a run of bad performances. Their 2007-08 season finished 19-44-4-5, with only 47 points scored — the worst in the league. It was still better than their previous season, which finished 20-46-2-4 with only 46 points scored.

Coaches

• Alvis Pedersen (1996-2000)
• Wayne Cashman (2000-2001)
• Todd Gordon (2001-2004)
• Dave Farrish (2004-2005)
• Rick Adduono (2005-2006)
• George Dupont (2006; over two seasons)
• Joe Clark (2006-2007)
• John Marks (2007-2008)

2007/08 roster

Defensive

#	Name	Position
2	J. R. Bria	D
5	Steve Marr	D
8	Phil Youngclaus	D
12	J. C. Sawyer	D
14	Adam Meyer	D
33	Cam Ellsworth	G
35	Mike Brodeur	G

Forwards

#	Name	Position
4	Jason Bloomingburg	F
9	Matt Rogers	F
10	Bryan Esner	F
11	Mathieu Roy	F
16	Adam Hobson	F
17	Patrick Bordeleau	F
18	Peter Rouleau	F
24	Michael Cohen	F
37	Brian Pouliot	F
42	Michael Mullin	F

Former players

• Forward Glen Metropolit went on to play in the National Hockey League for the Washington Capitals, the St. Louis Blues. Boston Bruins, and currently with the Montreal Canadians.
• Forward Ryan Craig played 5 games with the Ice Pilots before going on to play for the NHL (Tampa Bay Lightning).
• Forward Ned Cod; retired from the Pilots in 1998 saying, "I can't do it anymore, I just can't play this stupid, pointless, boring game anymore."

External links

• Pensacola Ice Pilots Official Homepage
• Pensacola Ice Pilots Booster Club
• Pilot Pride: An Unofficial Fan Site
• ECHL info site