HUNTERSVILLE, NC – When the Souther Professional Hockey League (SPHL) season begins in December, the Peoria Rivermen will not be playing.
The Rivermen, along with four other SPHL teams, will instead prepare for the 2021-2022 season, according to a statement by the SPHL.
“This is a tough day for the SPHL, particularly because the circumstances that forced these decisions are out of our control,” said SPHL Commissioner Doug Price.
“We waited as long as possible for things to improve so that all of our teams could play this season, but I don’t think any of us imagined we would still be facing these restrictions seven months later.”
Peoria Rivermen General Manager Bart Rogers told WMBD’s “The Greg and Dan Show”, the main reason the Rivermen opted out of the season was state and local restrictions tied to “Restore Illinois” that allow just 5% capacity at Carver Arena due to COVID-19.
“If only 50 people can attend, we have about a $1.6 million operating budget of expenses, and 50 people (in the stands) won’t cut that,” Rogers said.
Rogers said it was a tough decision to keep the Rivermen out of play.
“There just came a time with our league that we had to say ‘you’re either in or out’, and yesterday (Tuesday) was that day,” Rogers said.
The SPHL will play a shortened season, as there was not enough time or availability to have a full 56-game schedule without creating additional hardships for the five teams still playing this season.
The five teams still playing in the SPHL this season are the Birmingham Bulls, Huntsville Havoc, Knoxville Ice Bears, Macon Mayhem and Pensacola Ice Flyers.
The Evansville Thunderbolts, Fayetteville Marsksmen, Quad City Storm and Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs will join the Rivermen in not playing the 2021-2022 season.
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