USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia-S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 20, No. 49
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
December 2, 2020
1 Section, 8 Pages
ICE FLYERS BEGIN NEW SEASON by Gina Castro Picture this, you’re in an Ice Flyers jersey singing “Sweet Caroline” with the same level of enthusiasm you had the first three times. Your favorite Ice Flyers player spreads some holiday cheer by decking the halls of an opponent’s face. Wonderful isn’t it? No one misses hockey season as much as Downtown Crowd. The wait is almost over. The Ice Flyers’ home opener is Dec. 30 at 7:05 pm. “We’re really looking forward to this season. We know our fans are definitely looking forward to watching live sports in a safe environment,” Greg Harris, owner of the Pensacola Ice Flyers hockey team, said. “This has not happened in a very long time, so we’re definitely excited about it.” Earlier this year, the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) was cut short due to COVID-19. After months of safety and health regulations, many states, including Florida, are opening back up to full capacity. SPHL announced on Oct. 6 that the 2020-2021 season will feature a 42-game regular season and a total of five teams: Birmingham Bulls, Huntsville Havoc, Knoxville Ice Bears, Macon Mayhem and Pensacola Ice Flyers. “Between the delayed start and the numerous cancelled events also booking replacement dates in 2021, there just was not enough time nor availability to have a full 56-game schedule without creating additional hardships for the five teams attempting to play this season,” Doug Price, SPHL Commissioner, said in a Oct. 6 press release. Because of state and local restrictions related to the continuing pandemic,
the Evansville Thunderbolts, Fayetteville Marksmen, Peoria Rivermen, Quad City Storm and Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs will sit out the upcoming season and prepare to return for the 2021-2022 campaign. All players named to a protected list or signed to a training camp tryout will become free agents; however, the five teams not playing will be able to retain the rights to their protected list players for the 2021-2022 season.
Our priority is taking care of our fans. This is definitely not a decision we take lightly. It is very heavy on our minds and our hearts.” This year’s hockey season will look quite different. Face masks will be required to enter the Pensacola Bay Center and social distancing will be enforced. Even though businesses in Florida are able to open to 100 percent capacity, Harris stated that the Bay Center will be be-
The Ice Flyers are ready for the season. The first home game is Dec. 30 at 7:05 pm.
tween 40 to 50 percent capacity. “Our priority is taking care of our fans. That’s really what it comes down to,” Harris continued. “This is definitely not a decision we take lightly. It is very heavy on our minds and our hearts. We just want to make sure that everybody is taking the precautions that they need to so that way we can have live hockey.” Guests will be socially distanced by pods of up to six people. Groups of guests who plan to attend the game collectively can sit together up to six people, and the groups of guests will be socially distanced from other groups. SPHL is also looking out for its players. Players follow a protocol that includes testing requirements and self evaluations. Harris is the co-chairman of the board for the league and serves on the Return to Play Committee. He explained that the protocols for players and staff is extensive and growing to
keep the whole operation safe. Safety regulations aren’t the only thing new this season. The home opener game will mark the first time the new Samsung video scoreboard and two Samsung vidRival team Peoria Rivermen’s eo walls will captain and leading scorer, Alec be used for Hagaman, joins the Ice Flyers. an Ice Flyers game. This season will be ing against them.” Hagaman is also excited an entirely different game experience with six video to be playing alongside the Ice Flyers. screens. “I am very grateful for The Ice Flyers team will be welcoming new faces the Pensacola Ice Flyers this season, too. Since organization for giving me players from the other five the opportunity to continue teams won’t have a season to play hockey this season until 2021, they are free in such a weird time that agents, which means they we are in,” Hagaman stated are eligible to join any in a press release. “I’m excited to see what the seateam. Former Peoria River- son has in store for us.” Harris said that a ton of men captain and leading scorer, Alec Hagaman, will other free agents will be be joining the Ice Flyers joining the team this seafor the 2020-2021 season. son, too. Just like COVID-19, Peoria Rivermen, based out of Illinois, is known playoffs for this season are as the Ice Flyers’ best ri- still up in the air. SPHL val. Because of Illinois’ will announce playoff forstate restrictions, all of the mats, if playoffs are even Peoria players became free happening, later on in the season. The success of agents this season. “One of the players that this season depends on us. we definitely targeted was Be sure to follow the Bay Alec Hagaman,” Harris Center’s COVID-19 regusaid. “We’re definitely ex- lations so we can get back cited to have him on our to scream singing “Bah team because he’s one of Bah Bah” in unison. To see those players that adds so the complete schedule or much to your team, but to purchase tickets, visit you absolutely hate play- pensacolaiceflyers.com.
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