The Huntsville Havoc are a professional ice hockey team in the Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) based in Huntsville, Alabama. The team began play in the 2004-05 season, succeeding the Huntsville Channel Cats of the South East Hockey League, and plays at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville.[1]
| League | Southern Professional Hockey League |
|---|---|
| Began play | 2004-05 |
| Arena | Von Braun Center, downtown Huntsville |
| Championships | 2009-10, 2017-18, 2018-19 |
| Colors | Black, red, white and silver |
Founding and early years
The Havoc succeeded the defunct Huntsville Channel Cats and played their inaugural season in 2004-05, finishing sixth and losing 1-2 to Jacksonville in the first round. In 2008-09 they finished fourth and lost 2-3 to Knoxville in the first round.[1]
Championships
Huntsville won its first President’s Cup in 2009-10 by sweeping the Mississippi Surge 3-0, after a second-place regular season with a team-record 71 points. In 2017-18 the fourth-seeded Havoc beat top-seeded Peoria 2-1 in the finals, the first time in league history that a fourth seed won the title, and in 2018-19 they beat the Birmingham Bulls 2-0 to repeat.[1]
Recent seasons and fans
The 2019-20 season was canceled after 46 games. In 2021-22 the team had its best regular season at 41-13-2 for 84 points, second in the standings, and lost 0-2 to Roanoke in the semifinals. The 2024-25 season averaged 6,247 fans over 28 home games, 174,927 in total, the highest attendance in the article’s table. The club has retired the numbers of players including Stuart Stefan (7), Nolan Kaiser (10) and John Gibson (23).[1] See Huntsville.
Franchise history
The Havoc were founded in 2004 and began play in 2004-05, succeeding the Huntsville Channel Cats of the South East Hockey League. They play in the SPHL at the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, are owned by HSV Sports, LLC, and wear black, red, white and silver.[2]
Championships and seasons
They won SPHL President Cups in 2009-10, 2017-18 and 2018-19; the 2017-18 title made them the first fourth seed to win the championship. They finished last in 2007-08, set a team record of 71 points in 2009-10 and had the best league record in 2021-22 at 41-13-2.[2]
Attendance and honors
The Havoc averaged 6,247 fans per game in 2024-25, well above the league average of 4,288, with attendance rising steadily since 2014-15. Seven numbers have been retired, including No. 23 for John Gibson and No. 7 for Stuart Stefan.[2]
FAQs
Where do the Havoc play? At the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville.
What was the Havoc predecessor? The Huntsville Channel Cats of the South East Hockey League.
Sources
More in Sport & Exercise Studies
Key facts
- Began play in 2004-05
- Won the President’s Cup in 2010, 2018 and 2019
- Plays at the Von Braun Center
- Averaged 6,247 fans in 2024-25
Quick checkHow many SPHL championships have the Havoc won?Show answer
Three: 2009-10, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
Sources
- Wikipedia. Huntsville Havoc. 2025 (accessed 2026-11-10)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 10, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue