Sphl 2025 [better] -

Knoxville over Peoria in the Finals.

The seventh-seeded Evansville Thunderbolts completed a "battle of the underdogs" by defeating the sixth-seeded Knoxville Ice Bears. sphl 2025

The biggest headline off the ice in 2025 isn't about expansion—it's about survival. The SPHL has officially not lost a franchise since the Evansville Thunderbolts joined in 2019. With attendance up 12% league-wide thanks to dynamic ticket pricing and streaming deals with HockeyTV , the financial bleeding has stopped. Knoxville over Peoria in the Finals

If there is one team that has consistently knocked on the door, it is the Birmingham Bulls. Known for their physical brand of hockey and one of the best home-ice advantages in the league at the Pelham Civic Complex, the Bulls are prime contenders to dethrone the champs. The rivalry between Birmingham and Peoria has become the defining feud of the modern SPHL, and fans can circle their matchups on the calendar as must-watch events. The SPHL has officially not lost a franchise

The SPHL Board of Governors met in the offseason with a mandate: increase scoring without losing the physical edge. Two major tweaks have defined 2025: