The City of Mobile received a very exciting announcement on Wednesday, one that has been speculated on for a while now, as professional hockey gets set to return to the Port City over two decades after initially departing.

The Southern Professional Hockey League (SPHL) is adding an expansion team to Mobile. The team, which has not yet been named, is set to debut for the 2027-2028 season. The Mobile Mysticks, formerly of the Eastern Coast Hockey League (ECHL), spent seven seasons in the city between 1995 and 2002 before eventually relocating to Duluth, Georgia.

“We are excited and proud to bring professional hockey back to Mobile,” said team CEO Andy Kaufmann via AL.com. “We will aim to place a competitive team on the ice while also providing a fun, family-friendly product as we usher in this new era of hockey in the city’s brand-new arena.”

The team will be owned and operated by Jacksonville-based Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, which also controls multiple current ECHL franchises, as well as the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL), which is a direct minor league affiliate for the NHL.

“I am extremely excited to welcome Mobile and Zawyer Sports to the SPHL,” SPHL Commissioner Doug Price stated. “Having gotten to know [Kaufmann] over the last several years, he embodies not only a passion for hockey, but more importantly, a passion for the community, and he will be a tremendous addition to the SPHL.”

A new arena, now under construction to replace the Mobile Civic Center, is slated to open in January 2027.

“This is a perfect fit for Mobile and the Mobile Arena,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson added. “Zawyer’s teams have a strong track record of investing in the communities where they play, and I know Mobilians are eager to welcome professional hockey back with open arms.”

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.