South Florida has a summer hockey league, and it is drawing NHL players, college athletes, and prospects to the ice every Monday night at the Baptist Health Ice Plex.
SoFlo Hockey was created to give players a place to compete and train during the offseason in a market that was not always known for the sport.
"It's just a summer hockey league where NHL players, pros, college players, prospects can train the summers," Cole Kodsi, CEO and co-founder of SoFlo Hockey, said. "When I was growing up, we didn't have this. Florida was a nontraditional hockey market back in the day. We just really wanted a place to compete and train the summers. So we made it. A couple pros came, a couple NHL players started coming, and it was sort of a domino effect."
Timmy Kent, CFO and Co-Founder, SOFLO Hockey says the league fills an important role in their development.
"It's great getting those game reps and kind of like getting a small season before the season," one player said.
The competitive atmosphere is part of what keeps players coming back.
"I think that the hockey players have this natural competitiveness, underdog energy to them.” "We all come together. We push each other. And we joke around together and hang out together and stuff. And that's what makes the summer fun. But it also is what questions each other and kind of drives that competitive nature." Said Kodsi.
The league's appeal extends beyond the ice itself.
"Guys don't miss games. They show up here and there's something to be said for that," Kodsi said. "The attraction isn't just the hockey, because even beyond the ice, it's cool.
There's entertainment, culture, fandom experiences, a night out. SoFlo is more than a game. Being with my two partners, Tami Kent and Nico Blackman, we just want to create something that is fun, competitive and is giving back to the community, bringing people together as Florida natives themselves, growing hockey where they grew up."
Co-founder Tim Kent said it is meaningful to see how South Florida has embraced SoFlo Hockey, and that operating out of the Florida Panthers' practice facility carries real significance.
"We're grateful for it and for the opportunity to run SoFlo out of the Panthers practice facility here," Kent said. "I know some Panther guys are playing, and I think some plan on playing more here in the future."
For both organizations, the mission is the same.
"There's going to be a lot more players kind of spawning in South Florida because of the Panthers, and it's great to see," Kodsi said. "It's the new wave of hockey."
SoFlo Hockey games are held Monday nights at the Baptist Health Ice Plex. Tickets and more information are available at soflohockey.co.
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