The Monroe Moccasins will be revived on ice at the Monroe Civic Center’s arena this fall, say officials with the city of Monroe and Federal Prospects Hockey League.
During a news conference Wednesday, officials announced Monroe’s professional ice hockey team would get a reboot—to much fanfare—with a 56-game season from Oct. 1 to March 31. The team’s first game is slated for the second week of October.
“The passion for the sport runs deep in Monroe,” said Parker Moskal, managing partner and president of the Monroe Moccasins. “We believe the Monroe Moccasins will not only bring thrilling hockey action to our fans but serve as a source of pride for our entire community.”
Thus far, the Moccasins have signed Marquis Grant-Mentis and Kyle Stevens.
Season tickets (28 games at home, 28 away) and corporate sponsorships are available now at moccasinshockey.com
Based on the unveiling Wednesday, the team’s new logo appears to have changed little from the official title and artwork worn by the Monroe Moccasins more than 20 years ago.
At the news conference, many people in attendance wore their old Monroe Moccasins jerseys from when the city’s arena hosted the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) team. The Moccasins lasted from 1997 to 2001 until lackluster ticket sales led to the team’s termination.
According to Nick Perkin, co-owner of the Monroe Moccasins, the revival of the Moccasins was the result of 12 months of work.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to say hockey is back in Monroe,” said Perkin, who also is chief executive officer at Perkin Industries. “I’ve heard people say this team will fold just like the old one did 20 years ago.”
But that would not happen, Perkin pledged.
The Monroe Moccasins will be one of 14 teams in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). The Moccasins will be one of two FPHL hockey teams in Louisiana, also including the Baton Rouge Zydeco.
“You have ownership that is very persistent,” said Don Kirnan, FPHL Commissioner. “I know it’s going to work out here.”
City officials told The Ouachita Citizen the city’s commitment would be coordinated through a cooperative endeavor agreement allowing the FPHL team to use the Monroe Civic Center’s arena. The city’s financial commitment, in that case, would be renting the facility and maintaining the facility to accommodate the hockey team’s activities.
Mayor Friday Ellis and others urged the community to buy season tickets and show up for the games to make memories like those so fondly recalled by fans of the old Moccasins team.
“We’ve heard some creative names, but I couldn’t imagine it being anything else but the Monroe Moccasins,” Ellis said. “For this to be successful, you have to come. You have to bring your families.”
