Six months have passed and so much has changed with the Pensacola Ice Flyers as a new season awaits.
Then team’s season-opener Saturday night (7:05 p.m.) against the Macon Mayhem ushers in a new era in the 30th anniversary year of professional hockey in Pensacola. Coming off the worst season (15-28-13) in Ice Flyers franchise history and their first time missing the playoffs, this is a fresh start in many ways.
Opening night presents a new coaching staff, a new ice surface, new dasher boards and glass, a new lighting and sound system and what figures to be a whole new experience at the Pensacola Bay Center.
The Ice Flyers will play 28 home games from Saturday through the home finale on March 28, 2026.
With that in mind, here are five things to know.
Long-time Ice Flyers fans remember Gates, now 38, as a towering defenseman from Jackson, Michigan with a big shot and a don’t-mess-with presence when he dropped the gloves. He played parts of five seasons and 95 games for the Ice Flyers and became one of just three players to be part of three Ice Flyers’ SPHL championship teams.
He was an ECHL assistant coach for four seasons, after working seven years ago as Rod Aldoff’s assistant with the Ice Flyers that season.
“Excited,” said Gates, summing up his emotions, as he approached last week’s one-week training camp. “Just like our front office is going through right now, there are a heck of a lot of things you have to do to get ready. The thing is, I have not coached any of these players and I’ve not been on the ice with any of them (until training camp), so that part is exciting, but it’s going to be a heck of a lot of evaluating in a short period of time.”
Stevens helped coach the University of Ottawa to the Canadian Universities’ national championship last season and he has an prior coaching relationship with Gates in the Central Canada Hockey League, a junior league.
“He comes with a heckuva lot of knowledge,” Gates said. “He wants to continue on and move up to the highest level of hockey and that’s the attitude I look for. He knows how a championship team is supposed to be. And he’s hungry to win.”
On the final days of September, the Bay Center operations staff turned on and began installing the new ice surface, which is a dramatic change from the original machinery. It was a slow, consistent chill down to get the temperature at 15 degrees and prevent concrete cracks.
Fans will immediately see a big difference.
“It’s an NHL rink now, so it’s outstanding,” said forward Shane Bull, one of the seven returning players, following the team’s first practice Oct. 6 on the new ice surface. “The ice was unbelievable. A lot different from last year for sure.
“Last year you could not even make a pass off the wall without the puck bouncing in the air. Now, there is no issue with that, so you can make smooth plays off the wall. Overall, the ice just feels smooth.”
Also, the new ice plant system and refrigeration means the rest of the arena will stay at a more comfortable temperature. Ice Flyers fans who often came to games bundled up will appreciate it.
“It’s NHL standards, so any NHL arena that say, is built right now, will put in (same system) what we just put in from the flooring the boards to glass,” Harris said. “It’s unlike anyone has seen in Pensacola. This is an extremely modern ice plant systeand it’s what’s needed for player safety and the game itself.
Just like the ice surface, the boards and glass are NHL standard. The boards have springs built in and rubber covering for more safety.
“I think fans are immediately going to notice the dasher board system and the glass, how clear it is, how few obstructions in their view,” said Ice Flyers owner Greg Harris. “Everything is so much cleaner. There is way more action on the boards. They are lively.
“The boards have spring in them… as opposed to rock hard glass (from panels),” Shane Bull said. “It’s a safer environment.”
New padded seats have been installed on the three rows near the glass and a new area behind the players’ benches. The seats come complete with cup holders.
This is another one of those instant recognition differences when walking into the Bay Center and getting close to the playing surface.
“Fans will notice the lighting instantly. It’s a different type of lighting obviously,” Harris said. “We can do so much more with this lighting system. We’ll provide a peak on Saturday, but fans will see the real light show on opening night.”
Along with the lighting, this is going to enhance the fan experience for all events at the Bay Center, especially concerts. It was part of the upgrades made by Escambia County in return for the Sun Belt Conference to renew its contract with the men’s and women’s basketball tournament.
“There is so much more we can do,” Harris said. “We won’t have the full effect on for the game (Saturday), because we want to do that on opening night.”
WANT TO GO?
WHAT: Ice Flyers Season Opener.
WHO: Macon Mayhem vs. Pensacola Ice Flyers.
WHEN: Saturday, 7:05 p.m.
WHERE: Pensacola Bay Center.
TICKETS: www.iceflyers.com and at Bay Center Box Office.
RADIO: WPNN 103.7 FM.
LIVESTREAM: www.flohockey.com.
LIVE STATS: www.thesphl.com.
Bill Vilona is a retired Pensacola News Journal sports columnist and now senior writer for Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He can be reached atbvilona@bluewahoos.com
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