Knoxville Speed
| Knoxville Speed | |
|---|---|
James White Civic Coliseum | |
| Colors | Red, blue, orange, black |
| Owner(s) | Andrew Wilhelm |
| Franchise history | |
| 1995โ1999 | Madison Monsters |
| 1999โ2002 | Knoxville Speed |
The Knoxville Speed was a
James White Civic Coliseum. They were formerly the Madison Monsters, before team owner Andrew Wilhelm announced that the franchise would relocate to Knoxville due to low attendance in Madison, Wisconsin, in April 1999.[1]
Due to their geographic isolation from the rest of the league, the Speed and Asheville Smoke played each other roughly nineteen times in a season plus the playoffs, leading to a rivalry that involved bench-clearing brawls.[citation needed] The Smoke were primarily owned by the Speed's co-owner, Dan Wilhelm, Andrew Wilhelm's brother.[2]
The team filed for
Southern Professional Hockey League.[3]
References
- ^ Schoen, David (April 3, 1999). "Monsters moving, But local group may buy expansion team". Wisconsin State Journal.
- ^ a b Wagner, Ron (February 21, 2002). "Will hockey be smoked out of Asheville?". Times-News.
- ^ "Knoxville Ice Bears owner John Axford dead at 78". The Daily Times. October 29, 2013.