Atlanta Knights

The Atlanta Knights were the first professional hockey team to play in Atlanta since the Flames left in 1980. In their debut IHL season, 1992-93, the Knights were initially successful both on and off the ice, attracting around 8,000 people each game and winning 52 of 82 games. The team was noteworthy for more than just their on-ice performance. They had Manon Rheaume (the first female NHL player) and Brent Gretzky (brother to hockey legend Wayne Gretzky) as a result of their relationship with Tampa. They also boasted Jock Callander, the top scorer of all-time in the IHL. In their inaugural season, they were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by Fort Wayne. In their second year, the Knights came back and made it all the way to the championship game, defeating Fort Wayne in six games in the rematch.

Following the title triumph, the club was less successful on the ice but remained a box office draw. So much so that the NHL came knocking in June 1997 and gave Atlanta a franchise. The Knights, being a minor league team in a freshly established major league city, saw the writing on the wall and packed up and relocated to Quebec, Canada after the 1995-96 season. The franchise was named the Rafales and played in Canada for only two seasons.