Huntington Hornets

The Huntington Hornets were West Virginia's first professional hockey club, competing in the IHL during the 1956-57 season. The club relocated to Huntington from Grand Rapids, Michigan, where they were known as the Rockets for six seasons. The squad finished third in the IHL, winning 26 of 60 games, but had low box office success. They were transferred to Louisville, Kentucky, after only one year, and renamed the Rebels. It took almost 50 years for minor pro hockey to return to West Virginia, when the Thunderbirds relocated to Wheeling in 1992.