Monroe Moccasins

The Monroe Moccasins, a minor league hockey team based in Monroe, Louisiana. They became part of the WPHL during the league's second season, which saw a dramatic expansion from six teams to 13. This period marked a notable surge in ice hockey interest in Louisiana, with the state boasting seven active teams in the late 90s, though currently, only two remain. Regrettably, the Moccasins were a casualty of the hockey over-expansion in both Louisiana and the WPHL itself.

Right from the start, the team faced challenges as their original owners abandoned ship shortly after securing the league's expansion rights. New ownership was swiftly arranged, but they had a mere three months to assemble a functioning franchise. When the season kicked off, the arena's ice wasn't ready, forcing the Moccasins to play their first seven games on the road. It was an undoubtedly rocky beginning. Nevertheless, on the ice, the Moccasins performed reasonably well.

In their inaugural season, they achieved a 35-32-2 record, despite off-ice complications, and attracted an average of over 3,000 fans per game, filling about half of their arena's capacity. During their second full season, they secured 37 victories and advanced to the second round of the playoffs. Unfortunately, their fortunes started to wane in the third and fourth seasons, resulting in just one playoff appearance and a decline in average attendance to around 2,000 fans per game. Adding to their troubles, the team defaulted on their rent payments, with the WPHL stepping in to cover the expenses for the 2000-01 season. Ultimately, the Moccasins folded, despite an unsuccessful campaign to keep the team alive. The WPHL itself was also in dire straits, having over-expanded and eventually merging with the CHL in 2001.