Virginia Lancers
The Virginia Lancers had a short tenure, yet they were able to compete in three separate leagues. During the 1982-83 ACHL season, they were known as the Nashville South Stars. In the middle of the season, the squad relocated to Salem, Virginia. The franchise would remain in the ACHL until the 1986-87 season, making the playoffs all four years and winning the league in 1987 by defeating the Mohawk Valley Comets in seven games. John Tortorella, a future big timer, coached them.
Following the demise of the ACHL, the Lancers spent one season in the All-American Hockey League. They dominated the league with a 37-5 record, but were defeated by the Carolina Thunderbirds for the championship. After the season, both of those clubs would leave to join the ECHL, where the Lancers would spend the following two seasons with mediocre success. After that, they rebranded as the Roanoke Valley Rebels, then the Roanoke Rampage before departing for Huntsville, Alabama in 1993.
Following the demise of the ACHL, the Lancers spent one season in the All-American Hockey League. They dominated the league with a 37-5 record, but were defeated by the Carolina Thunderbirds for the championship. After the season, both of those clubs would leave to join the ECHL, where the Lancers would spend the following two seasons with mediocre success. After that, they rebranded as the Roanoke Valley Rebels, then the Roanoke Rampage before departing for Huntsville, Alabama in 1993.
