Huntsville Channel Cats

The Huntsville Channel Cats had a really unique name and logo, and they also have a very unique run as a franchise. The team played seven seasons in three different league and won two league titles, each in a different league. 

Initially, the Channel Cats were a part of the Southern Hockey League (SHL) that started in 1995-96. The league was a rebrand of the Sunshine Hockey league that started in 1992 with mostly Floridian teams. The Channel Cats won the SHL title in 1996, and Cosmo Clarke scored 48 points which we mention only because he has an amazing name. The SHL would fold after that season, and the Channel Cats moved to the Central Hockey League (CHL). 

They played four successful seasons in the CHL, winning the league title in 1999. The team won 47 games that year, which was second in the league only to the OKC Blazers. The Channel Cats and Blazers would meet in the playoff finals, with the Channel Cats winning in six games. 

After that, the team went downhill with new ownership in 2000. The team's name was changed to the Huntsville Tornado, which was seen as controversial by some due to a 1989 tornado that killed 21 people in Huntsville. The team saw a drop in attendance and support, and took a two year hiatus. The team would return with the Channel Cats name in 2003-04 with the short-lived Southeastern Hockey League. The league only consisted of four teams and would fold after that one season. Two of the teams - the Knoxville Icebears and Cape Fear Fire Antz would move to the newly formed SPHL and their franchises still exist today. Unfortunately, the Channel Cats folded up shop.