HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The Huntsville Havoc dropped the puck on their home season Friday night at Propst Arena in Huntsville, Ala., with a different group in charge of the franchise and a new captain wearing the letter.
Zawyer Sports and Entertainment, the company led by Andy Kaufmann, has taken a controlling stake in the Southern Professional Hockey League club. Keith and Becky Jeffries, who have held majority ownership since the team was founded in 2004, stay on as shareholders and are now the biggest minority partner.
Zawyer already runs several minor league hockey clubs, including teams in Savannah, Jacksonville and Greensboro, plus a women’s professional basketball league.
On the ice, forward Connor Fries takes over as captain for 2026-27, his third season in Huntsville. He put up 30 points as a first-year player and 28 points with 117 penalty minutes last winter. He follows Dom Procopio, who retired after last season.
The Havoc come in off a 32-20 season, their sixth winning year in a row, and Friday’s opener with the Pensacola Ice Flyers was the first game in Huntsville since April. The rest of the home schedule is also at Propst Arena, and the team plans themed nights aimed at fans who are new to hockey.
Pro hockey is not the only game in town this winter. The UAH Club Hockey team, coached by Collin Brown, plays its home dates at the Huntsville Ice Sports Center. The club is a revival of the original UAH program, which won three national titles before it moved up to Division I.
Section: More Huntsville AL sports news
Filed under: Huntsville AL Sports News
