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The Fayetteville FireAntz are a minor-professional ice hockey team, playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The team began play in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League as the Cape Fear Fireantz. They play their home games at Cumberland County Crown Coliseum.
The FireAntz have boasted such talent as Goaltender Chad Collins and Glenn Ridler. Forwards of note include Steve Roberts, George Nistas, Kory Baker, Josh Welter, Tim Velemirovich, Matt Kohansky, Dean Jackson, Tyler Perry, David Bagley, Rob Sich and Peter Cermak. Defensemen of note include Mike Clarke, Mark Phenow, Mike Fournier, Scott Young, Adam Meyer and Dylan Row.
In 2007, under the guidance of head coach John Marks, the FireAntz advanced to the finals of the league's postseason playoffs for the first time in team history. The first two games of the best-of-five final series were won by Fayetteville on the FireAntz' home ice, before the series returned to Jacksonville, where the Barracudas won Game 3 of the series by a 3-2 score. On April 18, 2007 the FireAntz won the fourth game of the series by a score of 5-3 to win the SPHL President's Cup. It was the first championship for the FireAntz, and Fayetteville's first professional sports championship in 51 years.
The Fireantz' first coach was Shawn Ulrich. The team played the the 2003-04 season in the South East Hockey League with Scott Rex behind the bench. In 2004 the team changed it's name to "Fayetteville Fireantz," abandoning the reference to the nearby Cape Fear River, and joined the newly-formed SPHL.
Derek Booth took over as head coach in 2004. He continued in that position for two seasons, leaving in 2006 to coach the Bloomington Prairie Thunder of the United Hockey League. John Marks assumed the helm for the 2006-07 season, resigning after the team's championship run to take the head coach position with the Pensacola Ice Pilots of the ECHL.
Shortly after Marks' resignation the FireAntz announced that former Florida Seals coach, Tommy Stewart, had been hired to coach the team for the 2007-2008 season.
[edit] Championships
[edit] Honors
| 2004-2005 |
SPHL |
Derek Booth |
Coach of the Year |
| 2004-2005 |
SPHL |
Chad Collins |
Rookie of the Year |
| 2005-2006 |
SPHL |
Mike Clarke |
Defenseman of the Year |
| 2006-2007 |
SPHL |
Tim Velomerovich |
Rookie of the Year |
| 2006-2007 |
SPHL |
Rob Sich |
SPHL MVP |
| 2006-2007 |
SPHL |
John Marks |
Coach of the Year |
| 2006-2007 |
SPHL |
Chad Collins |
SPHL Playoff MVP |
[edit] 2007-08 Roster
| Goaltenders |
| # |
|
Player |
Catches |
Date of Birth |
Place of Birth |
| 1 |
 |
Chad Collins |
L |
Mar 2, 1981 |
Guelph, ON |
| 35 |
|
Kyle Knechtel |
L |
Dec 23, 1986 |
Ayr, ON |
| Defensemen |
| # |
|
Player |
Shoots |
Date of Birth |
Place of Birth |
| 2 |
 |
Dan Pszenyczny |
L |
Sep 3, 1981 |
Sterling Heights, MI |
| 4 |
|
Mark Cole |
L |
July 10, 1979 |
East Islip, NY |
| 5 |
 |
Pekka Saittakari |
L |
Sept 17, 1980 |
Heinola, Finland |
| 6 |
|
Corey Hessler |
R |
May 19, 1977 |
Mendota Heights, MN |
| 14 |
|
Adam Meyer |
R |
Nov 28, 1983 |
Buffalo, MN |
| 26 |
|
Jordan Weibel |
L |
Jan 8, 1985 |
Beausejour, MB |
| Forwards |
| # |
|
Player |
Shoots |
Date of Birth |
Place of Birth |
| 11 |
|
Tim Velemirovich |
L |
June 14, 1980 |
Thompson, MB |
| 12 |
|
Jeff Valdes |
R |
Aug 21, 1982 |
Falmouth, MA |
| 16 |
|
B.J. Stephens |
R |
Apr 5, 1978 |
Hershey, PA |
| 22 |
|
Matt Moreland |
L |
Jan 13, 1986 |
Grand Forks, ND |
| 18 |
|
Rob Sich |
R |
Feb 28, 1984 |
Windsor, ON |
| 20 |
|
Marc Norrington |
L |
Aug 24, 1981 |
Grand Blanc, MI |
| 22 |
|
Phil Gianfrancesco |
R |
Feb 12, 1985 |
Toronto, ON |
| 23 |
|
Edan Welch |
L |
Mar 29, 1978 |
Oromocto, NB |
| 24 |
|
Andrew Katzberg |
? |
Feb 22, 1982 |
Yorkton, SK |
| 29 |
|
Chad Wilcox |
R |
Dec 11, 1977 |
Las Vegas, NV |
| 44 |
|
Chad Haacke |
R |
Jan 14, 1984 |
Melville, SK |
| 26 |
|
Lawne Snyder |
R |
Jul 06, 1984 |
Scarborough, ON |
[edit] External links
