Delaware Thunder: Small Barn Pro Hockeys' Last Stand

Small barn hockey is one of the great roots of the game of hockey. An arena that can only seat some several hundred and is typically a place where the future stars first learn how to hone their skills in front of their parents. However, there has been times in professional hockeys' past that these arenas became home to a professional hockey team of their own. 

The Federal Prospects Hockey League, since it's inception in 2010, has featured 11 teams in it's past that have played in arenas that have seated less than 2,000 spectators at maximum capacity. Although, there is only one team left in the league that is still in that category, which is the Delaware Thunder. The Thunder, founded in 2019, play in the 700-seat capacity Centre Ice Arena in Harrington, Delaware. They are the first pro hockey team to ever call Delaware a full-time home. 

The FPHL has long been a sort of haven for prospective owners with small arenas. Though, that time seems to be at an end. According to a source close to the FPHL, the league has instituted a new system and stricter requirements for future expansion teams. The FPHL now has an expansion approval committee and has added requirements such as all future teams must have a minimum arena capacity of 2,000. This means that Delaware is the last of it's kind in the current minor professional hockey landscape. Gone are the days of Cape Cod, Rome, Vermont, Brewster, etc. The FPHL is clearly looking to get into more established markets that need a home, like what they did with the Columbus River Dragons and most recently with the Binghamton Black Bears

I hope the Delaware faithful continue to support their club to the fullest in 2021-2022, as they are witnessing a last of it's kind team. Unless one day there is a new league in the low-levels of pro hockey or the FPHL relaxes their new requirements, Delaware is the last stand of pro hockey in small barns across North America.