A Fresh Start for Baton Rouge Hockey
The Baton Rouge Hockey Club has named Jimmy Soper as its first head coach, tapping a proven leader from the Southern Professional Hockey League.
Soper, who spent nine seasons as a player before hanging up his skates, most recently served as captain of the Knoxville Ice Bears, guiding the team to the President’s Cup Finals in the 2024‑25 season.
His playing pedigree includes stints with several SPHL clubs, but the move to the bench marks his first foray into coaching, a transition he says feels both natural and exciting.
Andreas Johansson, a key figure in the club’s ownership group, praised Soper’s leadership and expressed confidence that the new coach will help shape a competitive roster from day one.
The franchise will soon reveal its official name and open season‑ticket sales on Wednesday, July 22, giving fans an early chance to secure seats for what promises to be a debut season full of anticipation.
Fans can look forward to a series of announcements leading up to the July 22 reveal, including details on ticket pricing, promotional events and community outreach initiatives.
The club’s official website, batonrougehockeyclub.com, will host the announcement live, while the Knoxville Ice Bears’ site, knoxvilleicebears.com, will continue to showcase Soper’s achievements with his former team.