A New Era for Southern Hockey
Professional hockey is set to make a comeback in Southaven, Mississippi, with the debut of the Mid‑South Monarchs, an expansion franchise of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL). The team will call the Landers Center its home, marking the first pro‑level game in the city since the Mississippi RiverKings left nearly a decade ago.
The Monarchs join a league that operates at the Single‑A level of North American minor hockey, sitting alongside teams from across the Southeast. While the FPHL is positioned near the bottom of the professional hierarchy, it offers a competitive platform for emerging talent and has drawn comparisons to independent baseball circuits such as the Frontier League.
Team officials have emphasized a community‑first approach, promising outreach programs, youth clinics and local partnerships as the franchise builds its identity. The organization hopes to rekindle a hockey culture that faded after the RiverKings’ departure in 2018, when the club moved to the Southern Professional Hockey League.
The inaugural season is slated to begin later this year, with the first puck drop generating excitement among longtime fans and newcomers alike. As the Monarchs take the ice, the city anticipates a renewed sense of sporting pride and economic activity centered around the Landers Center.