Stockton’s hockey community erupted in celebration this week as the Federal Prospect Hockey League announced that a new franchise will take the ice in the city this October. The news was greeted with cheers at the league’s announcement event, where former season ticket holders and local fans gathered to mark the return of professional hockey to Stockton.
A New Era for Stockton Hockey
The team will call Adventist Health Arena home under a five‑year contract, a deal that underscores a long‑term commitment to the region and guarantees a stable venue for the franchise’s debut season.
League commissioner Don Kirnan, who also owns the franchise, said the organization is actively seeking local investors to share in the vision of family‑affordable entertainment and to help build a sustainable future for the club.
Mayor Christina Fugazi addressed the crowd, urging residents to fill the seats and to rally behind the new team as it prepares to bring the excitement of live hockey back to the city.
Scott Brand, named president and general manager of the yet‑to‑be‑named club, emphasized that affordable ticket pricing and active fan involvement will be central to the franchise’s identity.
Expanding West Coast Footprint
The Federal Prospect Hockey League, founded in 2010, operates a 56‑game schedule and is expanding its West Coast presence, with Fresno and Oceanside also joining the league for the upcoming season.
The move revives memories of Stockton’s earlier professional hockey era, when the ECHL’s Thunder played from 2005 until 2014, when the franchise was purchased by the NHL’s Calgary Flames and relocated to Glen Falls, New York.
The AHL’s Stockton Heat called the city home until 2022, after which the team moved permanently to Calgary, leaving a void that fans have been eager to fill.
At the announcement event, many supporters waved shirts and jerseys, with Dawn Silva, a former season ticket holder, voicing a collective wish for the new club to either resurrect the Thunder name or adopt a fresh identity that resonates with the community.