2002-03 ACHL was the only year of the six-team loop, located in the southeast US. League was dominated by the Orlando Seals that season. Before the season started, there were several cities that were appointed franchises but either folded or moved (Birmingham and Tallahassee), one team was in operations one day, not the next, back on the next day (Knoxville) and two franchises thrown together to make sure the league had six teams (Macon and St. Petersburg). St. Pete relocated to Winston-Salem due to poor attendance and after the relocation attendance was worse. Macon, due to late start, had a terrific team on the ice but no butts in the seats (I went to one game and I counted about 200 people). Jacksonville had no money, got bought by the same guy who bought Orlando and Macon and ALMOST relocated the team to Birmingham when the Coliseum commission and the 'Cudas came to a lease agreement to the new Arena. By the end of the season, a huge power play was being waged by the league commissioner and the owner (or majority owners) of Jacksonville, Macon and Orlando. At the conclusion of the playoffs, won by Orlando, the league dissolved, two of the teams went one way (Southeast Hockey League) and the rest formed WHA 2). Following THAT season, which doomed both leagues, smart ones got brilliant, kissed and made up, formed the Southern Professional Hockey League that is still playing hockey to this day.
