Huntsville, AL (WAFF) - The Huntsville Havoc are heading back to the playoffs, but the second season hasn't always been kind to the red & black. Here's a look back :
2004-2005 - The SPHL's first season was a chaotic one for Huntsville. Despite winning the league title in the SEHL the year before (as the Channel Cats), Huntsville struggled during the regular season and finished 6th in the 8 team league, taking the last spot in the playoffs. They were knocked out in the first round by the Jacksonville Barracudas in a one-game playoff.
Eventual Champion : Columbus Cottonmouths
2005-2006 - A much improved year for Huntsville, though they only finished 5th in a year dominated by Knoxville. The Havoc made a deeper run in the post season, knocking out the defending champs from Columbus in 3 games, but they were taken down by the Jacksonville Barracudas in a two game sweep.
Eventual Champion : Knoxville Ice Bears
2006-2007 - Another year, another step forward in the regular season standings. The Havoc finished 4th in 2007, but were knocked out by the eventual champions from Fayetteville in a two game sweep in the first round.
Eventual Champion : Fayetteville FireAntz
2007-2008 - A heart breaking year that saw the Havoc miss the playoffs for the first (and thus far, only) time in team history. The season came down to the very last game of the year, on March 22nd in Knoxville. If the Havoc had won, they would have tied Columbus in the points, forcing a one-game playoff for the last post-season spot. But, Knoxville won 4-2, leaving many Havoc fans who made the trip to Rocky Top bitterly disappointed. The season would spell the end of John Gibson's career as head coach, and would see long time Havoc star James Patterson hang up his skates.
Eventual Champion : Knoxville Ice Bears
2008-2009 - A realignment meant only six teams in the SPHL, and only 4 teams made the playoffs this year. The Havoc took the final seed, and faced the mighty Ice Bears in the first round. The series went a full five games, and came down to overtime in Huntsville. 11 minutes into the extra period, Knoxville's Tim Vitek ended the Havoc's hopes. Head coach Eric Soltys was released in the off-season.
Eventual Champion : Knoxville Ice Bears
2009-2010 - Another year, and another new coach for Huntsville. Randy Murphy brought in a fresh attitude and new crop of Havoc stars including Dan McWhinney, Mark Sibbald, Mike MacDonald, Dean Petiot and Mike Carter. The Havoc led the standings for most of the season, and ended the year as the #2 seed. After taking out Pensacola and finally getting revenge against Knoxville, the Havoc took on the #1 seeded Mississippi Surge in the finals. The Surge were heavily favored, but the Havoc beat them in a 3 game sweep to capture the President's Cup. They were the final of the so-called "Core 4" SPHL teams (Huntsville, Knoxville, Columbus & Fayetteville) to win a title.
Eventual Champion : Huntsville Havoc
2010-2011 - After the thrill of the championship, a bitter and unsatisfying followup season saw the Havoc go into the playoffs as a 3 seed, taking on Columbus. Due to a scheduling conflict, the Havoc were forced to host the Cottonmouths at the Ice-Plex rather than the Von Braun Center, and lost a best of three series at the tiny venue in uninspired fashion.
Eventual Champion : Mississippi Surge
2011-2012 - A late year coaching change inspired the Havoc to make a run for the Cup. After struggling with inconsistent play throughout the season, coach Murphy resigned, and was replaced by forward Glenn Detulleo. Despite his inexperience, Detulleo led the squad to a respectable run in the final weeks of the regular season, ending up as the 8th and final seed. Things looked gloomy, as they were set to take on the seemingly unstoppable Augusta RiverHawks in the first round. However, Detulleo's boys rallied behind the coach and knocked off the favored 'hawks in 3 games, capping things off with a dominating 6-2 win on the road. The Havoc couldn't sustain the run though, and fell in the second round to the Cottonmouths.
Eventual Champion : Columbus Cottonmouths
2012-2013 - Another year of inconsistent play and an anemic power play saw the Havoc limp into the playoffs as the 8th seed again. But, as we saw in 2012, anything can happen once the second season begins. The Havoc will face the #1 team in the league - the Fayetteville FireAntz.
Eventual Champion - ???
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The President's Cup (Photo : Richard Perigo)
Locker room celebration in 2010 (Photo : Richard Perigo)
Ray Ortiz is one of three players left on the Havoc roster from the 2010 team (Photo : Richard Perigo)
Havoc coaches celebrate the 2010 title (Photo : Richard Perigo)
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