"The Federal Prospect Hockey League (the FPHL) is in professional hockey's unofficial third tier. They're below the main developmental leagues the AHL and ECHL and lack any affiliation to the NHL. They're in the same grouping as the Southern Professional Hockey League, although slightly newer (the SPHL started in 2004 while the FPHL was founded as the FHL in 2009). Still the league is growing and currently has 14 teams (not including one inactive franchise)."
"The FPHL announced this season they will be playing a neutral site game in New Jersey. Mennan Arena in Morris Township, New Jersey will host the March 21st matchup between the Danbury Hat Tricks and Watertown Wolves. Danbury's captain Johnny Ruiz is a New Jersey native and this will be his first professional game in his home state. Does this mean the FPHL is ready to expand into New Jersey?"
"It's common practice for the FPHL to have neutral site games in markets they are considering for expansion. Last season they held neutral site games in Topeka, Kansas and this season the Topeka Scarecrows entered the league. In 2021-2022 the league held neutral site games in Biloxi, Mississippi that shattered their then attendance record. The next year the Biloxi Breakers joined the league. In the 2022-2023 season the leag"
The FPHL operates as a third-tier professional hockey league below the AHL and ECHL without NHL affiliations and currently fields 14 teams. The league will stage a neutral-site game at Mennan Arena in Morris Township, New Jersey on March 21 featuring the Danbury Hat Tricks and Watertown Wolves; Danbury captain Johnny Ruiz is a New Jersey native who will play his first professional game in the state. New Jersey has established hockey presence via the New Jersey Devils and returning ECHL interest in Trenton. The FPHL frequently uses neutral-site games to evaluate expansion markets, with prior examples leading to new franchises in Topeka and Biloxi.
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