In football country, Athens Rock Lobsters hockey finds unlikely foothold

Tina did her job. She just did it on ice during a staged intermission performance at a hockey game.

Later, the sellout crowd roared again when the Athens Rock Lobsters scored the game-clinching goal. The B-52s’ “Rock Lobster” blared as players and fans celebrated.

The Rock Lobsters play in the modest Federal Prospects Hockey League, or FPHL, which resides several rungs below the NHL. It’s also a far cry from the powerhouse SEC that’s home to the University of Georgia’s beloved Bulldogs.

But they’re the hottest new ticket in town.

With sellout crowds, offbeat promotions and a team contending at the top of its league as it faces off in the first round of the playoffs Friday, the Athens Rock Lobsters have sparked an unlikely hockey boom in this city long defined by college football.

Credit: Colin Hubbard

Credit: Colin Hubbard

It’s still early. This is only the team’s second season.

“I don’t take it for granted,” said team president Scott Hull, “and we’re going to keep our foot on the gas.”

The winter sport has a checkered history in the Deep South. Atlanta had the NHL Flames in the 1970s, but they didn’t attract enough fans, and they moved to Canada. The Atlanta Thrashers flamed out three decades later, also relocating to the Great White North.

But there is renewed buzz around the NHL maybe giving metro Atlanta a third shot at a franchise, with competing arena proposals in Alpharetta and Forsyth County. Across Georgia, minor-league hockey teams also operate in Duluth, Savannah, Macon and Columbus, with another on the way in Augusta.

The sport also got a boost this winter when the U.S. men and women’s hockey teams won gold at the Olympics, defeating Canada in overtime games.

With the The Rock Lobsters’ rise in popularity, Athens is offering early evidence that hockey can work in this state.

If it’s done right.

Akins Ford Arena has helped anchor that growth. The venue opened downtown in late 2024, a short walk from bars, restaurants and UGA’s Arch.

Country star Megan Moroney pulled more than 7,000 fans earlier this year, while Vice President JD Vance spoke to a much smaller audience at a Turning Point USA event this week.

The Rock Lobsters, though, have been the most consistent draw. The team has recorded more than 10 sellouts of 5,500-plus this season, with average attendance up 15% from its inaugural campaign.

Credit: Colin Hubbard

Credit: Colin Hubbard

Athens was intrigued by this venture from the start.

A fan vote narrowed team name choices to Rock Lobsters or Panic, nods to two beloved bands tied to Athens. The B-52s attended the first home game ahead of a homecoming concert in 2024.

The logo — a sunglasses-wearing lobster riffing on a guitar with a neck made of a hockey stick — further deepens the connection to the city’s storied music scene. Rock Lobsters jerseys and hats have started to dot downtown, mixing into the sea of red and black that defines Athens.

Artifacts from the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, stored in nearby UGA archives, line the arena concourse. Last season, Duane Allman’s cherry red and black Gibson SG slide guitar was displayed within view of the ice, positioned between a craft beer bar and a pizza stand.

“We have something for everybody,” Hull said. “We may lose a game. It happens, but if we do things the right way people will still walk out after a great experience.”

The Rock Lobsters don’t often lose. They finished the season with the second-best record in the FPHL, an independent minor league with 14 teams across the South, Midwest and Northeast.

Roster construction at this level can be fluid. There are veteran players in their 30s looking to stick around and younger players still aiming to work their way up the professional ladder. Many have multiple offers from teams.

Credit: Colin Hubbard

Credit: Colin Hubbard

Team captain Carter Shinkaruk credits the Rock Lobsters’ reputation for player amenities and the town itself as key recruiting advantages. The 34-year-old former Division III college player from Canada has played for 12 different professional teams across North America and Europe.

“Athens has been my favorite place to play,” Shinkaruk, in his second season here, said. “I was definitely surprised by the fan support and how good the market was, to be honest.”

Shinkaruk had never been to a college football game before moving to Athens. Now he lives near Sanford Stadium, where the Georgia Bulldogs play in front of crowds of more than 90,000. He has attended three games, including a nighttime matchup with Alabama.

“Wild moment and a bucket-list item for a Canadian,” he said. “Now I know what it’s all about.”

Georgia football will always take top billing here. The UGA men and women’s basketball teams reached the NCAA Tournament in March. The Bulldogs’ baseball and tennis teams are nationally ranked.

But Rock Lobsters officials say they don’t compete with UGA’s success. They complement it.

“This is a sports town that has expectations,” said Garrett Rutledge, the general manager and coach. “Athens is a winner. They want to win tennis, swimming, football, everything. Hockey is no different. We want to be the best.”

For Larry and Tia Wise, the Rock Lobsters have delivered. Previously Atlanta Gladiators season-ticket holders, they now make the 30-minute drive to Athens from their Winder home for every home game.

They print out signs to tape to the glass in front of their seats. The messages range from inside jokes with Rock Lobsters players to simple one-liners like “Your Mom” aimed at opponents. Folks around the arena refer to Larry as “Larry the Sign Guy.”

Credit: Colin Hubbard

Credit: Colin Hubbard

Before games, Larry and Tia often chat with players and coaches. Forward Filip Virgili and his wife invited the Wises to their baby shower earlier this year.

“I told them afterwards, ‘You don’t know what that meant,’” Wise said. “They said, ‘Listen, you guys are family.’”

On Friday the Rock Lobsters open the FPHL playoffs during one of the busiest sports weekends in Athens. On Saturday, Georgia football holds its spring game and the Twilight Criterium bike races take over downtown, both annual events that pull in thousands.

In a landscape dominated by the Bulldogs and longstanding downtown traditions, the Rock Lobsters are hoping to continue to stick out.

“It’s caught on like wildfire,” Shinkaruk said. “I’ve loved being part of the growth and want to see the full potential of what we can do.”