The ECHL will be up to 32 teams by the 2027-28 season as the league recently approved expansion to Augusta, Ga. The new team will be under the ownership of a group that includes Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow and businessman David Hodges, who also own the league's Tahoe Knight Monsters.

• Never Miss A Moment! Subscribe to FloHockey today to watch the ECHL live and on demand
• ECHL Expanding To New Mexico In 2026-27
• Expansion Greensboro Gargoyles Announce First Player Signing

The addition of the Augusta team will bring the ECHL to 32 teams, matching both the NHL and AHL, which was a goal long held by ECHL commissioner Ryan Crelin to ensure affiliation for all teams at the top level.

Additionally, this will mark the second foray into ECHL ownership for Tebow and Hodges, who have had early success with the Knight Monsters in the league’s Mountain Division. Tahoe just completed their first season in 2024-25, reaching the playoffs and advancing as far as the division finals.

As for Augusta, Ga., this is a market that the ECHL last inhabited from 1998 to 2008 when the Augusta Lynx prowled the ice. The market was also home to the SPHL’s Augusta RiverHawks from 2010-13.

Professional hockey returns to Augusta! Get ready for @echlhockey to begin play in October 2027! Season membership deposits are available now 🏒
-
Season Memberships | https://t.co/ny5RIi34k3 pic.twitter.com/l9dsZywwDP

— Augusta Pro Hockey (@agsprohockey) August 20, 2025

The team will play in The New Augusta Arena, a 10,500-seat facility in the city’s downtown area, which is currently under construction.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to bring hockey back to Augusta with our partnership group,” Tebow said in a statement. “We are excited to see this team bring people together from all over the country to enjoy camaraderie, competition, and community impact. Our desire is to make a positive impact both on and off the ice. We can’t wait for the puck drop in October of 2027!”

“The return of ECHL Hockey to Augusta is exciting on a number of levels,” Crelin said in a statement released by the league. “The growth of the market and the newly constructed venue will make for a first-class entertainment experience, while also adding a great new rival city amongst our South Division. Furthermore, David and Tim’s ownership has been exemplary in Tahoe, and we look forward to their continued growth in the Augusta market, which allows for further solidification of developmental hockey in North America, as the ECHL will match the NHL and AHL in markets for the 2027-28 Season.”

The Lynx enjoyed moderate success in the 11-year run in the ECHL previously. They reached the playoffs in six of 11 seasons and went as deep as the third round in 1999-2000. The team ultimately bowed out of the league 18 games into the 2008-09 season. 

The ECHL has been in the midst of significant expansion over the last several years. Since 2021, the new Augusta team will be the eighth new addition to the league with only one team going dormant over that span. 

This season will mark the debut of the Greensboro Gargoyles in Greensboro, N.C., as the ECHL returns to a market it once inhabited similar to Augusta. Additionally, Rio Rancho, N.M., will be the home of another expansion team that will begin play in 2026-27. 

Getting to 32 teams will ensure that each NHL and each AHL team has its own dedicated affiliate within the ECHL, which will be a first for the league that began in 1988. It also expands the league's influence in a region it has had great success as the Southeast United States has been a fruitful hub for the league with teams in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

Augusta will join the Atlanta Gladiators and Savannah Ghost Pirates as ECHL residents in the state.

The 2025-26 ECHL begins Oct. 17 with all games streaming exclusively on FloHockey.

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don't miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Watch the AHL, ECHL, QMJHL, USHL, And More On FloHockey

FloHockey is the streaming home to some of the best hockey leagues in North America, including the ECHL and more. Check out the broadcast schedule to watch more hockey.

Join The Hockey Conversation On FloHockey Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloHockey
• Follow us on Instagram @flohockey
• Follow us on TikTok @flohockeytv
• Watch us on YouTube
• Like us on Facebook