Former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL quarterback [autotag]Tim Tebow[/autotag] is poised to become the owner of an expansion team in the ECHL — formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League — the minor league hockey circuit announced Monday.
The Florida alumnus will own the Lake Tahoe team in conjunction with David Hodges of Hodges Management Group LLC, which operates in multiple industries including automotive dealerships, real estate investment and insurance.
The name of the expansion team, which would begin play in 2024-25 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, is still to be determined at this juncture.
“I love that sports can bring people together from all over to enjoy camaraderie, competition, and community impact,” Tebow said in a statement. “I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be part of a group bringing hockey to the Tahoe area for fans and families to create memories for years to come.”
The team will be operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment, which also operates the Jacksonville Icemen and the Savannah Ghost Pirates. Under ECHL rules, an ownership group is permitted to operate multiple franchises.
The team will compete at the Tahoe Blue Events Center, an arena with 4,200 seats due to open later in July. Lake Tahoe would supplant Boise, Idaho, as the westernmost active market in the ECHL, which has formerly included teams in multiple western cities including Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Diego.
The ECHL included 28 teams in the just-completed 2022-23 season, won by the Florida Everblades, and is already due to add a franchise for 2024-25 in Athens, Georgia.
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