Ice hockey is returning to Augusta.

The city of azaleas and the Masters will soon add slap shots and penalty kills to its sports landscape after the ECHL announced Wednesday a new franchise is on the way.

The team, to be named later and starting play in 2027, has an ownership group that includes former Florida Gators and NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.

“This is a proud day for Augusta,” Mayor Garnett L. Johnson said in a statement. “Bringing professional hockey back to our city is all about energizing our community, attracting visitors, and creating opportunities for our local economy to grow.”

Augusta last hosted an ECHL franchise from 1998 to 2008. The city later fielded an independent minor-league team from 2010 to 2013. The ECHL, formerly known as the East Coast Hockey League, serves

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