Professional hockey is returning to Augusta and will be backed by a college football legend.

Former NFL and quarterback Tim Tebow and auto-sales executive David Hodges are the new owners of the 32nd member team of the East Coast Hockey League, which will play its home games at the city's rebuilt events arena.

The team begins play in October 2026 for the 2026-27 season. Fans will have the chance online to name the team byvisiting www.augustaprohockey.com/name-the-team .

"The arena's going to be so special, and it's going to take entertainment to another level," said ice hockey executive Peter Luukko, who co-chairs Oak View Group's Stadium and Arena Alliances. OVG manages the new Augusta arena.

Luukko compared Augusta's re-entry into pro hockey to the success of another ECHL team, the

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