Hockey Teams in Atlanta

Here are the top Hockey teams in Atlanta that you need to know about. From the Atlanta Braves to the Atlanta Thrashers these are the teams that call Atlanta home.

The Atlanta Thrashers

The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice Hockey Team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They were members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Thrashers began play during the 1999–2000 season. Atlanta was granted an NHL franchise on June 25, 1997, and became the League’s 28th franchise. The Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, during the 2006–07 season in which they won a Southeast Division title. The following season, 2007–08, saw regression from 2006–07 for both team and attendance records. Upon their relocation to Winnipeg in 2011, Winnipeg Jets took over their divisional playoff spot.

The Atlanta Flames

The Atlanta Flames were a professional Ice Hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia from 1972 to 1980. The team played in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the West Division. Founded in 1972, the club was one of six expansion teams that joined the NHL for the 1972–73 season. The franchise failed to live up to expectations by finishing with only 23 wins and 53 points, a record that placed them last in their division.

In hopes of making the playoffs in their second season, Atlanta gave up many high draft picks to acquire veteran players such as Lee Norwood, Mark Tavares and Guy Chouinard. Despite their efforts, they again finished last in their division with a 23–39–14 record—the worst season in franchise history. In 1974–75, led by rookies Chris Hasselberg and Tom Lysiak, the Flames obtained their first back-to-back winning seasons by posting 32 wins and 86 points; they narrowly missed the playoffs by four points.

After missing the playoffs for four consecutive seasons, they finally returned to post-season play in 1979 after acquiring Willi Plett from the Minnesota North Stars By acquiring Al MacInnis from the St. Louis Blues during their final season (1979–80), Atlanta became one of only three teams to have all three of its first Round Draft picks playing on its blueline (MacInnis was drafted 15th overall in 1981 by Calgary). Just before moving to Calgary,Atlanta won its first and only playoff series against the New York Islanders—a feat not repeated until 2018 when Calgary again beat the Islanders—defeating them three games to two en route to losing to Minnesota in the Norris Division Finals four games to none.

The Atlanta Knights

The Atlanta Knights were a professional ice Hockey Team in Atlanta, Georgia, that played in the National Hockey League from 1992 to 1996. The team was the centerpiece of the 1995 film Sudden death starring Jean-Claude Van Damme

The Knights were created in 1992 when the IHL announced it would expand by four teams. One of those new franchises was awarded to Bill Davidson, owner of the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League Davidson’s franchise was originally intended to be based in Pontiac, Michigan. However, a short time before the start of the 1992–93 season, Davidson announced that his franchise would instead be based inAtlanta.

The team began play in October 1992, at The Omni in Atlanta. The Knights set an IHL record for most wins by an expansion team (42) and qualified for the playoffs in their first season. In their second season, the Knights moved to a new arena, the Georgia Dome. The change did not affect the on-ice product as the team again qualified for the playoffs and won their division.

The Atlanta Black Hawks

The Atlanta Black Hawks were a professional Ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 to 1974. The team was based in Atlanta, Georgia, and played their home games at the Omni Coliseum.

The Black Hawks were one of twelve teams that joined the WHA for its inaugural season. The team was owned by Thomas E. Ricks and John F. Bassett, who also owned the Toronto Toros of the WHA. Ricks and Bassett were unable to secure an NHL franchise for Atlanta, so they decided to join the upstart WHA instead.

The Black Hawks were coached by Pat Stapleton, a former Chicago Blackhawks player who had also been a member of Team Canada at the 1972 Summit Series. The team’s top player was forward Bill Goldsworthy, who scored 38 goals and 91 points in 72 games.

In their first season, the Black Hawks finished with a record of 32-40-0, good for fourth place in the Eastern Division. The team made the playoffs, but was swept by the New England Whalers in the first round.

The Black Hawks improved to 39-33-0 in their second season, but again finished fourth in their division and lost in the first round of the playoffs, this time to the Cleveland Crusaders.

After two seasons in Atlanta, the Black Hawks relocated to Quebec City and became the Quebec Nordiques. The franchise would go on to have great success in Quebec, winning the Avco World Trophy (the WHA’s championship trophy) three times before joining the NHL in 1979.

The Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons are a professional Hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are members of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Falcons have appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals four times, winning in 2010.

The Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are members of the National Hockey League’s Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference The Braves play their home games at Philips Arena.

The Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are a professional Ice Hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are members of the Metropolitan Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The team is owned by Tony Ressler, and they play their home games at Philips Arena.

The Atlanta United

The Atlanta United is a professional hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The team competes in the National Hockey League (NHL) and is a member of the Eastern Conference’s Metropolitan Division. The Atlanta United was founded in 1999 as an expansion team, and they play their home games at Philips Arena. The team is owned by Bruce Levenson and has Jeff Vinik as their General Manager

The Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream is a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). The team was founded before the 2008 NBA season began. It is owned by Larry Gottesdiener and Bruce Levenson. Christy Hedgpeth is the current president and general manager of the team.

The Dream has qualified for the NBA playoffs in seven of its eleven seasons in Atlanta, winning conference titles in 2013, 2015, and 2016. The team hosted the WNBA All-Star game in 2010.

The Atlanta Silverbacks

The Atlanta Silverbacks are a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are members of the ECHL and play their Home Games at the Gwinnett Center. The Silverbacks began play in the 2006-07 season as an expansion team in the ECHL.

The Silverbacks are the minor league affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes and the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. The Checkers’ affiliation with the Silverbacks is a one-year agreement that was announced on May 11, 2010.