The Southern Hockey League (SHL) was a mid-level professional ice hockey league. This United States league operated for one season (1995-96) and contained six teams. The league was originally named the Sunshine Hockey League, but changed it's name after expanding outside the state of Florida. The Huntsville Channel Cats, along with the planned 1996-97 expansion teams Columbus Cottonmouths, Macon Whoopee, and Nashville Nighthawks, joined the Central Hockey League following the SHL's demise. The only league Champion was the Huntsville Channel Cats. Other teams included Lakeland Prowlers, Daytona Beach Breakers, Winston-Salem Mammoths, West Palm Beach Barracudas and the Jacksonville Bullets.