Lake Tahoe to be home to professional hockey team co-owned by former NFL QB Tim Tebow
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Mon, 07/10/2023 - 4:50pm
Former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was at the Tahoe Blue Events Center Monday to announce that he and partner David Hodges are bringing professional hockey to Lake Tahoe.
The new center will be home to the first professional sports team to call the Lake Tahoe area home. The team will launch in October 2024.
Hockey players from Tahoe Hockey Academy, Tahoe Prep Hockey Academy, and the Lake Tahoe Lakers were on hand for the announcement on the steps of the new center which should be open by the beginning of September.
"I love that sports can bring people together from all over to enjoy camaraderie, competition, and community impact," said Tebow. "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."
"I love sports and I love bringing the community together," added Tebow who said he is excited about bringing the team to such an incredible place. Tebow said he was honored to be a small part of the community and to bring a team to the area that exemplifies character, strength, and honor.
The Lake Tahoe pro hockey team will be part of the ECHL, the premier "AA" development hockey league that now has 29 teams with the addition of Lake Tahoe and has sent over 700 players to the NHL from its program over the years.
"We have a commitment to community and affordable entertainment," said ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin. "This new team will offer the only professional sports action in the region, giving locals a hometown team and fast-paced entertainment, with a commitment to giving back and growing the game of hockey in the community. This ownership and operating group have already shown the ability to create a new generation of ECHL fans, and we look forward to the excitement they will bring to South Tahoe.”
Crelin said their teams provide volunteer hours at schools, reading programs, visiting hospitals, and grassroots community efforts.
The team currently is not named and is known as Lake Tahoe Pro Hockey for the time being. A contest is being held through August 5 to name the new team.
Details on that can be found at https://www.laketahoeprohockey.com/.
Tebow was the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner and played most notably with the Denver Broncos. His co-owner is David Hodges, CEO of Hodges Management Group, LLC. The team will be managed and operated by Zawyer Sports & Entertainment.
Tebow and Hodges have been minority owners of a hockey team in Jacksonville, Florida, which is their home base. Both will be on the South Shore often with their new team. Hodges said he was blessed to be able to bring hockey to the area and was looking forward to great things going forward. The Tim Tebow Foundation is known for "Night to Shine," a prom for special needs teens, and they are exploring doing the same for South Lake Tahoe.
Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority CEO Carol Chaplin was on hand to welcome the new team along with OVG360, the Tahoe Blue Event Center operations company.
Chaplin said having a professional team at Lake Tahoe will impact the community and help with off-season visitors.
South Lake Tahoe is already home to the Lake Tahoe Lakers, an expansion USPHL franchise playing in the Pacific Premier Division of the United States Premier Hockey League. They play out of the Tahoe Ice Arena. The area is a hockey community that also has the Tahoe Hockey Academy.
Even though the timing of Monday's announcement coincides with the American Century Championship, Tim Tebow will not be playing in the popular celebrity golf tournament this year.
