Stockton will welcome a new professional hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) starting October 2026, marking the return of hockey to the city after four years. The announcement was made during a news conference with local leaders and league officials.
Key points
Stockton will have a new professional hockey team in FPHL
The team is set to begin play in October 2026
Hockey returned to Stockton after a four-year absence
Announcement made by local leaders and league officials
Mentioned in this story
StocktonLegends Global
Stockton HeatFederal Prospects Hockey League
Professional hockey is returning to Stockton after a four-year absence, with a new team set to begin play this fall in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) at Adventist Health Arena.
Stockton and San Joaquin County leaders, league representatives and officials from Legends Global, which manages the arena, announced the team Wednesday during a news conference celebrating hockey's return to a city that previously hosted the ECHL's Stockton Thunder and the American Hockey League's Stockton Heat.
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Legends Global Regional General Manager Jason Perry speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
San Joaquin County supervisor Mario Gardea speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
San Joaquin County supervisor Paul Canepa speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Don Kirnan, commissioner of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FHPL) speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Don Kirnan, commissioner of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FHPL) speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Hockey fans attend a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand, left, talks with Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand, left, shakes hands with Stockton city council member Michael Blower at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Hockey fans pick out a free hockey jersey after a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Hockey fans Dawn Ruiz, left, and her daughter Montana Munoz check out hockey jerseys they picked out after a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Q&A
When will the new hockey team in Stockton start playing?
The new hockey team in Stockton is scheduled to start its season in October 2026.
What league will the new Stockton hockey team play in?
The new Stockton hockey team will compete in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL).
What was the last professional hockey team in Stockton?
The last professional hockey team in Stockton was the Stockton Heat, which played in the American Hockey League before relocating.
Who announced the return of professional hockey to Stockton?
The return of professional hockey to Stockton was announced by local leaders, league representatives, and officials from Legends Global during a news conference.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Legends Global Regional General Manager Jason Perry speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
San Joaquin County supervisor Mario Gardea speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
San Joaquin County supervisor Paul Canepa speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Don Kirnan, commissioner of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FHPL) speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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‘Hockey’s lucky to have Stockton’: City welcomes new pro team in FPHL expansion
Don Kirnan, commissioner of the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FHPL) speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand speaks at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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‘Hockey’s lucky to have Stockton’: City welcomes new pro team in FPHL expansion
Hockey fans attend a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand, left, talks with Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Stockton Hockey general manager Scott Brand, left, shakes hands with Stockton city council member Michael Blower at a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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Hockey to return to Stockton
Hockey fans pick out a free hockey jersey after a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
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‘Hockey’s lucky to have Stockton’: City welcomes new pro team in FPHL expansion
Hockey fans Dawn Ruiz, left, and her daughter Montana Munoz check out hockey jerseys they picked out after a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Stockton is a 'city of champions'
Mayor Christina Fugazi, wearing a white and red Stockton Pro Hockey jersey given to her by league officials, said Wednesday's announcement felt like a homecoming. She recalled working as an usher at the Thunder's first game at the arena in 2005.
"I couldn't be happier to have hockey back here in Stockton," Fugazi said. "What I want people to understand is that this is so much bigger than people realize."
Fugazi noted accomplishments by Stockton teams, including St. Mary’s High School winning its first California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Football Championship in December 2025, San Joaquin Delta College’s women’s basketball team capturing its first 3C2A State Championship in March and the Stockton Ports winning numerous California League titles.
Fugazi said Stockton is the city of champions, whether people want to believe it or not.
FPHL Commissioner Don Kirnan said the league strives to revive hockey in cities that lost teams. He said he built a program in central New York that was successful and that 10 players he coached reached the National Hockey League (NHL).
"We're strong believers in youth hockey," Kirnan said. "What I like most is the sport of hockey, bringing it back to places that lost it. We've done that all over the country."
Kirnan said league officials envision the Stockton-based team as a long-term presence in the city and acknowledged that most players will not reach the NHL.
"Even though a lot of these players won't play in the NHL, the trophy to them means just as much as anybody else," Kirnan said. "They're playing for the love of the sport. There's a lot of changes going on in hockey worldwide in the last two years that will actually make it easier for us to get more players and better players. We're looking to try to get a lot of players that live in California right now to play in this league."
The FPHL is an independent Single-A professional hockey league founded in 2009 and not affiliated with the NHL. It has 15 teams as of the 2025-26 season across the Midwest, South and Northeast. The league is expanding westward, with new markets including Stockton, Fresno and Oceanside set to join the 2026-27 season.
"We will start with three to four teams this year," Kirnan said of the league's West Coast expansion. "Next year, we're pretty sure we'll be up to six to eight, so that's where our expansion is. We're right with you 100% of the way. Support us, we'll support you, and I think we'll be here for a long time."
Scott Brand, the Stockton team's general manager, said he helped launch several of the league's markets, including Columbus, Georgia; Florence, South Carolina; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He said the league's goal is to eventually form a western division, hinting at a potential rivalry between Stockton and Fresno's newly announced teams.
Brand said Stockton’s team will play a 56-game schedule, with 28 home and 28 away games. The schedule is expected to be released as early as July 1, but an exact date has not been confirmed.
Hockey fans attend a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Hockey fans attend a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Investing in the community
Brand emphasized the importance of making hockey accessible to the community, including making it easier for fans to watch games.
"One of the unique things about our league and one of the things I do applaud our owners is all of our games are broadcast on YouTube free of charge," Brand said. "It's extremely important that our games are able to be seen by our fans and our communities."
Brand said it is also important for the team to provide family-affordable entertainment at the arena and give parents a budget-friendly option for taking their children out.
Beyond the action on the ice, Brand said the team planned to work with local nonprofits and expected players to be active members of the community.
The team’s arrival in Stockton is expected to bring local job opportunities.
Brand said the team anticipates hiring a season ticket manager, a group manager, a social media and marketing coordinator, a broadcaster, a communications director, a merchandise director and “a lot of other people in the front office.” The team also plans to hire a coach within the next month and work with local colleges to offer internships to students interested in careers in sports.
The team does not yet have a name, and Brand said community input is needed in choosing one. It is launching a “Name the Team” campaign to help determine the franchise’s identity. Fans can submit their picks on the team’s website at stocktonprohockey.hockeyshift.com.
Brand said the team will select three or four fan submissions and have fans vote on them. He said the team has heard from many fans who want the team to be called the Thunder and that, if that is what the community wants, it could explore trademark options.
Hockey fans Dawn Ruiz, left, and her daughter Montana Munoz check out hockey jerseys they picked out after a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Hockey fans Dawn Ruiz, left, and her daughter Montana Munoz check out hockey jerseys they picked out after a news conference announcing the establishment of an FHPL hockey league expansion team coming to Stockton during a news conference at the Adventist Health Arena in downtown Stockton on May 13, 2026. The yet-to-be-named team is scheduled to start their season in Oct. 2026.
Building toward the future
There are other logistics that still need to be ironed out.
Legends Global Regional General Manager Jason Perry said a lease agreement has not yet been signed with the team. Adventist Health Arena also houses the NBA G League’s Stockton Kings, the primary tenant.
Perry said the team and arena executives are looking at "no less than a five-year deal." The lease terms will be made available when the agreement goes before the Stockton City Council for a vote.
Fugazi said she expects the council to vote on the lease at its June 23 meeting.
Brand said he understood that bringing professional hockey back to Stockton was a big responsibility, and that he was "honored," "humbled" and "even a little scared."
"We recognize by coming here that we have to honor the past and we have to build for the future," Brand said. "Stockton isn't lucky to have hockey. Hockey's lucky to have Stockton."
*Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at *.
*This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton lands new professional hockey franchise in FPHL expansion*
