Huntsville Tornado

Pro hockey team
text_color = White
bg_color = #CC3300
team = Huntsville Tornado

logosize = 100
city = Huntsville, Alabama
league = CHL
conference =
division =
founded = 2000
operated = 2000 - 2001
arena = Von Braun Center Arena
colors = Red and White
owner = Ice Sports Inc.
GM = John Cherney
coach = Craig Coxe / Kent Hawley
captain =
media =
affiliates =
name1 = Huntsville Channel Cats
dates1 = 1995 - 2000
name2 = Huntsville Tornado
dates2 = 2000 - 2001
name3 = Huntsville Channel Cats
dates3 = 2003 - 2004
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:"For tornadoes that have struck Huntsville, Alabama, see Huntsville, Alabama Tornado."

The Huntsville Tornado was a professional ice hockey team. The franchise was a member of the CHL – Central Hockey League for one season (2000 - 2001). They played their home games at the Von Braun Center arena in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.

(2000-2001)

Following the 1999 championship season the Huntsville Channel Cats was sold to a Boaz (Alabama) businessman, John Cherney. The team stayed in the CHL but Cherney changed the name to Huntsville Tornado along with the team colors to red and white. Many fans took offense to the new name that referenced a tornado that struck south Huntsville in 1989, killing 21 people. The season saw many fan favorites leave the team, and the drop in the standings caused a drop in attendance. Amid concerns over sharing arena space and weekend dates with the UAH Chargers hockey team and the new NBDL basketball team, as well as the CHL's desire to contract to more south central U.S. markets, the team did not compete in the next two seasons (2001 - 2002 and 2002 - 2003). Mr. Cherney threatened to move the team to Madison, a suburb of Huntsville, if he did not get the dates he wanted, but to no avail.

In 2003, Cherney renamed the team back to Huntsville Channel Cats as a result of fan requests and played the team in his newly founded league named the South East Hockey League (SEHL).

Other Huntsville, Alabama Professional Hockey Teams

The Huntsville Blast (ECHL) 1993 – 1994
The Huntsville Tornado (CHL) 2000 – 2001
The Huntsville Havoc (SPHL) 2004 – Present