FPHL 
More Than Five Decades of Hockey in the Twin City
Professional hockey has been part of Winston-Salem’s sports identity for more than 50 years, with generations of teams, players, coaches, and fans helping shape the game’s place in the Triad.
From the Polar Twins of the 1970s to the original Thunderbirds era, from the Icehawks, T-Birds, Polar Twins, and Cyclones to today’s Twin City Thunderbirds, hockey has returned to Winston-Salem again and again because the community has continued to support it.
Today, the Twin City Thunderbirds proudly carry that tradition forward at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena as members of the Federal Prospects Hockey League.
The Early Years: Polar Twins Hockey Arrives
1973–1977
Professional hockey first took root in Winston-Salem in 1973 with the arrival of the Winston-Salem Polar Twins. The team competed in the Southern Hockey League and played its home games at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum.
The Polar Twins helped introduce the city to professional hockey and laid the foundation for the passionate fan base that would continue to support the sport for decades. The team operated during a colorful era of minor league hockey in the Southeast, with ownership that included Ed Timmerman and later famed wrestling promoter Jim Crockett Jr.
Although the Southern Hockey League folded in January 1977, the Polar Twins established Winston-Salem as a market capable of supporting professional hockey.
The Thunderbirds Name Takes Flight
1981–1992
The Thunderbirds name became part of Winston-Salem hockey history in 1981, when the Carolina Thunderbirds began play in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League.
The team competed at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum and became one of the city’s most recognizable hockey brands. Following the 1986-87 season, the franchise continued through several league transitions, including the All-American Hockey League and the newly formed East Coast Hockey League.
In 1989, the team became known as the Winston-Salem Thunderbirds, helping distinguish the franchise as the ECHL expanded into other North Carolina markets. The club moved into the Annex at the Fairgrounds and continued play through the 1991-92 season.
This era helped cement the Thunderbirds name as one of the most important identities in Winston-Salem hockey history.
A New Generation of Teams
1995–2009
After the original Thunderbirds era, professional hockey continued in Winston-Salem through several teams and leagues.
The Winston-Salem Mammoths played during the 1995-96 season in the Southern Hockey League, followed by the Winston-Salem Icehawks, who competed in the United Hockey League from 1997 to 1999.
The early 2000s brought another wave of hockey to the Annex. The St. Petersburg/Winston-Salem Parrots played during the 2002-03 season, followed by the Winston-Salem T-Birds in 2003-04. The Winston-Salem Polar Twins name returned in 2004-05 as part of the Southern Professional Hockey League.
The Twin City Cyclones later called Winston-Salem home from 2007 to 2009, competing in the SPHL at the Annex. The Cyclones marked the city’s final full-time professional hockey tenant before the modern Thunderbirds franchise brought the sport back on a permanent basis.
The Road Back
2014–2017
In 2014, Winston-Salem hosted a Federal Hockey League neutral-site game between Danville and Watertown, drawing more than 2,400 fans and showing that the city’s appetite for professional hockey remained strong.
On August 21, 2016, a new organization and the Annex announced an agreement to bring professional hockey back to Winston-Salem.
The modern Thunderbirds era officially began on October 27, 2017, when the newly formed Carolina Thunderbirds played their first game against the Danville Dashers. One week later, on November 3, 2017, the Thunderbirds played their first home game at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex, defeating the North Shore Knights, 3-2, in front of a sold-out crowd.
Professional hockey was back in Winston-Salem.
The Modern Thunderbirds Era
2017–Present
The Thunderbirds quickly re-established Winston-Salem as one of the strongest hockey markets in the Federal Hockey League, later known as the Federal Prospects Hockey League.
During their inaugural season, the Thunderbirds broke the league’s single-season attendance record and finished the 2017-18 campaign with a total attendance of 66,204 fans. The team also hosted the first playoff game played in the Triad in 10 years, beginning a new chapter of postseason hockey in Winston-Salem.
The following season, the Thunderbirds reached the top of the league. On April 27, 2019, Carolina defeated the Elmira Enforcers in overtime to capture the franchise’s first league championship. Jan Salak scored the title-winning goal less than a minute into overtime, securing a 4-3 victory and bringing the Commissioner's Cup to Winston-Salem.
The Thunderbirds continued to build on that success, recording the franchise’s 100th victory on December 21, 2019, against the Mentor Ice Breakers. The team was in first place during the 2019-20 season before the campaign was suspended and later canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2020-21, the Thunderbirds played a shortened season entirely on the road before returning to Winston-Salem for the 2021-22 campaign.
Championship Breakthrough
2018–2019
The Thunderbirds reached the top of the league during the 2018-19 season, producing one of the most memorable campaigns in Winston-Salem hockey history.
In only their second season, the Thunderbirds established themselves as the league’s premier team, combining high-end scoring, strong goaltending, physicality, depth, and one of the most passionate home-ice environments in the FPHL. The team’s success helped further reconnect Winston-Salem with professional hockey and turned the Fairgrounds Arena into one of the league’s most difficult places for opponents to play.
The season culminated on April 27, 2019, when Carolina defeated the Elmira Enforcers in overtime to capture the franchise’s first Commissioner’s Cup Championship. Jan Salak scored the championship-winning goal less than a minute into overtime, securing a 4-3 victory and delivering Winston-Salem its first professional hockey championship of the modern Thunderbirds era.
The 2018-19 team remains one of the defining groups in franchise history, setting a championship standard that continues to shape the identity of the organization today.
Building a Championship Standard
The 2018-19 championship established the modern Thunderbirds as one of the FPHL’s benchmark franchises.
In the seasons that followed, the organization continued to be defined by strong fan support, competitive teams, and a deep connection to the Winston-Salem community. The Thunderbirds remained a consistent contender, reaching the Commissioner’s Cup Finals in three consecutive seasons and continuing to build on the standard first set by the 2018-19 title team.
In 2025, the organization opened a new chapter by officially rebranding as the Twin City Thunderbirds. The new identity introduced a modern crest, updated jerseys, and a refreshed visual direction while continuing to honor the loyalty, passion, and history of Thunderbirds hockey in Winston-Salem.
The Twin City Thunderbirds
The Twin City Thunderbirds continue to play home games at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Arena, carrying forward a hockey tradition that stretches back to 1973.
The franchise’s history is built on more than wins, records, and championships. It is built on the fans who filled the Memorial Coliseum, and the Annex/Fairgrounds Arena; the players who wore Winston-Salem across their chests; and the generations of families who helped keep hockey alive in the Triad.
From the Polar Twins to the Thunderbirds, Winston-Salem hockey has always found a way to return, grow, and evolve.
The next chapter belongs to Twin City.
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