Professional ice hockey has been a part of the Winston-Salem community on and off since 1973 when the Polar Twins played in the Southern Hockey League. The city last saw a full time tenant during the 2008-09 hockey season. Winston- Salem based teams have all averaged a minimum of 1100 fans a game. There is also a strong youth hockey, college club and other ice users programs presents in the Triad.
Pro Hockey Teams
1973-1977-Winston-Salem Polar Twins were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the Southern Hockey League from 1973 to 1977. During the 1974-75 season the team averaged 2210 and played their games at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum with a hockey capacity of 7,600. Ed Timmerman was one of the original owners for the first two season until famed wrestling promoter Jim Crockett Jr. stepped in to take over the team. He kept it going until January 1977 when the league folded.
1981-1987 Carolina Thunderbirds were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 1981 to 1987. The team played in the Memorial Coliseum. The ACHL merged with another league after the 1987 season.
1987-1988 Carolina Thunderbirds were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the All American Hockey League from 1987 to 1988. The team played in the Winston-Salem Coliseum. The All American Hockey League was a merger of the ACHL and the Continental Hockey League, current FHL city Danville also played in the league.
1988-1989 Carolina Thunderbirds were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the new East Coast Hockey League from 1988 to 1989 and were owned by Bill Coffey. The team played in the Winston-Salem Coliseum.
1989-1992 Winston-Salem Thunderbirds were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the East Coast Hockey League from 1989 to 1992. The team began playing in the new Annex Arena. The team averaged 2,620 in 89-90; 1,837 in 90-91 and 2,114 in 91-92. Name was changed to Winston-Salem from Carolina the season before with Greensboro entering the league.
1995-1996 Winston-Salem Mammoths were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the Southern Hockey League from 1995 to 1996. The team played in the Annex at the Fairgrounds and averaged 1,332 a game.
1997-1999 The Winston-Salem Icehawks were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the United Hockey League from 1997 to 1999. The team played in the Annex at the Fairgrounds and averaged 1,674 in 97-98 and 1,979 during the 1998-99 season.
2002-2003 St. Petersburg/Winston-Salem Parrots were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League from 2002 to 2003. The team played in the Annex at the Fairgrounds and averaged 400 fans in St. Pete and 800 fans in games they played in Winston-Salem.
2003-04 Winston-Salem T-Birds After the ACHL spilt into two different leagues, the World Hockey Association 2 and the Southeast Hockey League the T-Birds played in the South East Hockey League from 2003 to 2004. The team averaged 772 fans in a four team league playing in the Annex at the Fairgrounds. After one season the Southern Professional Hockey League was formed.
2004-05 Winston-Salem Polar Twins were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League from 2004 to 2005 and they averaged 1,493 fans a game.
2007-09 Twin City Cyclones were a Minor Professional hockey team based in Winston-Salem, NC playing in the Southern Professional Hockey League from 2007 to 2009. The Cyclones where a relocated team from Florence, SC and averaged 1,180 in 07-08 and 1,130 in 08-09.
March 1, 2014 Federal Hockey League game between Danville and Watertown draws over 2,400 people.
August 21, 2016 New organization and Annex announce an agreement to bring professional hockey back to Winston-Salem.
October 27, 2017 The newly formed Carolina Thunderbirds play in their first-ever game against the Danville Dashers.
November 3, 2017 The Thunderbirds play their first home game at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds Annex against the North Shore Knights. The Thunderbirds would defeat the Knights 3-2 in front of a sold-out crowd.
March 2, 2018 Ahead of a match-up against the Port Huron Prowlers, the Thunderbirds break the single-season, all-time Federal Hockey League attendance record with games to spare.
April 7, 2018 Despite a 4-2 loss to the Prowlers, the Thunderbirds finish their historic inaugural season, wrapping up the campaign with a total attendance of 66,204 for the season, a full 14,720 higher than the previous record.
April 13, 2018 The Thunderbirds host the Watertown Wolves in round 1 of the FHL Playoffs, falling in overtime in the first playoff game played in the Triad in 10 years.
April 14, 2018 The Thunderbirds manage to make history once again despite losing to the Wolves and being knocked out of the playoffs. A 3-2 Wolves win in double overtime would go down in the history books as the longest game in league history.
April 27, 2019 Carolina defeats the Elmira Enforcers in game four of the FHL championship series to win the team's first FHL title. Jan Salak scored the game-winning goal less than a minute into overtime to win the game, 4-3.
December 21, 2019 The Thunderbirds defeat the Mentor Ice Breakers for the franchise's 100th victory.
March 8, 2020 After a 9-3 over the Columbus River Dragons, the first-place Thunderbirds have their season suspended and subsequently cancelled by the FPHL due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 3, 2021 The Thunderbirds begin a shortened season where they play every game on the road. The team finishes the year 10-9-1.
FPHL 
