Pro hockey is coming back to Greensboro, and it’s bringing some big personalities with it.
The popular “Spittin’ Chiclets” crew – featuring former NHL players Paul Bissonnette, Ryan Whitney, and Keith Yandle, along with Mike Grinnell – are jumping into team ownership. They’ve joined forces with Zawyer Sports to bring an ECHL expansion team to North Carolina’s third-largest city.
This isn’t just another minor league hockey story. The ECHL, while technically the third tier of pro hockey in North America, has been a launching pad for dozens of NHL players over the years.
Zawyer Sports knows what they’re doing. They already own the Charlotte Checkers and Savannah Ghost Pirates, making this new Greensboro team their latest addition to a growing hockey empire in the Southeast.
The timing is interesting. The Carolina Hurricanes just started working with the Norfolk Admirals in 2023, but that partnership might not last long with this new team coming to their backyard.
The ECHL gave the green light to the Greensboro expansion last October. It’s a league that’s constantly changing – teams come and go, move around, and switch NHL affiliations pretty regularly.
What’s next for hockey in Greensboro? With the “Spittin’ Chiclets” guys involved, you can bet it won’t be boring. These former players turned podcasters have built a massive following by keeping things entertaining, and they’ll likely bring that same energy to team ownership.
