Palmetto Cup Challenge (1997-2008)

Last Updated: 3/30/08

Picture taken by Chris Cook

The Alltel Palmetto Cup is awarded to the professional hockey champions of the state of South Carolina.
The award began in 1997-98 when the Pee Dee Pride transferred from Knoxville. During that first season, 
the Pride and the South Carolina Stingrays had identical records against each other during the regular season. 
By virtue of a playoff series victory by the Pride over the Stingrays, the Pride won the inaugural Palmetto Cup. 
They kept it in Florence until 2001, when the Stingrays managed to wrest the cup away from their bitter rivals. 

 In 1998-99, the Greenville Grrrowl began their quest to someday capture the Palmetto Cup. The Columbia Inferno 
joined the fray in 2001-02 and won the Palmetto Cup three consecutive seasons until South Carolina won the hardware
in 2005. 

In 2005-06, the battle for the Palmetto Cup involved only three teams due to the Pee Dee Pride suspending operations 
for a potential move to the Myrtle Beach/Conway area. 

The 2006-07 version of the Palmetto Cup only involved two teams this time around, with Greenville having their membership 
terminated by the ECHL.

Following the 2007-08 season, the Columbia Inferno asked for a voluntary suspension of operations as they are hoping
to have a new arena built in Lexington County. The former Pee Dee Pride are still on hold pending a new arena at
Coastal Carolina. Ground STILL has not been broken for the arena. 

1997-98

*Pride won playoff series

1998-99

1999-00

2000-01

2001-2002 

2002-2003

2003-2004

2004-2005

* Stingrays won tiebreaker (more victories)

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008