Mayhem open season, on 50th anniversary of pro hockey in town, at home on Friday

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

          The Macon Mayhem have some new management, and will start the season hoping for some new success.

          The Mayhem’s 13-39-4 record last year was an improvement from 10-40-3 in 2021-22, but a far cry from the 32-6-2 mark in 2020-21.

          The Mayhem open the season at home at 7 p.m. on Friday against Knoxville, marking the 50th anniversary of pro hockey coming to Macon.

          “Skating with the Mayhem” will follow the game.

          The Georgia Sports Hall of Fame will have a traveling display of the history of Macon Hockey, including a 1973 game jersey, blood stains included, and a program and stick from then.

          The teams go again on Saturday night, “Star Wars Night” with Star Wars “guests”, specialty jerseys, and merchandise. All player jerseys will be auctioned off after the game.

          Macon remains at home next week, hosting Fayetteville (Museum of Aviation STEM night on Friday, Peanuts-Charlie Brown

          Each Saturday game includes a season tickeholders’ tailgate party with food trucks, bouncy houses, and a “Macon Mayhem Lager” from Fall Line Brewing Company.

          It starts a new administrative era for the Mayhem, whose first season in the SPHL was 2015-16.

          A group of local people – Blair Floyd, Charles Olson, John Regan, Mason Bryan, and Dr. John Sapp - comprised Georgia Pro Sports Ventures and bought the team in the summer of 2020.

          Scott Gooch became the new majority owner last summer, in hopes of helping spark a return to the days of Mayhem making the playoffs and contending for the President’s Cup.

          Nick Niedert begins his second year as head coach, back at the Macon Coliseum, where he played for the old Macon Trax hockey team almost two decades ago.

          He is the team’s fifth head coach since its first year, 2015-16. That includes Kevin Kerr, the team’s first head coach who left after three seasons and returned for one, 2020-21.

          Zac Desjardins lasted one season, going 10-40-2.

          Niedert wasn’t hired until August of 2022, getting a late start on recruiting and signing players. Four players who started the season finished it with Macon, and more than 61 players saw actions.

          This year’s roster was announced Thursday, and includes six players who suited up for the Mayhem last year: forwards Tommy Munichiello, C.J. Hayes, and Jake Goldowski, defensemen Tim Faulkner, Sacha Roy, and Jamie Dorsey, and goalkeeper Josh Boyko.