Nashville Knights
The Nashville Knights started play at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium for the 1989-90 season, picking up six years after the Nashville South Stars left for Virginia. They were an immediate hit with attendance over 6,000 fans many nights and hitting a league attendance record of 8,805 in 1990. They weren't quite as good on the ice initially, finishing under .500 their first few seasons and missing the playoffs.Â
By year four, the team improved and had former big league enforcer Nick Fotiu at the helm. In 1992-93, they would finish with 36 wins in 64 games and make the playoffs. In the playoffs, the Knights knocked off Dayton before losing to Toledo, the eventual champions. That team was led by Trevor Jobe, a minor league journeyman who posted an incredible 85-76-161 stat line in only 64 games that season. Jobe's goal and point totals still stand as league records today. The following season wasn't quite as successful as Jobe went to Slovakia and the Knights would change coaches at the end of 1993-94.Â
The team's last two years would have some similarities under new coach Mark Kumpel. In 1994-95, they posted 32 wins and again made the third round of the playoffs before bowing out. However, they posted their best win total -- 42 -- in 1995-96 with help from future big leaguer Glen Metropolit. That put them only two points shy from the top of the division. But unfortunately they would be bounced in the first round of the playoffs. With fan support waning over the last couple of years, the team was moved to Florida in 1996.Â
