The Crown will soon come alive with the sounds of skates scraping the ice, pucks being shot into nets and fans cheering on their team as the Marksmen’s 2025-26 season starts, Oct. 18.
The Marksmen finished in fifth place in the Southern Professional Hockey League’s regular season, sending them to the 2025 playoffs. The team hopes to continue their success and do it again.
“Our success comes from a combination of things,” said Andrea Barr, social media coordinator for the team. “First and foremost, having a dedicated and consistent coaching staff and hockey operations. Amongst all the changes to players in a league like ours, you must have leaders at the helm who think about the bigger picture and plan for long-term success. Also, we’ve been lucky enough to welcome a vast array of talented hockey players to Fayetteville over the last few years, but really, we attribute that to working on building a culture that players want to be a part of. From the rink (Crown), to player apartments, to the golf, restaurants, and attractions that make up our community - and we can’t forget the FANS! – That is what draws players to want to be a Marksmen.”
The team has been around for over two decades, although the name and ownership have changed throughout that time. Originally the Force, then the FireAntz, the team has been a staple in the community for 25 years.
“Hockey has a long history in Fayetteville,” Barr said. “The Marksmen officially began in 2017 when current owner and CEO Chuck Norris, a U.S. Army Veteran who served here at Fort Bragg, purchased the team. This upcoming season marks our ninth season here in Fayetteville, and our eighth season on the ice (COVID).”
Fans of the team can anticipate the regular season excitement they’ve come to experience with the Marksmen. From themed nights to jersey giveaways and new merchandise, to skating with the team after games, fans will be able to get in on the action with their favorite local hockey team.
“We can’t give away too many secrets just yet, but we’re really excited about this season’s specialty jerseys! On top of that, we’ll be rolling out brand-new merchandise throughout the year, so there will be plenty of fresh gear to rep the Marksmen,” Barr said. “One thing we can share is that we’re introducing an exclusive Season Ticket Holder merchandise line, giving our most loyal fans something extra special to show off their pride around the Sandhills this year.”
Marksmen hockey isn’t just about the fans coming to watch the team play, however. The entire team believes in supporting the community and growing the game. Barr said the team will continue to run youth clinics in the spring and fall called “Mini Marksmen.” These clinics are designed for players aged 4-17, where they can learn to play or sharpen their skills with the Marksmen players.
“We also work with groups in our areas to host tournaments, both on ice and on cement – called ‘ball hockey’, as well as host ‘Mites on Ice’, where local youth skaters play a small game during intermission at one of our Marksmen home games. Supporting the next generation of hockey players is something we’re proud to continue this season and beyond,” she said.
The season will start on Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Crown. The Marksmen will be facing off against the Knoxville Ice Bears. Tickets can be found at https://marksmenhockey.com/schedule/. The team will then have the next two weekends as away games before coming back on Nov. 1 against the Roanoke Railyard Dogs. The Nov. 1 game is also Dia de los Muertos night, and a jersey auction for the special Los Zorros game jerseys will be held after the game.
Barr mentioned that skating with the players will be held after every Saturday night home game and a few select holiday games. The full schedule can be seen on their website.
As for Barr and the Marksmen, they are excited for the puck to drop.
“Personally, I’m most excited to see the Crown Coliseum full of smiles and energy again. There’s nothing like the adrenaline rush of fans cheering—whether it’s for a goal, a big hit, the DJ playing a favorite song, or even winning a promotional game. That atmosphere is what makes game nights so special,” she said. “As an organization, we can’t wait to welcome everyone back and create those unforgettable moments that keep people returning year after year. Our goal is always to deliver more than just hockey—we want every fan to leave with memories that last a lifetime.”