The Empire State Cobras were a one-year franchise in

Roller Hockey International Roller Hockey International was a professional inline hockey league that operated in North America from 1993 to 1999. It was the first major professional league for inline hockey. History League president Dennis Murphy had been involved in ...

during the summer of 1996, based in

Glens Falls, New York Glens Falls is a City (New York), city in Warren County, New York, Warren County, New York, United States and is the central city of the Glens Falls, New York metropolitan area, Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,83 ...

. The Cobras drew fewer than 1,000 per game at home and owner Jerry Shorthouse ran out of money before the end of the season. Most of the Cobras’ roster came over from the defunct Buffalo Stampede franchise (1994-1995), which won RHI’s Murphy Cup in 1994. Although the club was good and won the Atlantic Division with a 16-7-5 record, the Cobras reportedly had to sell their home court advantage in the playoffs to the lower-seeded Orlando Jackals. They lost to the eventual champion Jackals in the first round. In January 1997, the Cobras returned to Buffalo under new ownership and changed their name to the Buffalo Wings. Roller Hockey International suspended operations in late 1997. After sitting out 1998, the league re-organized for one final season in 1999 and then folded.

References

Roller Hockey International teams Sports clubs and teams established in 1996 Sports in Glens Falls, New York Phoenix Cobras Sports clubs and teams disestablished in 1996 1996 establishments in New York (state) 1996 disestablishments in New York (state) {{NewYork-sport-team-stub