FLORENCE, S.C. (WPDE) — A news conference took place Wednesday morning to announce that a professional hockey team is taking up residence at the Florence Center.

The Pee Dee Pro Hockey team, as it’s called for now, is back and here to stay, bringing fast-paced action, family fun, and a whole new level of energy to the Florence Center, according to a new release.

Florence Mayor Lethonia “Peaches” Barnes and Florence County Council Chairman William Schofield said community members and people across the region have been asking for the return of hockey and they’re overjoyed that it’s finally happening.

The team’s owner, Parker Moskal, said they’re in town to stay.

“We’re not here to visit Florence, we’re here to be a part of Florence,” said Moskal. “This is your team. It belongs to this city, to this region, and to everyone who calls the Pee Dee home. This is more than hockey. It’s about pride. It’s about unity. It’s about making a positive impact on the ice and off.”

The Florence Center was home to the Pee Dee Pride minor league hockey team in 1997.

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The team was a big hit with the community in its first couple of years, even selling out tickets, but dealt with low ticket sales by its third season and eventually folded.

A local group of investors brought a hockey team back to Florence in 2003 that was based out of the Florence Center, but it didn’t last long.

Mackie Adams of Dillon remembers the hockey teams and was even a mascot for one of them.

“Pride came in 1997-98 season. I was 11 years old. I started coming. I didn’t know anything about hockey. Very strange to me. But, I started coming . Fell in love with it immediately. I was glued to it. I begged my parents. Came every night and we got season tickets,” said Adams.

He added that he now plans to take his little girl to see the games and hopes that she’ll enjoy them as much as he did.

Some people are hoping that the new hockey team won’t be a fly-by-night.

Florence Center General Manager Rex Berman said he’s brought hockey teams to other cities and he knows what it takes for the teams to be successful.

Berman said he’s also done his homework.

“Doing a lot of research. Making sure the league’s clicking. They’ve got some legitimate sources to back them up. That’s why I feel this is going to be successful,” said Berman.

Hayden Harrington said he believes the new hockey will do just as well as the Pee Dee Pride because times have really changed over the course of 20 years.

“The sport of hockey has come a long way in the past 15 years. And we’ve missed out on that here in Florence. You know, hockey is really a sport for everybody,” said Harrington.

Derek Lowe and Samuel Fryer were two of many wearing classic Pee Dee Pride jerseys to the news conference.

They both can’t wait for the season to kick off.

“It’s bringing back everybody’s childhood. Everybody that grew up with hockey around here. You know, 20 years ago when it was big around here,” said Lowe.

“Pee Dee Pride. Childhood, those are core memories,” said Fryer.

To kick things off, a team naming contest will begin soon , giving fans a chance to help shape

the identity of Florence’s new franchise.

Officials said this is your opportunity to be part of local sports history.

Tickets are on sale now and season tickets are already in high demand, according to a news release.