Empire State Cobras

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The Empire State Cobras joined Roller Hockey International for the 1996 season after the Phoenix Cobras fled the desert. The Cobras played in Glens Falls, NY, which was a hotbed of hockey at the time. There was already the highly successful Adirondack Red Wings in Glens Falls at the time, then add to the mix the Albany River Rats and RPI's hockey team and the Cobras were trying to capitalize on hockey fever in New York's Capital region.

However, it didn't work. The Cobras drew about 1,000 fans per game and ran out of money for the season - so desperate for dollars in fact they sold their home ice advantage in the playoffs to the Orlando Jackals. The Cobras did go 16-7-5 and won the division on the backs of most of the Buffalo Stampede franchise which had disbanded after the prior season. After the season, the Cobras were sold and moved to Buffalo to become the Buffalo Wings.