APHL suspends the Toledo Swarm for the 2026/2027 season.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

APHL Suspends Toledo Swarm for 2026–2027 Season

The American Premier Hockey League (APHL) today announced the suspension of the Toledo Swarm franchise for the upcoming 2026–2027 season.

This decision was not made lightly. After a thorough review, the league identified serious and ongoing concerns regarding player safety, which remains the APHL’s highest priority. Specifically, the Swarm organization demonstrated a lack of accountability in upholding and enforcing player safety standards—an essential responsibility for every team in the league. Toledo was one of the original founding teams in the APHL and the decision was not made easily. We want to thank Toledo for its efforts and commitment to the APHL for the last three years and wish the organization great success in its future endeavors. 

“Our responsibility is to protect the players and the integrity of the game, when those standards are not consistently met, we must take action.”

The Toledo Swarm will not participate in league play during the 2026–2027 season. However, the organization will have the opportunity to apply for reentry into the APHL for the 2027–2028 season. Any future reinstatement will require clear evidence of improved operations, with a strong and verifiable commitment to player safety and league standards.

The APHL understands the impact this decision has on fans, players, and the Toledo hockey community. The league remains committed to ensuring a safe, competitive, and professional environment across all member teams.

Further updates regarding the Toledo market and future opportunities will be shared at a later date.