The team, originally known as the Fayetteville force then the Cape Fear FireAntz, began play in the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the 2002–03 season.

After the season David Waronker announced he was withdrawing his four teams from the unstable league to form the World Hockey Association 2.

In the 2006–07 season, under the guidance of head coach John Marks, the FireAntz advanced to the finals of the league's post-season playoffs for the first time in team history.

Tommy Stewart was let go after the 2010–11 season and was soon replaced by Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees' assistant coach, Sean Gillam.

He led the team to regular season record in the league and won William B. Coffey Trophy and the SPHL's Coach of the Year.

[citation needed] Later in the 2016–17 season, Longo and local entrepreneur Chuck Norris purchased the FireAntz from the seven-person ownership group, Cape Fear Pro Hockey.

[9] The change reflects the city of Fayetteville's relationship with the local United States Army post, Fort Liberty, as well as the native Carolina red fox.

[14] The Marksmen were then one of five SPHL teams to opt out of participating in the 2020–21 pandemic-delayed season due to capacity restrictions at their home arena.