The Suncoast Suns was a minor league professional ice hockey team based in St. Petersburg, Florida, and played home games at the Bayfront Center.

The Suns franchise was started by a group of businessmen who wanted a team in the Raleigh, North Carolina area, but chose St. Petersburg instead due to a suitable arena.

[2][3] The name Suncoast Suns was selected by a panel of judges in July 1971 including Jack Russell and Al Lopez because it represented the Tampa Bay area.

[10] In May 1973, the Suns and other southern division teams withdrew from the Eastern Hockey League and founded the Southern Hockey League, due to travel costs of going to northern arenas, and other regulations such as dressing only 14 players for games.

[2] The Suns affiliated with the Minnesota Fighting Saints and the New England Whalers for the 1973–74 Southern Hockey League season.