Hockey Rules,.. even in ATL... I'm the VP of the local mens league and it's huge. There are 5 rinks just on the North side of town and we have over 4,500 registered players in 7 leagues all with several divisions. (and yes i grew up in NY and we had 5 rinks within 5 miles of my house, but thats not the point)!
Granted i can tell you our league grows every year simply from the influx of transplants moving here, but now all their kids are playing too, so its a self feeding mechanism.
Hockey in the south is alive and well!
http://www.atlantahockey.org
here is one of me playing in Philips arena after a Thrashers - Penguins game. and one of me and my son after he/we (im the coach) won this years bantam championship.