The City of Pelham joins the Birmingham Bulls and the greater hockey community in mourning the loss of Bulls Team President Joe Stroud, who passed away on June 11 at the age of 53. A devoted member of the organization, Stroud began his career with the Bulls as an intern in 1994 and was named team president in 2019.
Stroud played a pivotal role in the team’s revival in 2017 and its move to the Pelham Civic Complex & Ice Arena, where the Bulls became a local mainstay. Under his leadership, the Bulls reached the SPHL President’s Cup Finals twice and earned playoff berths in four of the past seven seasons.
“He never stopped thinking, never stopped promoting,” said Pelham City Manager Gretchen DiFante. “He was always connecting with people to accomplish good things for the things he loved. He loved the Bulls, he loved being at the Pelham Ice Arena, and he was the glue that held the organization together—with a big heart, love, and incredible generosity.”
Joe Stroud’s passion, vision, and enduring commitment left an indelible mark on Pelham and the Birmingham sports community. He will be greatly missed.