AHL Franchise Histories

[Majik1987]

Poster drummt provided us with a list of the franchise histories. If you have any changes, please submit them for consideration.

ACTIVE/ CURRENT TEAMS

Hershey Bears (1938-Present, ONLY ORIGINAL FRANCHISE TO HAVE NEVER MOVED, FOLD or GO DORMANT)

Pittsburgh Hornets (1936–1956; became Rochester Americans)
Rochester Americans (1956-Present)

Maine Mariners (1977–1992; became Providence Bruins)
Providence Bruins (1992-Present)

Erie Blades (1981–1982; merged into Baltimore Skipjacks)
Baltimore Skipjacks (1982–1993; became Portland Pirates)
Portland Pirates (1993-Present)

Capital District Islanders (1990–1993; played in Troy, NY; became Albany River Rats)
Albany River Rats (1993-2010, became Charlotte Checkers)
Charlotte Checkers (2010-Present)

Springfield Falcons (1994-Present, Expansion Franchise)

Hamilton Canucks (1992–1994; became Syracuse Crunch)
Syracuse Crunch (1994-Present)

Montreal Voyageurs (1969–1971; became Nova Scotia Voyageurs)
Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1971–1984; became Sherbrooke Canadiens)
Sherbrooke Canadiens (1984–1990; became Fredericton Canadiens)
Fredericton Canadiens (1990–1999; became Quebec Citadelles)
Quebec Citadelles (1999–2002; became Hamilton Bulldogs [same name/market since 1996, different franchise])
Hamilton Bulldogs (2003-Present)


Philadelphia Phantoms (1996-2009, Expansion Franchise; sold to Brooks Group in 2009; became Adirondack Phantoms)
Adirondack Phantoms (2009-Current)

Providence Reds (1936–1976; renamed Rhode Island Reds)
Rhode Island Reds (1976–1977) became Binghamton Dusters)
Binghamton Dusters (1977–1980; renamed Binghamton Whalers)
Binghamton Whalers (1980–1990; renamed Binghamton Rangers)
Binghamton Rangers (1990–1997; became Hartford Wolf Pack)
Hartford Wolf Pack (1997-2010; became Conneticut Whale)
Conneticut Whale (2010-present)

Fredericton Express (1981–1988; became Halifax Citadels)
Halifax Citadels (1988–1993; became Cornwall Aces)
Cornwall Aces (1993–1996; became Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (1999-Present)

Norfolk Admirals (2000-Present, Expansion Franchise)

Carolina Monarchs (1995–1997; became Beast of New Haven)
Beast of New Haven (1997–1999; dormant from 1999 to 2001, sold in xxxx, moved in xxxx became Bridgeport Sound Tigers)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2001-Present, Expansion Franchise)

Manchester Monarchs (2001-Present, Expansion Franchise)

Chicago Wolves (2001-Present, Old IHL Franchise)

Grand Rapids Griffins (2001-Present, Old IHL Franchise)

Houston Aeros (2001-Present, Old IHL Franchise)

Milwaukee Admirals (2001-Present, Old IHL Franchise)

Manitoba Moose (2001-2010, Old IHL Franchise; became St. John's Ice Caps)
St. John's Ice Caps (2011-present)

Tidewater Wings (1971–1972; played in Norfolk; renamed Virginia Wings)
Virginia Wings (1972–1975; played in Norfolk; became Adirondack Red Wings)
Adirondack Red Wings (1979–1999; dormant from 1999 to 2002, sold in xxxx, moved in xxxx became San Antonio Rampage)
San Antonio Rampage (2002-Present)

New Haven Nighthawks (1972–1992; became New Haven Senators)
New Haven Senators (1992–1993; became Prince Edward Island Senators)
Prince Edward Island Senators (1993–1996; became Binghamton Senators)
Binghamton Senators (2002-Present)

St. Catharines Saints (1982–1986; became Newmarket Saints)
Newmarket Saints (1986–1991; became St. John's Maple Leafs)
St. John's Maple Leafs (1991–2005; became Toronto Marlies)
Toronto Marlies (2005-Present)

Springfield Indians (1936–1942; suspended during WWII; returned 1946)
Springfield Indians (1946–1951; became Syracuse Warriors)
Syracuse Warriors (1951–1954; became Springfield Indians)
Springfield Indians (1954–1967; renamed Springfield Kings)
Springfield Kings (1967–1974; renamed Springfield Indians)
Springfield Indians (1974–1994; became Worcester Ice Cats)
Worcester IceCats (1994–2005; became Peoria Rivermen)
Peoria Rivermen (2005-Present)

Lowell Lock Monsters (1998–2006; became Lowell Devils)
Lowell Devils (2006-2010, became Albany Devils)
Albany Devils (2010-Present)

Kentucky Thoroughblades (1996–2001; became Cleveland Barons)
Cleveland Barons (2001–2006; became Worcester Sharks)
Worcester Sharks (2006-Present)

Baltimore Bandits (1995–1997; became Cincinnati Mighty Ducks)
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (1997–2005; became Rockford IceHogs)
Rockford IceHogs (2007-Present)

Utica Devils (1987–1993; became Saint John Flames)
Saint John Flames (1993–2003; became Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights)
Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (2005–2007; became Quad City Flames)
Quad City Flames (2007-2009; became Abbotsford Heat)
Abbotsford Heat (2009-Current)

Utah Grizzlies (2001–2005;Old IHL Franchise, sold to Cleveland Caviliers Owner)
Lake Erie Monsters (2007-Present)

Louisville Panthers (1999–2001; became Iowa Stars)
Iowa Stars (2005-2008, renamed Iowa Chops)
Iowa Chops (2008-2009; 2009-Dormant)

Texas Stars (2009-Current; granted a conditional franchise for 2009-2010 season)

Nova Scotia Oilers (1984–1988; became Cape Breton Oilers)
Cape Breton Oilers (1988–1996; became Hamilton Bulldogs)
Hamilton Bulldogs (1996-2003; became the Toronto Roadrunners [another franchise moved into Hamilton and retained the name and logo])
Toronto Roadrunners (2003–2004; became Edmonton Road Runners)
Edmonton Road Runners (2004–2005; dormant until 2010; became Oklahoma City Barons)
Oklahoma City Barons (2010-present)

DEFUNCT TEAMS

Buffalo Bisons (1936; folded)
Syracuse Stars (1936–1940; became Buffalo Bisons)
Buffalo Bisons (1940–1970; folded)

Cleveland Falcons (1936–1937; renamed Cleveland Barons)
Cleveland Barons (1937–1973; became Jacksonville Barons)
Jacksonville Barons (1973–1974; folded)

Indianapolis Capitals (1939–1952; folded)

St. Louis Flyers (1944–1953; folded)

Pittsburgh Hornets (1961–1967; folded)

Boston Braves (1971–1974; suspended, became Moncton Hawks)
Moncton Hawks (1987–1994; folded)

Cincinnati Swords (1971–1974; folded)

Philadelphia Ramblers (1936–1941, renamed Philadelphia Rockets)
Philadelphia Rockets (1941–1942) folded
Philadelphia Rockets (1946–1949; folded)

New Haven Eagles (1936–1943; folded during WWII resurrected 1945)
New Haven Eagles (1945–1946, renamed New Haven Ramblers)
New Haven Ramblers (1946–1950, renamed New Haven Eagles)
New Haven Eagles (1950–1951, folded)

Quebec Aces (1959–1971; became Richmond Robins)
Richmond Robins (1971–1976; folded)

Baltimore Clippers (1962–1976; folded)

Syracuse Eagles (1974–1975; folded)

Hampton Gulls (1977–1978; folded)


Philadelphia Firebirds (1977–1979; became Syracuse Firebirds)
Syracuse Firebirds (1979–1980; folded)

Sherbrooke Jets (1982–1984; folded)

New Brunswick Hawks (1978–1982; became Moncton Alpines)
Moncton Alpines (1982–1984; renamed Moncton Golden Flames)
Moncton Golden Flames (1984–1987; folded)

Washington Lions (1941–1943; folded, resurected in 1947)
Washington Lions (1947–1949; became Cincinnati Mohawks)
Cincinnati Mohawks (1949–1952; transferred to IHL)

Click to read more...

 

[Captain Esoteric]

San Antonio Rampage

If memory serves me correctly, the current Rampage are the former Adirondack Red Wings.

Detroit mothballed the franchise in 1999 in anticipation of an arena that was never built in Toledo. They split with Anaheim in Cincinnati until the Griffins booted the Senators to Binghamton and affiliated with the Wings. Thus, they no longer needed to own the franchise and the same year, San Antonio began as the Florida-affiliated team after purchasing this franchise.

Wikipedia's information is contrary to all this, but I am pretty sure that's how it happened.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

If memory serves me correctly, the current Rampage are the former Adirondack Red Wings.

Detroit mothballed the franchise in 1999 in anticipation of an arena that was never built in Toledo. They split with Anaheim in Cincinnati until the Griffins booted the Senators to Binghamton and affiliated with the Wings. Thus, they no longer needed to own the franchise and the same year, San Antonio began as the Florida-affiliated team after purchasing this franchise.

Wikipedia's information is contrary to all this, but I am pretty sure that's how it happened.

Correct, Eso.

when the contract expired in GR w/ Ottawa Detroit took the Griffins, but the Panthers and Spurs inquired about SA acquiring the Detroit franchise was a plan b option after trying to acquire the Louisville franchise from Tamer Afr after terminating in '01 ( that franchise later became the Iowa Stars, and now the CHOPS). Florida found out that Afr's mismanagement caused them to break the contract in Louisville.

TECHNICAL timeline for the current SA Rampage is as follows:

Tidewater Wings
Virginia Wings
Adirondack Red Wings
RAMPAGE(Originally the STAMPEDE)

 

[Majik1987]

If memory serves me correctly, the current Rampage are the former Adirondack Red Wings.

Detroit mothballed the franchise in 1999 in anticipation of an arena that was never built in Toledo. They split with Anaheim in Cincinnati until the Griffins booted the Senators to Binghamton and affiliated with the Wings. Thus, they no longer needed to own the franchise and the same year, San Antonio began as the Florida-affiliated team after purchasing this franchise.

Wikipedia's information is contrary to all this, but I am pretty sure that's how it happened.

I'll change it if Rum, Pelts, or Hans seconds the motion, or we get a link for the sales detail.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I'll change it if Rum, Pelts, or Hans seconds the motion, or we get a link for the sales detail.

it's accurate, Majik, we talked about this way back when and why Louisville was essentially terminated when Florida terminated the agreement when they found out their prospects as per development contract weren't being paid in a timely manner...

 

[ratsgirl]

I'll change it if Rum, Pelts, or Hans seconds the motion, or we get a link for the sales detail.

this article mentions that it was the A-Wings that ended up in SA:

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/5610/san_antonio_rampage_stampede_into_the_ahl/

Pych recalls, “The last few days was a mad scramble to find an alternative franchise, so we ended up being able to get the dormant Adirondack franchise through relationships that Mike Santos and Bill Torrey had with the people who ran the Detroit Red Wings.â€

 

[Majik1987]

this article mentions that it was the A-Wings that ended up in SA:

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/5610/san_antonio_rampage_stampede_into_the_ahl/

Thanks. Change will be made.

 

[Tommy Hawk]

One thing I would like to see changed in the list is where you have statements like under Louisville where it says "became Iowa Stars" changed to team folded, license later sold and became Iowa Stars" otherwise it sounds like Louisville just up and moved to Iowa when it was sold and moved.

 

[HansH]

One thing I would like to see changed in the list is where you have statements like under Louisville where it says "became Iowa Stars" changed to team folded, license later sold and became Iowa Stars" otherwise it sounds like Louisville just up and moved to Iowa when it was sold and moved.

I would argue that a better phrasing would have been "dormant from xxxx to xxxx, sold in xxxx, moved in xxxx"

 

[HansH]

I have a suggested correction.

In my own personal spreadsheet I put together several years ago and have kept updated, I have the Monarchs' franchise actually being the Cornwall Aces franchise that was dormant, then purchased, then sold again, etc etc, but was the same franchise.

I think I remember we have this discussion pretty much every time franchise history comes up, and I can never put my hands on the link that made me make this association in the first place - but I'm pretty confident that I wouldn't have that on my spreadsheet unless I'd seen some support SOMEWHERE.

Can anyone help me out on this? Why do I think Baldwin had a hand in it? Or is that my fevered brain?

 

[AdmiralPred]

One thing I would like to see changed in the list is where you have statements like under Louisville where it says "became Iowa Stars" changed to team folded, license later sold and became Iowa Stars" otherwise it sounds like Louisville just up and moved to Iowa when it was sold and moved.

I would argue that a better phrasing would have been "dormant from xxxx to xxxx, sold in xxxx, moved in xxxx"

I like both of these suggestions. Will make it easier to keep score at home. The foundation is there, now comes the refinement... Add more substance than what you could pull from Wiki.

==============================
Also, adding a blurb about the Cincy Railraiders prior to Rockford, I think, would be warranted even thought they never took to the ice. Would this just open a can of worms?

==============================

Can anyone help me out on this? Why do I think Baldwin had a hand in it? Or is that my fevered brain?

I think it is just the fever that Baldwin creates when it comes to ownership.

==============================

 

[HansH]

Another thought - might it be easier to track franchise history if the shifts were presented in REVERSE chronological order? That is, have the current location at the top, followed by any prior locations?

Or is it more likely that people would be looking to find out "whatever happened to the Blah-Blah So-and-so's?"

I'm not married to either approach, just throwing it out there.

 

[Majik1987]

Okay,I will make the formatting changes in the near future.

Can someone back-up Hans recollection?

 

[AdmiralPred]

Okay,I will make the formatting changes in the near future.

Can someone back-up Hans recollection?

That one might take some research.

Start with this blurb from the Monarch's website

Wiki simply says that they, and Bridgeport, were expansion franchises in 2001-02.

EDIT: The Wiki page I refer to is the 2001-02 AHL season, not the Monarch's Wiki page - which mentions nothing.

 

[HansH]

Found it!

http://www.plaidworks.com/archives/pit-penguins/1999/Sep/v01.n623

Date: Wed, 29 Sep 1999 08:30:09 -0400
From: Erik Johnson
Subject: Baldwin back in hockey

Yesterday, the AHL approved a move for the inactive AHL Cornwall
franchise (still owned by Howard Baldwin) to move to Manchester, NH for
the 2001-02 season.

- --
Erik Johnson

 

[Majik1987]

Nice work! I'll add it to the change list.

 

[HansH]

Nice work! I'll add it to the change list.

Well... before you go changing it, I dug some more into the archives, and it seems to me that the majority have it right -- that Cornwall did become Wilkes-Barre, and the franchise that the Kings bought from Baldwin was "dormant", but looked like it was an expansion franchise for Manchester... so I don't think the one post I found was strong enough evidence that the Aces became the Monarchs.

 

[AdmiralPred]

Well... before you go changing it, I dug some more into the archives, and it seems to me that the majority have it right -- that Cornwall did become Wilkes-Barre, and the franchise that the Kings bought from Baldwin was "dormant", but looked like it was an expansion franchise for Manchester... so I don't think the one post I found was strong enough evidence that the Aces became the Monarchs.

Did you mean to say W-B? Also, what was the dormant Baldwin franchise to which the Monarch's website refers? (See link in one of my above posts)

 

[HansH]

Did you mean to say W-B? Also, what was the dormant Baldwin franchise to which the Monarch's website refers? (See link in one of my above posts)

As far as I can tell, there's really been no reference to a prior city for the dormant Baldwin franchise -- so what I used to think was a slam-dunk indication that the Aces became the Monarchs, upon reflection, seems to indicate that the expansion franchise for Manchester was originally granted to Baldwin, and that -that- is what the Kings bought...

It's tricky, I know, but I'm finally siding with what Wiki says -- though it would be SO much better if the AHL would just clarify for us, wouldn't it?

 

[Tommy Hawk]

There seems to be a lot of "expansion" franchises but also a lot that never became anything. I wonder if when some of these teams folded or whatever you call it, they gave/sold the license back to the league, similar to a company doing a stock buyback.

 

[Majik1987]

I would argue that a better phrasing would have been "dormant from xxxx to xxxx, sold in xxxx, moved in xxxx"

I like this, but I don't have all the details. I have left some with the xxxx. If anyone knows the details, please share and I'll fix it.

 

[AdmiralPred]

As far as I can tell, there's really been no reference to a prior city for the dormant Baldwin franchise -- so what I used to think was a slam-dunk indication that the Aces became the Monarchs, upon reflection, seems to indicate that the expansion franchise for Manchester was originally granted to Baldwin, and that -that- is what the Kings bought..

Makes sense to me.

 

[Evil Doctor]

Okay, why does the Hamilton Bulldogs get split up because of an affiliation change while no other franchise does?

 

[Tommy Hawk]

Okay, why does the Hamilton Bulldogs get split up because of an affiliation change while no other franchise does?

I am not sure but I think the franchise became the Bingo Sens and the Citadelles moved in though team name never changed.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Okay, why does the Hamilton Bulldogs get split up because of an affiliation change while no other franchise does?

Because of the radical Change from being owned by the parent to standing on its own aka private.....