ECHL Affiliations

crimsonace

Registered User
Mar 7, 2010
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Indianapolis, IN

I'm not sure there's a team in pro hockey that has seen more affiliate churn than Fort Wayne.

Since joining the ECHL, they've been affiliated with Anaheim (1 year), independent (1 year), Colorado (2 years), independent again (1 year), Arizona (1 year) and now searching again. Fort Wayne's media and fans tend to complain incessantly about AHL callups and the "ECHL existing to serve the AHL" and "not caring about the fans."

From what I read in their local newspapers, the Frankes prefer more of the old IHL2/CeHL model where a team controls its own players and largely keeps its roster intact, but the reality is, it's difficult to field a championship-caliber team (which their fans expect/demand) in the ECHL with that model because there's no NHL affiliate to send you 3-4 difference-makers (like Houser & Tyanulin for FtW this year).
 
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CHRDANHUTCH

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Mar 4, 2002
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I hope Cincinnati hooks up with Columbus this coming season

Columbus doesn't do as much as what you've seen from Worcester doing what they did with Bridgeport/Islanders as an expansion team or even what Newfoundland is doing with both Toronto's if u read how those relationships were structured.... you have to have that philosophy in place.... THAT'S PROBABLY WHY Columbus hasn't done more or has the "agreement" with Cincinnati.
 

tigervixxxen

Optimism=Delusional
Jul 7, 2013
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burgundy-review.com
I'm not sure there's a team in pro hockey that has seen more affiliate churn than Fort Wayne.

Since joining the ECHL, they've been affiliated with Anaheim (1 year), independent (1 year), Colorado (2 years), independent again (1 year), Arizona (1 year) and now searching again. Fort Wayne's media and fans tend to complain incessantly about AHL callups and the "ECHL existing to serve the AHL" and "not caring about the fans."

From what I read in their local newspapers, the Frankes prefer more of the old IHL2/CeHL model where a team controls its own players and largely keeps its roster intact, but the reality is, it's difficult to field a championship-caliber team (which their fans expect/demand) in the ECHL with that model because there's no NHL affiliate to send you 3-4 difference-makers (like Houser & Tyanulin for FtW this year).
Pretty much. They sure loved when Arizona sent Trevor Cheek back to them for the playoffs. Remaining unaffiliated doesn't prevent losing guys to PTOs and they tend to be gone longer with indefinite return dates. They should just remain independent.
 

crimsonace

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Mar 7, 2010
2,162
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Indianapolis, IN
I hope Cincinnati hooks up with Columbus this coming season

The Blue Jackets haven't really hid the fact that they're openly courting the Cyclones - for marketing reasons, having their affiliates in Cleveland & Cincinnati would go a long way in making themselves "Ohio's team." Even when they were officially affiliated with Kalamazoo, they were sending players to Cincinnati. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is one of those ECHL teams that is almost always dual-affiliated (or, these days, one official and one unofficial affiliate), but they don't market the affiliation.
 

Growlers

Go Growlers!
Dec 9, 2017
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Coyotes Announce Affiliation Agreement With Norfolk of ECHL

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - Arizona Coyotes President of Hockey Operations and General Manager John Chayka announced today that the Coyotes have ended their affiliation with the Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) and have signed a one-year affiliation agreement with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL.
"We are excited to partner with the Norfolk Admirals as our new ECHL affiliate," said Coyotes' Assistant General Manager Steve Sullivan. "The Admirals are a first-class organization with Owner Ardon Wiener and Head Coach Robbie Ftorek. Having had Robbie as my first professional head coach, I fully trust his ability to develop our prospects in Norfolk. We look forward to a strong partnership."
Norfolk is entering its fourth season back in the ECHL and plays its home games at the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, VA. The Admirals are one of 27 teams that compete in the ECHL and play in the South Division of the Eastern Conference. The franchise was founded in 1989 and have claimed three ECHL championships (1991, 1992 and 1998) and have also spent time in the American Hockey League (AHL).


Source: Coyotes Announce Affiliation Agreement With Norfolk of ECHL

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CHRDANHUTCH

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Mar 4, 2002
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Allen and San Jose are supposedly done...

CORRECT, Arena Digest just revealed their updated list, how it corresponds to the list posted in this thread, here are the teams looking or have been told they're not being retained:

Allen, Jacksonville, Idaho, Rapid City, Toledo, and Wheeling were listed as unknown or not renewing... Anaheim still has Utah listed but as we know Colorado has landed the Grizzlies..... the two new teams (Portland/Newfoundland) have no known expiration but again, NL is a three year deal, and Portland is a multi-year....

nothing off that list suggesting Greenville or Orlando have found an affiliation as of yet
 
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Woo Hockey

@WooHockeyNews
Jul 5, 2014
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woo.hockey
CORRECT, Arena Digest just revealed their updated list, how it corresponds to the list posted in this thread, here are the teams looking or have been told they're not being retained:

Allen, Jacksonville,
Got a link? Didn't realize Jacksonville and Winnipeg weren't renewing and haven't seen anything as a definite.

Doesn't make sense to have an affiliation in Florida in the first place when both the AHL and NHL teams are in Canada.
 

CHRDANHUTCH

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Mar 4, 2002
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Auburn, Maine
Got a link? Didn't realize Jacksonville and Winnipeg weren't renewing and haven't seen anything as a definite.

Doesn't make sense to have an affiliation in Florida in the first place when both the AHL and NHL teams are in Canada.
it's a newsletter publication, WH.... really there's no link to be posted but it's a series of newsletters which cover multiple sports, this one is the first time they've actually done a list of affiliations

what I can tell you it's a company called August Publications, and depending on your interest, anytime something new is posted you'll get it in your email.... same goes for minor league baseball, soccer, there's about 6 or 7 TOPIC select newsletters
 

Growlers

Go Growlers!
Dec 9, 2017
189
110
In an article on the Bellville Bulls website they state "Brampton Beast" as their AHL affiliate. Might be reading more into it then there is. But might mean Montreal is losing the Beast as their affiliate.

"Most of these players will come from teams in the ECHL, as they are eligible to be given PTO’s as long as they are given permission by their team’s Head Coach. While most of the PTO’s signed to Belleville are from their ECHL affiliate, the Brampton Beast, the Senators are allowed to sign a player from any ECHL team."

Source: Learning the AHL: Player Contracts - Belleville Senators
 

CHRDANHUTCH

Registered User
Mar 4, 2002
35,420
4,280
Auburn, Maine
In an article on the Bellville Bulls website they state "Brampton Beast" as their AHL affiliate. Might be reading more into it then there is. But might mean Montreal is losing the Beast as their affiliate.

"Most of these players will come from teams in the ECHL, as they are eligible to be given PTO’s as long as they are given permission by their team’s Head Coach. While most of the PTO’s signed to Belleville are from their ECHL affiliate, the Brampton Beast, the Senators are allowed to sign a player from any ECHL team."

Source: Learning the AHL: Player Contracts - Belleville Senators

that's been a rule. slue, even when the AHL was in St. John's, or elsewhere, it is not a hard or fast rule that says Ottawa/Belleville or any AHL team can do the above at any time, remember the "working unofficial agreement" title that the ECHL has, if a franchise needs a player, it can take any player whether it is on their affiliate or not... what I suspect you're seeing is Ottawa/Belleville has had that relationship with Brampton, much the same way the Leafs did with Orlando and likely will in Newfoundland.... all AHL Fans pretty much understand how the above operates, because you never know directly whether it's a contracted affiliated player or a working agreement that is signed and/or recalled.
 

royals119

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Jun 12, 2006
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West Lawn, PA
"Most of these players will come from teams in the ECHL, as they are eligible to be given PTO’s as long as they are given permission by their team’s Head Coach. While most of the PTO’s signed to Belleville are from their ECHL affiliate, the Brampton Beast, the Senators are allowed to sign a player from any ECHL team."

Source: Learning the AHL: Player Contracts - Belleville Senators
I agree it is interesting that Belleville is referring to Brampton as their "ECHL affiliate". They might just be using the term incorrectly, or it could be that Brampton is swapping affiliates and it just hasn't been announced yet.
 

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