Lunatik
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2012
- 56,250
- 8,384
If reports can be believed the Flames are soon to announce the purchase of the Stockton Thunder which is believed will be apart of the AHL creating a western division.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/12/...lers-will-likely-move-ahl-team-to-bakersfield
My question is this, would the Flames bail on Adirondack completely? Or would they find a way to swap the AHL and ECHL clubs, making Stockton the AHL affiliate and Adirondack the ECHL affiliate?
The reasoning behind such a move would be for same day call-ups as the airport at Glens Falls does not have any direct flights anywhere (looks like it only handles small private aircraft). Currently when the Flames recall a player they drive from Glens Falls to Montreal (approx. 3 hours) where they can get a direct flight to Calgary; rather than drive to Albany (approx. 1 hour) where they would have to fly to Chicago and then to Calgary. If they move to Stockton they would be able to fly from Stockton to Calgary (via Las Vegas).
The reasoning behind the move to Adirondack from Abbotsford was to reduce travel, if the AHL has a division heavy schedule a west coast division (they could also add the Texas clubs) would have more travel than Adirondack, but still significantly less than Abbotsford. Should this move forward and teams were in Bakersfield, Ontario, San Diego and another city in California the furthest drive within the division would be about 7 hours and the closest would probably be the Sharks affiliate (I would assume in Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco or Oakland) which would be about 75 minutes (or less) away.
There has also been been rumored interest from Phoenix (likely also in Phoenix or Tuscon), Colorado (likely Colorado Springs) and Vancouver (likely Abbotsford) to move their teams west as well (maybe not immediately but likely within 2-3 years). Those 3 teams with the 2 in Texas as well as Milwaukee, Rockford, Chicago, Iowa (Des Moines) and Grand Rapids would likely make up the rest of the Western Conference
I thought this was interesting enough for it's own thread rather than being buried in the regular ADK thread.
http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/12/...lers-will-likely-move-ahl-team-to-bakersfield
It is believed Edmonton, Calgary, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Jose will begin operating teams in a new Western Division of the AHL next season.
The Los Angeles Kings (Manchester, N.H) already own the ECHL Ontario Reign. Ther Calgary Flames (Adirondack, N.Y.) are expected to announce the purchase of Stockton Thunder, currently owned by Brad Rowbotham of Red Deer. Anaheim (Norfolk, Virginia) is looking at either San Diego or Long Beach. That would leave only San Jose (Worchester, Mass.) in search of a spot.
“The AHL and NHL are collaborating at looking at making some announcements at the end of January regarding relocations, playing fewer games with less travel and more divisional play,†said Oilers president and COO Patrick LaForge.
My question is this, would the Flames bail on Adirondack completely? Or would they find a way to swap the AHL and ECHL clubs, making Stockton the AHL affiliate and Adirondack the ECHL affiliate?
The reasoning behind such a move would be for same day call-ups as the airport at Glens Falls does not have any direct flights anywhere (looks like it only handles small private aircraft). Currently when the Flames recall a player they drive from Glens Falls to Montreal (approx. 3 hours) where they can get a direct flight to Calgary; rather than drive to Albany (approx. 1 hour) where they would have to fly to Chicago and then to Calgary. If they move to Stockton they would be able to fly from Stockton to Calgary (via Las Vegas).
The reasoning behind the move to Adirondack from Abbotsford was to reduce travel, if the AHL has a division heavy schedule a west coast division (they could also add the Texas clubs) would have more travel than Adirondack, but still significantly less than Abbotsford. Should this move forward and teams were in Bakersfield, Ontario, San Diego and another city in California the furthest drive within the division would be about 7 hours and the closest would probably be the Sharks affiliate (I would assume in Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco or Oakland) which would be about 75 minutes (or less) away.
There has also been been rumored interest from Phoenix (likely also in Phoenix or Tuscon), Colorado (likely Colorado Springs) and Vancouver (likely Abbotsford) to move their teams west as well (maybe not immediately but likely within 2-3 years). Those 3 teams with the 2 in Texas as well as Milwaukee, Rockford, Chicago, Iowa (Des Moines) and Grand Rapids would likely make up the rest of the Western Conference
I thought this was interesting enough for it's own thread rather than being buried in the regular ADK thread.
