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With the CHL in rough shape and the Fort Wayne Komets looking to move to the ECHL, owner Michael Franke says more structure is needed in minor-league hockey – with the NHL’s involvement. His solution is simple: there needs to be a more organized structure to minor-league hockey, mimicking the tiered structure used in Minor League Baseball, working closely with ... Read More »

The Orlando Solar Bears, slated to join the ECHL in the 2012-2013 season, unveiled their logo last night. The logo, designed by Joe Bosack, features the popular mascot, “Shades,” and consist of the historical teal and purple color scheme. “A focus group made up of youth hockey players and coaches, past Solar Bears season ticket holders and former Solar Bears ... Read More »

Reps from eight Western NHL teams have lobbied NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly about working with the AHL on a western division or establishing a new league, according to TSN. The eight teams — the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes and Vancouver Canucks — reportedly wants the AHL to ... Read More »

Two weeks after the Orlando City Council approved a lease for an ECHL team at Amway Center, the league announced an expansion franchise was unanimously approved for the 2012-2013 season. The Orlando membership is owned by Orlando Pro Hockey Operations, L.P., an entity controlled by Joe Haleski, Bob Ohrablo and Jason Siegel. We reported on the lease two weeks ago. ... Read More »

When we visited Amway Center, we expressed hope that a hockey tenant would be forthcoming someday in the impressive facility. Our wish came true: Orlando has approved a three-year lease for an ECHL team, beginning in 2012-2013. The Orlando City Council approved the Amway Center lease today. The team will be owned by Orlando Pro Hockey Operations LP, headed by ... Read More »

Though the Philadelphia Flyers would have no interest in owning a new Trenton ECHL team, they would be interested in sending players if the league arranges a franchise, according to team president Peter Luukko. The old Trenton Titans were affiliated with and partly owned by the Flyers and were generally successful before the team was sold to the New Jersey ... Read More »

The New Jersey Devils have decided to cease operations of the Trenton Devils (ECHL), forcing the league to draw up a revised 2011-2012 schedule while simultaneously seeking a new operator for the team. The team reported 2,930 fans a game at Sun National Bank Center. Other than a terse statement issued by the ECHL, no one is saying much about ... Read More »

The Colorado Eagles are jumping from the Central Hockey League to the ECHL for the 2011-2012 season, dealing another blow to the beleaguered circuit; meanwhile, the owners of the Victoria Salmon Kings bought the assets of the Chilliwack Bruins and will field a Victoria team in that league. The Eagles were perennially one of the top draws in the CHL; ... Read More »

No surprise here: the Gwinnett Gladiators, one of the most successful ECHL teams, has signed a lease extension for Gwinnett Arena that will keep the team at Gwinnett Center through 2014. “We take an enormous amount of pride that our home venue is consistently ranked as one of the premier multi-purpose facilities in the entire nation, and the Arena ice ... Read More »

Normally AEG isn’t in the habit of actually owning sports teams and venues, which is why this transaction is noteworthy: the facilities giant’s Facilities division is buying into U.S. Bank Arena and the Cincinnati Cyclones (ECHL) with current owner Nederlander Entertainment. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. Nederlander bought the arena out of bankruptcy in 2001 for $22.1 million, ... Read More »