The Fort Wayne Komets (ECHL) and the Arizona Coyotes will not extend their affiliation, leaving the Komets to explore an arrangement with another organization.
Last July, the Komets announced a one-year affiliation with the Coyotes that was effective for the 2017-18 season. That arrangement will not be renewed for the 2018-19 season, as the Komets announced in a press release on Monday “that they have mutually agreed with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL to not renew their affiliation for 2018-19.”
Komets general manager David Franke indicated that Fort Wayne was initially disappointed that the arrangement was ending, but added that an effort is underway to secure an affiliation with another franchise. More from the News-Sentinel:
Komets General Manager David Franke said Monday evening he was a little disappointed that the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners decided to end their affiliation with Fort Wayne after one season.
“I think the organization wanted to explore and look around and see what else was out there,” Franke said from the ECHL’s annual summer meetings in Las Vegas. “I thought it worked pretty well for us. We were initially disappointed, but it was a one-year deal and there were some dynamics that have changed with the people I dealt with. That’show these things work. It’s not the end of the world.”
Franke said the Komets are in serious discussions with another franchise about becoming its affiliate but declined to name them.
There have already been several announcements regarding affiliations for the 2018-19 season, and more should be on the way over the coming weeks and months. Here is our coverage of some of the latest announcements.
