Springfield Mass/Abbotsford/Utica/Vancouver (Josh Ohlund – BCIT Journalism) – MAY 6 UPDATE – While the team name is still unknown, American Hockey League President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Howson announced that the AHL Board of Governors, convening for its Spring Meeting, has approved the following franchise transactions:
• The AHL franchise owned by the Vancouver Canucks will relocate from Utica, N.Y., to Abbotsford, B.C., to play at the Abbotsford Centre beginning with the 2021-22 AHL season.
• The AHL franchise owned by the New Jersey Devils will relocate from Binghamton, N.Y., to Utica, N.Y., to play at the Adirondack Bank Center beginning with the 2021-22 AHL season.
Division alignment and schedule formats for the 2021-22 season, which will begin October 15, will be announced at a later date.
MAY 4 UPDATE – Abbotsford is back in the AHL and the Vancouver Canucks will relocate their farm team there. Abbotsford Councilor Dave Loewen released the cryptic tweet late Tuesday afternoon.
The announcement may make some Abby taxpayers nervous. The Abbotsford Centre was the home for the Abbotsford Heat, the Calgary Flames AHL club, for five seasons. The club left Abbotsford after the 2013-14 season and the financial hit was tough to swallow.
The City of Abbotsford paid the owners of the Abbotsford Heat $5.5 million to end the Calgary Flames’ farm team’s contract with the city, capping off years of financial losses for the city. Those losses were over $12.5M. In 2010 then-Mayor George Peary signed a ten-year deal with the Heat to guarantee $5.7 million a year in revenue. That never happened.
From current Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun:
Mayor Braun shares the following statement on behalf of the City of Abbotsford:
“An anchor tenant at the Abbotsford Centre will offer strong ongoing community connections, economic benefits and further showcases the City of Abbotsford as a leader for events, entertainment and sport. The City is excited to be in discussions with the Vancouver Canucks’ American Hockey League affiliate and we will provide an update with more details once an agreement is in place.”
From the Canucks – The Vancouver Canucks confirmed Tuesday their intent to relocate the club’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate to Abbotsford, BC, for the start the 2021-22 season. Details of a partnership with the City of Abbotsford are being finalized and the relocation will be subject to AHL Board of Governors approval on May 6.
“With momentum starting to build, we are pleased to confirm our goal to bring our AHL franchise and Canucks prospects home to the City of Abbotsford,” said Francesco Aquilini, Chairman, Canucks Sports & Entertainment. “The move would bring significant opportunities for both our team and the community and it would begin a new chapter, bringing Canucks hockey to even more fans throughout the Lower Mainland.”
The intended home of the Canucks new AHL affiliate is the Abbotsford Centre. The team would have a new name, brand, and logo, and play in the AHL’s Pacific Division. Further details and public comments await completion of the partnership agreement and AHL Board of Directors approval.
The Canucks and Utica Comets have enjoyed a successful partnership over the past eight years, highlighted by an exciting run to the Calder Cup final in 2014-15.
“We are extremely grateful for the outstanding partnership and working relationship we’ve had with Robert Esche and the entire Utica Comets family,” continued Aquilini. “Since 2013, we have worked closely to create a first-class hockey environment for our players and Utica’s great fans. Utica has one of the best, most energetic hockey environments in North America. We wish Robert, his staff and the incredible Comets fans nothing but success in the future.”
APRIL 21 ORIGINAL STORY – While the hope that Abbotsford may be the next destination for the Vancouver Canucks AHL affiliate, it appears to be up in the air.
While there has been talking of the Canucks wanting to relocate their AHL affiliate from Utica,N.Y. There’s still no official confirmation that they will leave the N.Y. area. And if the Canucks were to relocate, Abbotsford is no longer looking like a front runner.
“I have not had any recent discussions with the Canucks on the topic of their AHL team relocating,” Rick Comeau, general manager of the Abbotsford Centre, said in an email to Postmedia News on Monday.“I can only imagine the challenges that the team has been going through these last couple of weeks with the health of the players and their families.I would guess that has been their focus and they are spending their time trying to get healthy,reworking schedules, travel and getting back on the ice.”
The Canucks told Postmedia over the weekend: “While a formal decision on the future of the affiliation has not been reached, Vancouver and Utica will exercise due diligence and explore all options on the future of their partnership.”The Comets have been affiliated with the Canucks since 2013-14. However, the Canucks are able to opt-out of their current operating agreement after the conclusion of the 2021 season.
This is really disappointing for fans in Abbotsford who haven’t had a professional hockey team call the Abbotsford Centre home since the Abbotsford Heat left after the 2013-14 season.
Other locations that are being considered in B.C.are the Pacific Coliseum and Rogers Arena
