CALGARY FLAMES ANNOUNCE RELOCATION FROM STOCKTON, CA to GLENS FALLS

Glens Falls, NY. – The Calgary Flames announced today the relocation of their ECHL team, the Stockton Thunder, to Glens Falls, NY to begin play in the 2015-16 season. The Adirondack Flames, currently of the American Hockey League, will be relocated to Stockton, CA, also effective starting next season.

Adirondack Flames President Brian Petrovek, ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna and Adirondack Civic Center Coalition President Dan Burke announced the arrival of the ECHL to the region today in a press conference at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The Calgary Flames and Civic Center have agreed to a firm three year lease that ensures professional hockey will remain in Glens Falls for the foreseeable future.

“We are pleased to have secured a long term solution for world class, professional hockey in the Glens Falls market and the Adirondack region,” Adirondack Flames President Brian Petrovek said. “We’re here today to start a new and exciting chapter with the ECHL, one which will continue the culture, high standards and ‘always compete’ philosophy that the Calgary Flames have brought to Glens Falls over the first half of this season, along with a commitment to giving back to the community.”

The ECHL team in Glens Falls will become the market’s first team in the ECHL, following 26 seasons in the American Hockey League and seven seasons in the United Hockey League. The currently un-named ECHL franchise will become the sixth professional hockey team to call Glens Falls home, joining the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings, Adirondack Phantoms and Adirondack Flames, along with the UHL’s Adirondack Ice Hawks and Adirondack Frostbite.

"Glens Falls has a long and storied tradition of professional hockey,” McKenna said. “The city fits well within our geography. We welcome the Flames' ownership of the team and look forward to working with their organization and the local Coalition to continue that hockey tradition."

The new ECHL team plans to present its new name and logo at a future date. Season Tickets are planned to go on sale on Monday, February 16, 2015, with Adirondack Flames playoff ticket packages, if applicable, to go on sale two to three weeks following. The ECHL will also unveil its new divisional and conference alignment, in addition to scheduling formula, for the 2015-16 season at a later date.

The Calgary Flames and Adirondack Flames have roots in the ECHL, with 16 of the 36 players who have suited up in Glens Falls this season at the AHL level having played in the ECHL during their career. Forward Turner Elson and defenseman John Ramage, regulars in Adirondack’s lineup this season, each took part in the Alaska Aces’ run to the 2014 Kelly Cup when Calgary was affiliated with Alaska. Goaltender Joni Ortio also began the 2013-14 season with Alaska. Calgary’s current ECHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, sit in first place in the Pacific Division.

The relocation process was put into motion after the ECHL Board of Governors approved the Transfer of Controlling Interest in the Stockton Thunder Membership from SC Hockey Franchise Corporation, an entity controlled by Brad Rowbotham, to Adirondack Flames Canada Limited, an entity controlled by the Calgary Flames Limited Partnership.

The Board of Governors also approved the Transfer of Home Territory for the Bakersfield Condors to Norfolk, Va. and the Ontario Reign to Manchester, N.H. Both teams will also begin play in their new cities in the 2015-16 season.

“These transfers represent a major move by the ECHL and a significant transformation of the minor league hockey landscape,” McKenna said. “While we are exiting some strong, traditional ECHL markets in California, the move is in the best, long-term interest of hockey and will allow better alignment in the development system.”

After it began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 28 teams in 20 states and one Canadian province for its 27th season in 2014-15. There have been 554 players who have started their career in the ECHL and have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including 13 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2014-15 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 29 of the 30 NHL teams this season, marking the 18th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.

The Adirondack Flames are back in American Hockey League action tomorrow evening as they host the Rochester Americans in a 7:00 p.m. puck drop at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Saturday will be the Flames’ first rally towel giveaway of the season, presented by NYSCOPBA. Tickets are still available by calling 518-480-3355, x1, using adirondackflames.com or by visiting the Glens Falls Civic Center Box Office.

Adirondack Flames Hockey • Fired Up

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