SYRACUSE, NY – Days after its AHL affiliate captured the Calder Cup, t he Tampa Bay Lightning announced it entered into a multi-year affiliation agreement with the Syracuse Crunch , leaving Norfolk without a minor-league team.
Lightning Assistant General Manager Julien BriseBois said Syracuse will serve as the Lightning’s top affiliate starting with the 2012-13 regular season. Tampa Bay will provide the Crunch with their top prospects under both NHL and AHL contracts.
“We are excited about our new partnership with the Syracuse Crunch and we look forward to working with Howard Dolgon and his organization on putting together a winning development program,” said BriseBois. “We benefited from tremendous fan support in Norfolk which helped us reach new heights as a team. We wish the Admirals fans and the city of Norfolk all the best in the future.”
The Crunch is entering into its 19th year of operation in the AHL and boast the longest, current independent ownership group led by Howard Dolgon. The Crunch has the sixth longest tenure of any AHL team. The Lightning will be the fourth primary NHL affiliate of the Crunch, who previously partnered with Vancouver (1994-99), Columbus (2000-09) and Anaheim (2010-12). Syracuse had a dual affiliation with Vancouver and Pittsburgh from 1997-1999.
Tampa Bay held their primary AHL affiliation with the Norfolk Admirals over the past five seasons. As the Lightning’s top affiliate, the Admirals captured the Calder Cup last week and also set a professional hockey record, winning 28 consecutive games to close out the 2011-12 regular season.
The Admirals, in a statement, said there will still be AHL hockey at Scope Arena next season. “We anticipate announcing an affiliation agreement with a National Hockey League partner in the near future,” the statement said.
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