AHL approves transfer of Flames minor league team to Omaha

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 5:09 am

AHL approves relocation of Flames franchise to Omaha, Neb.

March 28, 2005
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CP) - New Brunswick's loss is Nebraska's gain.

The American Hockey League's board of governors has approved the relocation of the Calgary Flames' inactive Saint John, N.B., franchise to Omaha, Neb., effective next season. The team will play its home games at the renovated downtown Omaha Civic Auditorium.

"We are thrilled to welcome the city of Omaha to the excitement, energy and skill level of the American Hockey League," said AHL president David Andrews. "Omaha has a rich hockey tradition, and this partnership of the Knights with one of the top NHL organizations in the Calgary Flames will most certainly provide Nebraska sports fans with a team to be proud of in every respect.

"As we enter our historic 70th season of play, Omaha will provide an immediate competitive rivalry with Chicago, Milwaukee, Grand Rapids and our other newest teams in Des Moines and Peoria."

The Flames have been sharing the Lock Monsters in Lowell, Mass., with the Carolina Hurricanes since the demise of the Saint John Flames. After a decade as one of Canada's most successful AHL franchises, Saint John shut down in April, 2003.

The addition of Omaha brings the AHL to 30 teams as it prepares to commemorate its 70th anniversary in 2005-06. Also joining the league next season are the Iowa Stars (Dallas Stars), Peoria Rivermen (new affiliate of St. Louis Blues) and Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs' affiliate transferring from St. John's, Nfld.).

Wonder why the Marlies are playing at Ricoh Coliseum.

Funkywhiteboy · Post by **Funkywhiteboy** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:22 am

Cross Traffic wrote:
"We are thrilled to welcome the city of Omaha to the excitement, energy and skill level of the American Hockey League," said AHL president David Andrews. "Omaha has a rich hockey tradition,"

Bugaha?!?

JD · Post by JD » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:51 am

Well, it'll be nice to see our prospects have a place of their own to play rather than sharing with Carolina.

But other than that, who gives a fuck? :D

Cross Traffic · Post by **Cross Traffic** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:51 am

He actually is correct about Bugaha having a rich hockey tradition....Gordie Howe played in Omaha in 45-46

Omaha Knights (Omaha, NE) AHA 1939-42 |
Omaha Knights (Omaha, NE) USHL 1945-51 |
Omaha Knights (Omaha, NE) IHL 1959-63 |
Omaha Knights (Omaha, NE) CPHL 1963-68 |
Omaha Knights (Omaha, NE) CHL 1968-75 |
Omaha Lancers (Omaha, NE) USHL 1986-05 |

scritti · Post by **scritti** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 2:32 pm

oh yeah,plus Nebraska-Bugaha has a D1 team and they draw quite well.

SunCoastSooner · Post by **SunCoastSooner** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 3:37 pm

I thought I heard about an AHL team heading to Omaha a year and a half ago? Whatever happened to it or is this the same orginization but it just taken this long?

I'll never forgive my OKC patrons for turning down the Kansas City Blades moving to OKC years ago in favor of keeping the Blazers and that piss ant hockey of the "new" CHL. The addition of the WPHL or whatever the hell it was just drove the league even further into the ground as far as competitive hockey goes.

OKC actually thinks it will get an NHL franchise directly from having a CHL team :roll:.

You think they would have taken the hint over the last 7 years not being able to lure away the Sens or the Penns. The Penns might have actually ended up there if not for Mario Lemeiux stepping in. That would have pissed me off greatly though. Any other franchise I could have accepted with open arms but not the Penns. The Penguins have always been my favorite team. Living in Pittsburgh for over a year only strengthened that bond thankfully, I would have been greatly upset if they were have gone anywhere for that matter.

Adelpiero · Post by **Adelpiero** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 11:02 pm

nebraska omaha has a decent hockey program

and what else do they have to do there! cmon! even curling could work there!

al? · Post by **al?** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:55 am

I coached in Omaha. Had a guy who was a serious masturbater..... couldn't control himself. Why, he would get deliberate penalties so he could get in the penalty box, all by himself. And damned if he didn't....mm mmmmm mmmmm mmmmm mmmmmmm.

What was his name again?

mmm mmmmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmm mmmmmmmmmmmm

Sincerely,

Joe McGrath

p.s. Do you see this quarter? It used to be a nickel.

scritti · Post by **scritti** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:07 am

irony alert:when the Flames were in Atlanta,their farm team in the old CHL was the Omaha Knights in the 70s.

funny how things turn out...

T1B

AHL approves transfer of Flames minor league team to Omaha

AHL approves transfer of Flames minor league team to Omaha

Re: AHL approves transfer of Flames minor league team to Oma