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http://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/18/colorado-eagles-colorado-avalanche-primary-ahl-affiliate/ The Avalanche will announce an upgraded minor-league partnership with the Loveland-based Colorado Eagles next month, with the current ECHL team becoming the 31st American Hockey League franchise, according to two sources close to the situation. Beginning with the 2018-19 season, the Avs’ top prospects and veterans on assignments will play for the Colorado Eagles out of the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland. The Budweiser Events Center seats 5,289 for hockey but likely will be renovated to accommodate larger crowds.

AHL is working on adding a 31st team http://www.mcall.com/sports/hockey/phantoms/mc-ahl-state-league-david-andrews-20170130-story.html Andrews said there are no expansion applicants but the league is in discussion with a few different markets. He expected more news to come on that within the next four to six weeks From what I've read on the internet, Colorado moves up, becomes affiliated with the Avs while San Antonio becomes affiliated with St.Louis.

Rumor is that the Colorado Eagles are looking to join the AHL. http://www.denverpost.com/2017/06/14/colorado-eagles-avalanche-ahl-affiliate/ The Avalanche might move its primary minor-league interests from San Antonio to less than an hour drive north of Denver, to Loveland, joining forces with the Colorado Eagles, who could become the Avs’ American Hockey League affiliate as early as 2018-19.

Norfolk announced that their new affiliate is with Nashville. http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/press-releases/admirals-announce-affiliation-agreement-nashville-predators/ New Logo & Jersey coming soon.

Looks like Elmira is done as well.... http://www.weny.com/news/All/first-arena-buyer-elmira-jackals-folding-031017?utm_medium=social&utm_source=WENY_TV_News

Alaska Aces may be done after this season http://www.ktva.com/alaska-aces-ownership-considering-ceasing-operations-727/

Looks like it's finally happening. http://montreal.ctvnews.ca/canadiens-farm-team-moving-to-laval-1.2979563 The Montreal Canadiens are expected to confirm on Monday they will be moving their farm team to Laval. The American League IceCaps will play one more season in St. John's, Newfoundland, after which Place Bell in Laval will be the new home for the farm team for the 2017-2018 season. Place Bell is a 10,000 seat arena, with two smaller rinks, that is being built near the Montmorency metro station, and is projected to be complete next year.

So... here's what happening recently http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/big12/2016/05/03/memphis-lobbies-possible-big-12-expansion-spot/83881902/ University of Memphis President M. David Rudd sent a promotional publication — highlighting the finer points of the city and its major university — to University of Texas president Dr. Gregory Fenves in December, showcasing the University of Memphis as a possible Big 12 expansion candidate. Rudd said the publication, entitled "Memphis Soul of a City," captures “the passion and proud history of Tiger athletics including a historic run by our football program.” Rudd also told Fenves he would “welcome the chance to connect via phone and discuss in more depth some of the great things going on in Memphis.” Memphis, Cincinnati, Central Florida, UConn and Houston from the American Athletic Conference are among the schools reportedly lobbying for Big 12 inclusion, along with BYU. Meanwhile, out of left field.... http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/dennis-dodd/25576548 Individuals representing Wichita State's athletic interests have approached the Mountain West Conference about membership, multiple sources told CBS Sports. Led by president John Bardo, Wichita State has been exploring its conference options in both basketball and football. Last year, Bardo commissioned an ongoing feasibility study to bring football back to the athletic program. The school dropped the sport in 1986. Other possibilities for the Shockers, including the American Athletic Conference and Conference USA, have been mentioned by various sources. Texas-El Paso has been mentioned as a possible 12th MWC member in basketball (13th in football). Many of the Miners' former WAC partners reside in the Mountain West. The Miners have been in Conference USA since 2005-06. UTEP officials have stressed there is no formal interest on their part in the Mountain West. Now, I could see Memphis or Houston or even UCF go into the Big 12 but Wichita State kind of came out of nowhere. I think they won't move without putting football back in but that will cost them a pretty penny if they do. Then again, it could be the whole big fish in a small pond issue & hey, extra money if you can get it.

Plus the theme song to boot

I think someone beat me to it but I think Louisville's new set is good, I just wish it was still black & purple.

Roanoke joins the SPHL.... http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=5061507 The Southern Professional Hockey League today announced the move of the Mississippi Surge to Roanoke, VA, who will return to the ice for the 2016-2017. At a press conference held this morning at the Berglund Center, league president Jim Combs stated that in addition to the move, the SPHL Board of Governors last week approved the team's majority transfer of ownership from Surge Ice, LLC to Breakaway Sports and Entertainment, LLC. Serving as majority owners of Breakaway Sports and Entertainment, LLC are Bob McGinn and his sons, Jamie, Tye and Brock, all three of whom are currently under NHL contracts with Buffalo, Tampa Bay and Carolina, respectively. In addition to the McGinn family, premier sports artist Rob MacDougall, SPHL Chairman Tim Kerr and several local investors are part of the group bringing hockey back to Roanoke. Now if only Richmond can get back professional hockey....

Phase 2 invites have been sent.... http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/las-vegas-quebec-city-invited-to-phase-ii-of-nhl-expansion-process/ The groups bidding to bring NHL expansion franchises to Las Vegas and Quebec City are one step closer to making their expansion dreams a reality. Wednesday afternoon, Bill Foley, the prospective owner of the Las Vegas team, released a statement through Vegas Wants Hockey saying the club had been invited to participate in the second phase of the expansion process. “We are pleased to report that the NHL has invited us to participate in Phase II of the application process to secure an NHL team in Las Vegas,” Foley said in a statement. “In this phase, we will be providing the League with additional information, including information about the Las Vegas market and the MGM AEG Arena being developed between Monte Carlo and New York New York. We will also be permitted access to information provided by the League that it deems important to us.” Hmmm, interesting....

Meanwhile in Vegas.... http://www.fox5vegas.com/story/29626072/season-ticket-holders-will-name-las-vegas-nhl-team?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter The identity of Las Vegas' possible NHL franchise will be in the hands of season-ticket holders. Bill Foley, president of Hockey Vision Las Vegas, said in a statement Friday that those who reserved seats to games of the prospective franchise will have a say in the team's name. However, Foley did not provide a specific avenue in which team names may be submitted. Well, it's good to know that Foley is allowing the season ticket holders to choose, but in all honesty, what makes them think that the board will approve expansion in September? Sure they can't deny Las Vegas & Quebec, but what if they do?

Meanwhile in Seattle.... http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/hockey/local-groups-have-work-to-do-before-getting-legitimate-shot-at-an-nhl-expansion-franchise/ So what happens now? Well, for starters, the world didn’t end. The NHL has said this process is consultative and won’t automatically lead to the awarding of expansion teams, and the Arizona Coyotes and Florida Panthers still eventually could need relocation spots. An NHL source tells me the league invited Bartoszek to its New York offices for a chat Tuesday. So there’s still a relationship there. And yes, this region does have wealth the NHL still covets. Maybe not enough in one place to purchase teams and arenas simultaneously, but enough to warrant further looks. Looks like they're holding out for Relo instead of Expansion....

http://www.tsn.ca/2m-fee-scares-off-seattle-bidders-1.333774 Last month, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stood at a podium in Las Vegas and said he hoped the formal expansion review process he was announcing would provide clarity for the league’s future in the Pacific Northwest. “Perhaps the process will bring some certainty to the arena situation,” Bettman said. “No one has their arena act together yet in Seattle.” Turns out, no prospective ownership group could get their arena act together in less than a month - though not due to any shortage of interest. The NHL’s first deadline for applications to be included for review in the expansion process passed on Monday and three different camps in the Seattle area confirmed they did not submit bids. Daly did, however, say the league will not consider any latecoming party who did not meet Monday’s hard deadline. To engage only serious inquiries, the NHL set the application fee for prospective ownership groups at $10 million, with only $8 million of that being refundable should a bid not receive one of the league’s next franchises. That $2 million non-refundable asking price likely scared off the three interested parties in downtown Seattle, suburban Tukwila and nearby Bellevue - the financial risk too big even for billionaires to bank on arena plans made up purely of hope at this point, not concrete. The NHL seemed to be most interested in courting Seattle. All three camps in Washington said they will continue to push for an arena. The league said they will not be accepting late bidders. The real test will be if arena funding suddenly materializes in one of those three Seattle cities in the next four or five weeks and a prospective owner shows up waving a cheque for upwards of $500 million. 3 potential owners either make or break in the next couple of weeks.... Let's see what happens next.