AHL Philadelphia Phantoms Complete Relocation To New York

FRIENDLY RIVALRY: In Albany, Pete Dougherty notes Phantoms co-Owners Rob and Jim Brooks "eventually hope to move the Phantoms to a planned arena" in Allentown, Pennsylvania, though the relocation "could be three years away." Meanwhile, the AHL Albany River Rats, who play their home games just 45 miles from the Glens Falls Civic Center, believe that the "return of a natural geographic rival will put some hockey buzz back into the Capital region." The River Rats have been in the bottom six in AHL attendance since the Adirondack Red Wings folded after the '98-99 season. The River Rats have been "proactive in helping Glens Falls secure an AHL franchise" (Albany TIMES-UNION, 4/29).

GO NORTH! In British Colombia, Joe Millican reports the AHL BOG also approved the transfer of the Quad City Flames to Abbotsford, BC, for the '09-10 season. The team, which previously had signed a 10-year affiliation agreement with the NHL Flames that called for the relocation, will play at the new Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre (ABBOTSFORD NEWS, 4/29). The Quad City Flames had been based in Moline, Illinois, for the past two seasons after relocating from Omaha (CP, 4/28). In Vancouver, Hall & Walker report the team will scrap the Flames nickname "out of respect for supporters of the Canucks," and a "fan contest will determine" the team's new name. To help the transfer bid pass, the Abbotsford ownership group "agreed to pay an undisclosed travel subsidy to help other teams defray the costs of flying across the continent" (VANCOUVER SUN, 4/29).

WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR: In Dallas, Mike Heika reports the AHL also granted a limited membership to the Texas Stars, owned by Hicks Sports Group (HSG), contingent on the club completing the "purchase of an AHL franchise within one year." While no AHL team is for sale, the Texas Stars are "expected to negotiate a deal with a franchise" and relocate it to the greater Austin area within the year. The Stars had been "hoping to buy the dormant Edmonton Roadrunners," but the Oilers "plan to use that franchise in the 2010-11 season" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/29).

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