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Calgary Flames

Flames Near Purchase of E.C.H.L.’s Stockton Thunder

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The Calgary Flames are currently close to an agreement of sale with the Stockton Thunder’s owner Brad Rowbotham. The Stockton city council unanimously approved the transfer of the lease of the Stockton Arena to the Flames which paves the way for such a move. Brian Burke recently visited a Stockton City Council meeting on January 13th where he expressed interest in the club. Regarding the arena, Burke was quoted as saying, “We think a world-class facility in a city that is on a real sharp rebound. We’re very excited about it.”

Rumors have been circulating for about a month now that the Flames would relocate their A.H.L. affiliate from Glen Falls, New York to Stockton, California, but this move almost cements those rumors as fact. What this would mean for the future of Adirondack remains to be seen. The Flames signed a three year lease with Adirondack last year with the option for two additional years, but the team has the option of terminating that contract at the end of any season.

The Glen Falls Civic Center was previously a stepping stone for the Philadelphia Flyers A.H.L. team, the Phantoms, from 2009 to 2014 before they built their new stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The Detroit Red Wings eponymous A.H.L. team also played there from 1979 to 1999. The Stockton Thunder are currently the E.C.H.L. affiliates of the New York Islanders.

by Les Mavus