Hurricanes Announce AHL Affiliation With New Charlotte Checkers
by Cory Lavalette on Feb 10, 2010 2:46 PM EST
17 comments
‘CANES PROSPECTS TO START PLAY IN CHARLOTTE IN 2010-11
Checkers owner Michael Kahn purchases Albany River Rats AHL franchise
RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today at a news conference in Charlotte, announced that the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League (AHL) prospects will begin play in Charlotte in 2010-11.
"We are very pleased that Charlotte will be the new home for the Carolina Hurricanes’ top prospects," said Rutherford. "The city has a proud hockey heritage spanning more than five decades, and we are excited that the Hurricanes will be a part of the new era of hockey in Charlotte."
Michael Kahn, owner of the ECHL’s Charlotte Checkers, has purchased the Albany River Rats AHL franchise, and at today’s news conference announced a multi-year affiliation agreement with the Hurricanes.
"I am extremely excited to bring AHL hockey to Charlotte," said Kahn. "The city of Charlotte has experienced tremendous growth in recent years and with that comes expectations of a higher level of professional sports, hockey notwithstanding. Fans will now be able to watch a player in Charlotte one night and with the Hurricanes the next. Hockey is and will remain an important component of the Charlotte sports landscape and the Checkers will continue to be the best family sports entertainment value in town."
The Hurricanes will join just three other U.S.-based NHL teams – Detroit, Chicago and Dallas – whose AHL affiliates are located less than 200 miles away and in the same state.
A separate announcement concerning other details of the Hurricanes’ and Checkers’ affiliation will be made in the coming weeks.
Watch the press conference from Charlotte here.
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Sweet!
Now get that ECHL team in G’boro…I know it’s not Canes related but it’s a start.
hehe – sort of funny how the first guy tries to make it sound like it was all Charlotte’s doing. Like the way Rutherford took control.
I really like this move. I hope it will bring cooperation (hockey related cooperation) between the state’s two biggest cities unlike the rivalry that has always seemed to be there. Charlotte has the people and businesses that could be very helpful in supporting this franchise. If we could draw an extra 500 to 1000 people to games, it would make a world of difference.
I also like that Charlotte will be the minor leagues for “Raleigh’s” hockey team – sorry I had to get that jab in there.
AHL Charlotte Checkers
It is really exciting that Charlotte is going to be the AHL franchise affiliate for the Hurricanes; and it would be especially fantastic if the Charlotte area could yield more STHs. The Wilmington area has a strong contingent of STHs and Hurricane fans. IF the Hurricanes could figure out some mass transit, such as rail to downtown Raleigh and Shuttles to and from the RBC, it could expand tremendously the geographic area covered by the fanbase. As PackPride17 points out, having 500 to 1000 additional STHs from the Charlotte area would be a game changer for the franchise.
holy smokes...
Well, this means i need to hit up my grandma for Checkers items!…..(She is in Charlotte)
Checkers' Jerseys
I think this will improve the communication and visibility of Canes prospects and allow for a stronger and closer fostering of their skills with the parent club only being a short distance away.
Here is my real question: What do the Checkers use as their jersey and logo? Currently they sport a polar bear logo on a baby blue jersey. I think the River Rats tastefully incorporated the parent clubs colors and jersey designs into their long established history. Personally, I think the Albany jerseys with Albany arching across the chest are tasteful and classic looking. Do the Checkers take a similar approach and merely take the Canes jersey format and put the checkers logo on it?
The River rats were fortunate to have previously been associated with the Devils, thus providing them with a Red and Black color scheme.
Scratch this question, someone in one of the other posts about this information did a colorful logo redesign putting in black and red coloring to the current Checkers logo and it looks awesome. Definitely would be a welcomed look on a Canes jersey, just like the River Rats and Lock Monsters have previously done.
Great News But...
What am I gonna do with this baby Blue Checkers jersey I just got today?! Oh well Ive looked out of place before it so why should this be different lol
You’ll just be able to say you followed them before everyone was doing it. POSERS!
by Raccoon Fink on Feb 11, 2010 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
I think they are going to try and keep blue in the jersey somehow. The Checkers have had blue in their colors since their inception.
Lowell I think was an ew AHL team so they incorporated the Canes easily. But i don’t think adopting the parent franchise colors should be necessary.
For all the years the Rochester Amerks were the AHL team for Buffalo, they never adopted their colors.
I do expect a tie in to the Canes on their jnew ersey’s but I personally don’t want it dominated by it.
by Adam's Journey on Feb 11, 2010 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
I hope so
I’ll keep my then for 2 reasons…1)You’re probably right and they wont change..or if they do not much….and 2)GOSH DARN I LIKE BLUE!!!! lol
CHARLOTTE CHECKERS TICKETS
ANYONE WHO IS NEAR THE CHARLOTTE AREA OR WOULD LIKE TO COME SEE WHAT THE CHECKERS ARE ALL ABOUT PLEASE GIVE ME A CALL AT 704-940-4082, WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AT ONE OF THE BEST FACILITIES IN THE SOUTHEAST. WE HAVE TEN GAMES IN THE MONTH OF MARCH SO PLEASE DON’T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME. HERE’S MY INFO AGAIN:
(P) 704-940-4082
ssomerville@gocheckers.com
thanks to Albany
While I’m very excited to have our AHL affiliate in Charlotte, I just wanted to take a moment to say THANKS to the folks in Albany. From all reports, they are a great fan base and treated our boys incredibly well.
Here’s hoping another team finds a home in Albany soon.
-martin
Canes train
i wonder if there is a bullet train in our future
charlotte to raleigh
raleigh to charlotte
in less than 2 hours
You can smell the excitement!
I have been following the Checkers since they started play in 1993-94, and I must say, this is VERY exciting news for hockey in Charlotte! I went to the game this past Saturday night, and there was a LOT of talk, excitement, and buzz about our inaugural AHL season this coming fall. The fans are very much looking forward to this transition, and it should go a long way in promoting the game in the region. This is great for the Hurricanes, great for the city of Charlotte, great for the fans both present and future, and great for hockey in the Carolinas.
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