Abbotsford looking for an AHL franchise ??

[Fred]

From the Moose forum

just heard that CJOB was speculating whether Mike Gillis is interested in moving their affiliate team, the Moose, closer to their NHL team... This holds no hard facts, just speculation...

Abbotsford is likely to get an AHL team at some point in the next 2-3 years but the Moose would still be around, just with a different NHL affiliate. Provided it's Vancouver that is affiliated with Abbotsford. I heard Anaheim and Edmonton were both interested in that location too (and Edmonton still has that dormant franchise so that gives them the edge).

Interesting idea if they can get the AHL to move this far west

[randymeeks]

Would help out travel with our prospects.

[Jovorock]

The Moose have to travel alot as it is as they are very far away from alot of AHL rivals. This would cost the Canucks alot more money and the Moose would have to fly alot more.

The rest of the AHL teams would hve to fly alot more to Vancouver then bus to Abby? The Canucks would have to pay some of that I would think.

With all the injuries last year did the Canucks every play one game one or two men down? I don't think so, they always have 7 d-men and at time kept a extra one or two forwards around if they thought the need was there.

Big mistake IMO. You'll get alot more people in Winterpeg than Abbottsford.

[DavidPratt_]

Abbotsford isn't getting an AHL team.

ECHL maybe - to compete with the Salmon Kings.

dp

[Fred]

Abbotsford isn't getting an AHL team.

ECHL maybe - to compete with the Salmon Kings.

dp

Don't be so sure. All the western teams are not happy with the recall rule. In Philly or TO if you have to recall a player, he simply steps across the street and the recall takes place, not every team is like these two but few have outlandish travel for a recall. For the western teams it's major, not just the Canucks but all the western teams. So I understand there are more than a few wanting to establish a precedent for a AHL Western Conference. If they western teams can get a consensus they will make the move, just makes sense

[DavidPratt_]

Abbotsford if a new top-tier Minor Pro league was created (or the AHL drastically changed its affiliations). Not in the next several years.

[jchockey]

I don't believe Abbotsford could support an AHL franchise even if it wanted to.

I can, however, see an AHL franchise in Washington.
Vancouver's in such a geographically isolated location which makes it difficult to have a nearby AHL affiliate.

[Larry Goodenough]

I don't believe Abbotsford could support an AHL franchise even if it wanted to.

I can, however, see an AHL franchise in Washington.
Vancouver's in such a geographically isolated location which makes it difficult to have a nearby AHL affiliate.

I read a story this weekend about the AHL playoff game in Albany going 5 OT periods. The story said there was 1,800 people at the game and only a few hundred left at the end. Albany gets 1,800 people for a playoff game and Abbotsford can't support an AHL team?

Manchester, New Hampshire has a smaller population (106.000) than Abbotsford itself (110,000). Add Chilliwack and Langley and an Abbotsford team would have almost 300,000 people to draw from within an 80 km radius. That's a bigger population than about a third of the teams in the AHL.

Why do you believe Abbotsford could not support a team?

[Jovorock]

It's got nothing to do about supporting a team in Abbottsford, its the travel. Albany busses the team around and the Devils pay the saleries.

Even if Abbottsford gets a team do you think the Canucks would fly them all over New York area to play two games on the weekend then fly back to BC?

I would guess the Abbottsford franchise would have to pay teams travel expenses to come this far west, is Aquaman going to do that?

Does a franchise make sence, trust me Winnipeg is pretty far west for the AHL as it is!

[Cornuck]

Alaska and Victoria have tteams in the ECHL, but they changed the schedule so only the western team play each other, and the eastern team stay back east.

I think it would take more western teams for this to happen.

Here's a map of the 3 leagues.

[Larry Goodenough]

It's got nothing to do about supporting a team in Abbottsford, its the travel. Albany busses the team around and the Devils pay the saleries.

Even if Abbottsford gets a team do you think the Canucks would fly them all over New York area to play two games on the weekend then fly back to BC?

I would guess the Abbottsford franchise would have to pay teams travel expenses to come this far west, is Aquaman going to do that?

Does a franchise make sence, trust me Winnipeg is pretty far west for the AHL as it is!

First, I responded to a statement that Abbotsford "could not support a team". That's all I was arguing.

But, as you said travel logistics would be a problem

But, as Cornuck wrote, Victoria and Alaska have to fly to all of their ECHL games and vice versa. And the ECHL can afford that.

If the Canucks put a team in Abbotsford, they could run one guy short on the roster all year as a call up would not have to travel a day to join the team. That would save them $450,000 minimum just in the one player's minimum salary. That would be a good start in covering travel expenses.

To me the big issue would be who would own an Abbotsford team. If Aquilini gets ownership of the team and makes a nice yearly profit, would that also make it an interesting idea? Presently, I'm guessing the Canucks do not see alot of profit out of Manitoba.

[Robert]

If the Canucks put a team in Abbotsford, they could run one guy short on the roster all year as a call up would not have to travel a day to join the team. That would save them $450,000 minimum just in the one player's minimum salary. That would be a good start in covering travel expenses.

A small point, but eveyone seems to think that a callup only goes to the home rink, not so.. he may have to meet up in Florida.. philly.... etc.