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    #1

    Edmonton suspends AHL operations

    EDMONTON (CP) - The Edmonton Oilers have decided to suspend operation of the team's American Hockey League franchise for the 2005-06 season, according to the Edmonton Sun.

    The paper, citing unnamed sources, reported in Sunday's edition that the AHL board of governors will vote on approving the suspension of the Edmonton Road Runners.

    Oilers president Patrick LaForge would not confirm a decision had been made to suspend operations, but said: ''It's something we have to consider. All along, that's been one of our considerations. What about the NHL? What's coming up?''

    Road Runners GM Scott Howson, reached in Toronto, would not comment.

    The Road Runners relocated from Toronto last July after the team defaulted on terms of its lease at Ricoh Coliseum in its first season in Toronto.

    Oilers general manager GM Kevin Lowe and Road Runners president Stew MacDonald could not be reached for comment.

    The Road Runners were third overall in total and average attendance, attracting 354,151 fans for 40 home dates at an average of 8,853 per game. But the Oilers' ongoing pursuit of a Western Hockey League franchise - seen as a better fit when the NHL lockout ends - has been well-documented.

    The AHL announced last month that franchises in Cincinnati and Utah will be on hiatus for the 2005-06 season. Neither franchise had an NHL affiliation for next season.

    The Anaheim Mighty Ducks terminated their affiliation with Cincinnati. The Phoenix Coyotes were Utah's NHL parent club.

    There will be four new AHL teams operating in 2005-06: the Iowa Stars (Dallas Stars), Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (Calgary Flames), Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues) and Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs).
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

    Huh?
    I will not, for a moment longer, support an organization who chooses to cowardly kneel where they once fiercely & proudly stood

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

      Not surprising, Edmonton is going hard for a WHL franchise, and I think they're execting the Oilers to be back next season.

      There have been rumors of this happening for the last couple of months.

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

        I'm assuming this means that NHL hockey will be back soon.
        These pretzels are making me thirsty.

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

          That's what I'm thinking, either that or a WHL franchise is in the works.

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

            Originally posted by Edmonton Fan
            That's what I'm thinking, either that or a WHL franchise is in the works.
            Or both...
            These pretzels are making me thirsty.

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

              Here is the Edmonton Sun's article on this matter :


              Sun, June 5, 2005

              Beep, beep! See ya!Road Runners suspend operations
              By ROBIN BROWNLEE, EDMONTON SUN




              They will be gone as quickly as they came, which is entirely fitting for the fleet-footed fowl reluctantly adopted by hockey fans in the absence of the Edmonton Oilers and the NHL this season.

              The Edmonton Road Runners, relocated from Toronto last July by the Edmonton Investors Group as Plan B with the NHL lockout looming, won't even survive a calendar year.

              With speculation that NHL owners and the NHLPA are closing in on a new collective bargaining agreement as a backdrop, the Oilers have decided to suspend operation of their AHL franchise for the 2005-06 season, sources told the Sun yesterday.

              Despite a successful inaugural season at the turnstiles, one in which the Road Runners were third in overall and average attendance and turned a profit, the Oilers are expected to announce the decision to get out of the AHL business as early as tomorrow.

              Beep! Beep! They're out of here.

              "It's something we have to consider," said Oilers president Patrick LaForge, who would not confirm that the decision has been finalized. "All along, that's been one of our considerations. What about the NHL? What's coming up?"

              The AHL's board of governors approved relocation of the Road Runners to Edmonton July 23 after the team defaulted on terms of its lease at Ricoh Coliseum in its first season in Toronto.

              The EIG initiated the move with an eye to the impending lockout, essentially bringing in the Road Runners as a business hedge, and the Oilers top farm team was unveiled to the slogan "Pro hockey guaranteed."

              MADE A COMMITMENT

              Now, the AHL board will vote on approving suspension of the franchise, despite insistence by the Oilers in recent months they were committed to keeping the team here through next season.

              "I'm not going to comment on it," Road Runners GM Scott Howson said from Toronto. "Nothing's going to be said today."

              While the Road Runners were a success at the gate, attracting 354,151 fans for 40 home dates, an average of 8,853 per game, the Oilers ongoing pursuit of a WHL franchise - seen as a better fit when the NHL gets up and running again - has been well-documented.

              TWO OFFERS TO PURCHASE

              The Oilers made two offers to purchase the Tri-City Americans in the past 12 months, but were rebuffed before a Washington-based group bought the team in April.

              On April 22, the WHL awarded former Tri-City owners Glen Sather, Brian Burke and Darryl Porter an expansion franchise for Chilliwack for the 2006-07 season, again leaving the Oilers out in the cold.

              Commissioner Ron Robison and the WHL board of governors will convene this month and will again address - and possibly vote on - expanding to 22 teams, which could mean a franchise for Edmonton.

              While nobody with the Oilers would comment on whether the WHL factor played into the decision to suspend the Road Runners, LaForge confirmed the Oilers again made their desire to land a WHL team known in discussions with Canadian Hockey League officials at the Memorial Cup.

              "I'd be surprised if it wasn't on the agenda," LaForge said. "They want to deal with it. I think their sentiment is they don't want to have a 21-team league. They want to have a balanced schedule.

              "I hope they give it full consideration and Edmonton is the answer they come up with. We talked with everybody we could and I certainly came out with a positive feeling."

              Expansion aside, the Oilers have had discussions with individuals about two WHL owners contemplating selling existing teams.

              The Road Runners will join the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and Utah Grizzlies as inactive AHL franchises next season.

              Oilers GM Kevin Lowe and Road Runners president Stew MacDonald could not be reached for comment.

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                Now, the AHL board will vote on approving suspension of the franchise, despite insistence by the Oilers in recent months they were committed to keeping the team here through next season.

                doesn't sound like they are keeping this word to me...

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                  Originally posted by earl2
                  Or both...
                  It's possible.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                    With the NHL lockout nearing an end, and the push to get a WHL franchise in here it doesn't make sense to keep an AHL team here.

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                      That sucks. But in the end, it's better that we lose the Road Runners and not the Oilers. As for the WHL thing...I'll believe it when I see it.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                        Thers gotta be something else behind this, and methinks its WHL. Theyre not telling us something... yet.
                        I told those f***s down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos!

                        Comment

                          #13
                          Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                          I watched maybe like 4 roadrunner games all last year and it was hella boring, torres and stoll didnt even have great years, and that hockey is boring to watch so get them the h*ll outta here!

                          i think i went to one rochester game, were the score was 1-0 and they basically traped for 55 minutes of the game, so mind numbing bring in the whl team, more entertaining.
                          Bleeding Gold and Green 4 Life

                          Comment

                            #14
                            Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                            I believe that I called tis one close to the end of their season after hearing Lowe on The Team...

                            Comment

                              #15
                              Re: Edmonton suspends AHL operations

                              I don't like it
                              https://www.reddit.com/r/EdmontonSports/

                              Comment

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