Coyotes to Relocate AHL Affiliate to Tucson

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 19, 2016

GLENDALE, ARIZONA — Arizona Coyotes’ President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc announced today that the Club will move its American Hockey League (AHL) franchise to Tucson, Arizona for the start of the 2016-17 AHL season. The AHL’s Board of Governors approved the sale of the Springfield Falcons AHL franchise to the Coyotes on May 10; Tucson City Council approved a 10-year arena lease agreement between the Coyotes and the Tucson Convention Center (TCC) on May 17; and the Coyotes closed on the purchase of the franchise on May 18. The Coyotes’ AHL affiliate will play its home games at the TCC beginning in October.   The Coyotes’ top farm team will play in the AHL’s Pacific Division. In 2015-16, the Pacific Division featured the AHL affiliates of the Anaheim Ducks (San Diego Gulls), Calgary Flames (Stockton Heat), Colorado Avalanche (San Antonio Rampage), Dallas Stars (Texas Stars), Edmonton Oilers (Bakersfield Condors), Los Angeles Kings (Ontario Reign) and San Jose Sharks (San Jose Barracuda).   “We are absolutely thrilled to relocate our AHL team to Tucson,” said Coyotes’ President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc. “The Coyotes were part of the initial discussion to form a Pacific Division in the AHL but we were unable to secure a franchise prior to last season. We are extremely excited and proud to bring AHL hockey to a first class city like Tucson. This further proves that the Coyotes ownership group is committed to Arizona and to growing the Coyotes brand and the great game of hockey in our state.”   The relocation of the Coyotes’ AHL affiliate to Tucson allows the team to further extend its brand within the state and provides an opportunity for operational synergy between the two professional hockey teams. It also provides advantages both on and off the ice for the Coyotes organization such …

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