The Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League are poised to leave their ME home in favor of Springfield, Massachusetts.
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It comes less than a month after it was announced the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes would be buying the Springfield Falcons AHL team with the intention of moving them to Tucson.
” I think people really thought we were losing hockey, but now it seems we’ve been able to pull a rabbit out of our hat”, said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.
He’s also the guy who has deprived the city of an AHL for next season, and who knows for how long after that.
Western Mass News will continue to follow to follow this story and will have more as it becomes available.
The last time was the 2013-14 season, when the Pirates moved over to Lewiston during a protracted lease dispute with the city. The details of the agreement were not disclosed and final sale is pending approval of the AHL Board of Governors and the Florida Panthers.
“All previously purchased season tickets for the 2016-17 season will be refunded”.
There is a clause in the teams lease of the Cross Insurance Arena that requires a $100,000 penalty if the lease is broken.
“That’s a complete shock”, said Mike McKenna, the winningest goaltender in Pirates’ history and a member of the 2015-16 team.
May 5, 20161-NEWS CENTER has learned that more than one hockey team has reached out about playing in Portland. “We have enjoyed the city of Portland, the venue and the incredible fan support”. How about getting mad at whichever Cumberland County leaders agreed to spend $34 million on arena renovations for a minor-league hockey team without even getting them to sign a long-term lease that would ensure they stayed in town? In the meantime, Florida will begin exploring all our options to put our players in the very best developmental situation.
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Three years later, the team’s out, because Cain wanted to sell while AHL franchise values were high. The Washington Capitals were affiliated with the Pirates for 13 seasons until leaving for Hershey, PA in 2005.
