Sabres will be getting a new ECHL Team

[Brawndo]

The Jacksonville Iceman are holding a press conference next Monday to announce new AHL and NHL Affiliates. 
 

It appears the Sabres will need a new team 

[Taro T]

7 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

The Jacksonville Iceman are holding a press conference next Monday to announce new AHL and NHL Affiliates. 
 

It appears the Sabres will need a new team 

Well, it makes sense that both Jacksonville and Buffalo would want to be affiliated with teams that would make for a shorter drive to the AHL affiliate.  Would be good if the southern tier team that folded a couple of years ago (Elmira, Corning, something down that way) was getting revived.

Good for Jax if they found a better fit location-wise.

[Mango]

I think the Adirondack Thunder/NJD contract just ended after this season.

Would be nice since I am now in the capital region.

Edit: Some whispers around NJ that they might switch to the Trenton Ironhawks.

Edited May 11 by Mango

[Ripper]

2 hours ago, Mango said:

I think the Adirondack Thunder/NJD contract just ended after this season.

Would be nice since I am now in the capital region.

Edit: Some whispers around NJ that they might switch to the Trenton Ironhawks.

 

2 hours ago, Mango said:

I think the Adirondack Thunder/NJD contract just ended after this season.

Would be nice since I am now in the capital region.

Edit: Some whispers around NJ that they might switch to the Trenton Ironhawks.

Also, some whispers Johnstown PA is looking for an ECHL franchise.  Humm what to call it?

[TheAud]

4 hours ago, Taro T said:

Well, it makes sense that both Jacksonville and Buffalo would want to be affiliated with teams that would make for a shorter drive to the AHL affiliate.  Would be good if the southern tier team that folded a couple of years ago (Elmira, Corning, something down that way) was getting revived.

Good for Jax if they found a better fit location-wise.

Elmira Jackals. I have a jersey!

[zow2]

4 hours ago, Brawndo said:

The Jacksonville Iceman are holding a press conference next Monday to announce new AHL and NHL Affiliates. 
 

It appears the Sabres will need a new team 

Interesting.  During the game thread last night some suggested the Sabres were an ECHL team. 

[Doohickie]

12 hours ago, Ripper said:

Also, some whispers Johnstown PA is looking for an ECHL franchise.  Humm what to call it?

Ray?  Jay?  Johnny?

 

[pastajoe]

On 5/11/2026 at 4:50 PM, Taro T said:

Well, it makes sense that both Jacksonville and Buffalo would want to be affiliated with teams that would make for a shorter drive to the AHL affiliate.  Would be good if the southern tier team that folded a couple of years ago (Elmira, Corning, something down that way) was getting revived.

Good for Jax if they found a better fit location-wise.

Well that didn’t happen as Jacksonville has signed an agreement with Minnesota  / Iowa. If New Jersey signs on with the Trenton Ironhawks who moved from Utah, the logical move for Buffalo would be to sign on with Adirondack.

[pastajoe]

So the Islanders have signed up with Trenton, which now leaves the Worcester Railers open for a new affiliation.

[mjd1001]

16 minutes ago, pastajoe said:

So the Islanders have signed up with Trenton, which now leaves the Worcester Railers open for a new affiliation.

Who is Boston's ecl affiliate? 

Can't imagine that they could be a better match for anyone other than Boston, basically being an hour or less driving driving from Providence and Boston?

Okay, I just looked it up and it's Portland Maine which still makes sense geographically but... Not as much as Worcester would.

Again, especially with the potential from your echl And AHL affiliate moving players back and forth, I think I've driven between those two cities in 45 minutes or less. It's not much more than driving from Buffalo to Batavia.

Edited May 21 by mjd1001

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, pastajoe said:

So the Islanders have signed up with Trenton, which now leaves the Worcester Railers open for a new affiliation.

Worcester is the only unaffiliated team left. Augusta GA is a new team launching in a year. That's still only 31 ECHL teams. Could Terry buy a 32nd franchise and put it in, say, Niagara Falls? I thought I heard there was plans for a new arena there.

https://share.google/8Zf1SjpCENuWLUaBP

I live just 75 minutes from Worcester. It would be great to have the Sabres pick them up.

Edited May 21 by PromoTheRobot

[pastajoe]

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Worcester is the only unaffiliated team left. Augusta GA is a new team launching in a year. That's still only 31 ECHL teams. Could Terry buy a 32nd franchise and put it in, say, Niagara Falls? I thought I heard there was plans for a new arena there.

https://share.google/8Zf1SjpCENuWLUaBP

I live just 75 minutes from Worcester. It would be great to have the Sabres pick them up.

It seems Worcester is inevitable. Columbus is the only team that didn’t have an ECHL affiliation this season.

I don’t think Niagara Falls would work, there’s too many other hockey teams in the area. It would be best to be the only team in an area, and be closer to other teams for shorter travel.

[DarthEbriate]

Just as long as the ECHL team has a cool name, it's all good.

[Mango]

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Worcester is the only unaffiliated team left. Augusta GA is a new team launching in a year. That's still only 31 ECHL teams. Could Terry buy a 32nd franchise and put it in, say, Niagara Falls? I thought I heard there was plans for a new arena there.

https://share.google/8Zf1SjpCENuWLUaBP

I live just 75 minutes from Worcester. It would be great to have the Sabres pick them up.

I don't think the Devils have extended the Thunder yet.

[PromoTheRobot]

I didn't know that Iowa folding caused Minnesota to grab Jacksonville.

 

[PromoTheRobot]

Official Site of The ECHL | The Augusta Lynx are back https://share.google/Sk7RWDe2O4vTMTAMu

Tim Tebow is a part owner.

[Jorcus]

The New Mexico Goatheads? Stolen identity?

[pastajoe]

4 hours ago, Jorcus said:

The New Mexico Goatheads? Stolen identity?

It’s an actual goathead, not a buffalo that was mockingly referred to as one.

[Mango]

On 5/21/2026 at 2:14 PM, PromoTheRobot said:

I didn't know that Iowa folding caused Minnesota to grab Jacksonville.

 

I still think there's a chance the Sabres take the Thunder. 

Although the Allen Americans in TX are enticing. Sabres -> Americans -> Americans.

Weird the ECHL has two "Thunder" Teams.

[pastajoe]

6 minutes ago, Mango said:

I still think there's a chance the Sabres take the Thunder. 

Although the Allen Americans in TX are enticing. Sabres -> Americans -> Americans.

Weird the ECHL has two "Thunder" Teams.

The Wichita Thunder previously played in the Central Hockey League, and was merged into the ECHL. The Adirondack Thunder were already in the league, formerly the Stockton Thunder. Since the east and west conference teams rarely play each other, they must have figured it was best to keep their known names.

[shrader]

49 minutes ago, Mango said:

I still think there's a chance the Sabres take the Thunder. 

Although the Allen Americans in TX are enticing. Sabres -> Americans -> Americans.

Weird the ECHL has two "Thunder" Teams.

At least it’s not a Roughriders/Rough Riders scenario. 

[Jorcus]

Can't wait for a Steelhead vs Walleye playoff series.

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, pastajoe said:

It’s an actual goathead, not a buffalo that was mockingly referred to as one.

The name actually refers to these (logo notwithstanding).  ifykyk

Edited May 28 by Doohickie

[Doohickie]

2 hours ago, Mango said:

Although the Allen Americans in TX are enticing. Sabres -> Americans -> Americans.

Allen is right down the road from my son's house in Plano... like a 10 minute drive.  Might be worth it to get to a game to two to see some prospects.

[Weave]

3 hours ago, Jorcus said:

Can't wait for a Steelhead vs Walleye playoff series.

Thats a mixed bag I’ll take every time.