Senators Announce ECHL Affiliation with Evansville IceMen
After discontinuing its affiliation with the Elmira Jackals early this year, the Ottawa Senators announced Tuesday afternoon that the organization now has an ECHL replacement.
Since the Senators parted ways with the Elmira Jackals, some Sens fans were concerned about the lack of secondary affiliate for the team. Without an ECHL team, playing time in Binghamton would be at a premium. The Senators resolved that issue today, announcing a two-year agreement with the Evansville IceMen.
The Evansville IceMen are proud to announce their affiliation with the Ottawa Senators beginning in the 2014-15 season.
— Evansville IceMen (@EvvIceMen) September 9, 2014 Communiqué : Les #Sens ont conclu une entente de deuxième affiliation avec les IceMen d’Evansville, de la ECHL : http://t.co/fo2wRDYp6C
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 9, 2014
News Release: #Sens sign two-year secondary affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Evansville IceMen (@EvvIceMen): http://t.co/l1QvlY36r7
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) September 9, 2014
Evansville is relatively new to the ECHL, entering its third season in the league. Previously an affiliate of the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team plays out of Evansville, Indiana. From the official press release:
"We are very happy to begin this relationship with the IceMen," said Randy Lee, the Senators’ assistant general manager. "From the first moment we met with the Evansville group, we were impressed by the professionalism of their entire organization. We place great importance on the development of our players and know that this management group, along with the fantastic facility, will be a great step up for the players in our organization.
Playing out of Ford Center, this will be the third ECHL season for the IceMen, who played the two previous seasons in the Central Hockey League. The team is coached by Dwight Mullins, who will begin his first season behind the IceMen bench when they open their 2014-15 regular-season schedule on Saturday, Oct. 18, at home against Gwinnett at 7:15 p.m.
For more information on the IceMen, check out the team website here.