Petrovek out as Stockton Heat president

[Reggie Dunlop]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1233516135095644160

No reason given.

[Strange Brew]

Based on that statement seems his leaving is somehow linked to rumors of the team leaving for Colorado Springs.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Based on that statement seems his leaving is somehow linked to rumors of the team leaving for Colorado Springs.

Maybe, but he's been with the team since Adirondack.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Didn't the Heat just negotiate a one-year extension of their lease with the City of Stockton?

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Maybe, but he's been with the team since Adirondack.

So he has been part of a number of moves I guess. I was referring to the comment in the release that the organization felt compelled to include when announcing his departure.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Personally, I don't care where the AHL affiliate is located provided

(a) there is one. Nothing worse than sharing a squad.

(b) it's accessibly located with good airport connections

(c) it's relatively stable on financial grounds so that it doesn't have to move every few years.

[btimbit]

It's too bad it wasn't closer to the main team though. I really love the idea of management being able to keep a closer eye on the day to day of their AHL club. A definite underrated advantage teams like LA, Winnipeg and Toronto have

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by btimbit

It's too bad it wasn't closer to the main team though. I really love the idea of management being able to keep a closer eye on the day to day of their AHL club. A definite underrated advantage teams like LA, Winnipeg and Toronto have

Vegas just announced today they are moving their AHL team from San Antonio to Henderson/Vegas. Wish we could get that proximity too.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Vegas just announced today they are moving their AHL team from San Antonio to Henderson/Vegas. Wish we could get that proximity too.

I really wish we could just have the team here, but the travel for the team itself would be such a bitch. I wonder how well it would do. Will be interesting to keep an eye on attendance in Winnipeg now that they have an NHL team, AHL team and WHL team

[TheScorpion]

The Sens have their AHL affiliate in nearby Belleville.

I know they have WHL teams but I wonder if an AHL team could ever usurp the incumbents in Medicine Hat or Lethbridge.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

The Sens have their AHL affiliate in nearby Belleville.

I know they have WHL teams but I wonder if an AHL team could ever usurp the incumbents in Medicine Hat or Lethbridge.

Or Red Deer. Doubtful though. Granted I haven't followed the WHL in a while but those teams have pretty deep roots in their communities. Not like the Ice at all.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Or Red Deer. Doubtful though. Granted I haven't followed the WHL in a while but those teams have pretty deep roots in their communities. Not like the Ice at all.

So did the Belleville Bulls, though. I'm not saying it would happen any time soon but there's an obvious path to making it happen.

Or maybe you move the Hitmen and have an AHL team in Calgary.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

The Sens have their AHL affiliate in nearby Belleville.

I know they have WHL teams but I wonder if an AHL team could ever usurp the incumbents in Medicine Hat or Lethbridge.

More important that it's near other AHL divisional rivals. The AHL is a bus league. Less time on the bus = more time for practice.

Some NHL cities are conveniently located for that (San Jose and Chicago are good examples). Not the case for Calgary.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

So did the Belleville Bulls, though. I'm not saying it would happen any time soon but there's an obvious path to making it happen.

Or maybe you move the Hitmen and have an AHL team in Calgary.

Move the Hitmen to Airdrie or something haha.

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

More important that it's near other AHL teams. The AHL is a bus league. Less time on the bus = more time for practice.

Some NHL cities are conveniently located for that (San Jose and Chicago are good examples). Not the case for Calgary.

That's a decent point, although I'm not sure if San Jose is the best example.

I wonder if the A might ever consider a realignment like this, though.

Division A

Tucson
San Jose
Ontario
San Diego
Henderson
Texas

Division B

Calgary
Red Deer?
Manitoba
Colorado
Tacoma?

I don't know how it would all work. How do the Manitoba Moose operate? They're also in relative isolation.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

That's a decent point, although I'm not sure if San Jose is the best example.

The Sharks and the Barracuda play out of the same building. The Stockton Arena is literally two and a half hours away by bus.

Manitoba Moose have a huge travel bill. Something CSEC wants to avoid.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

The Sharks and the Barracuda play out of the same building.

Aren't they building a new arena for the barracuda?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

Aren't they building a new arena for the barracuda?

I wasn't aware of that. Still in San Jose though.

[soulchoice]

I would love if the farm club was in Calgary. Although as others have mentioned due to the travel, it wouldnt happen.

[Reggie Dunlop]

https://www.recordnet.com/sports/202...-stockton-heat

CSEC seems pretty insistent that the city of Stockton upgrade both the arena and the team practice rink. That suggests a commitment longer than one year, so perhaps a Colorado Springs move is merely leverage in negotiations.