AHL presence in California?

The Ducks are searching for an AHL affiliate, and one person seems to think the answer is even closer than Iowa.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports thatRon Hahn, who once ran the San Diego Gulls on behalf of the San Diego Sports Arena, is talking to the Ducks about becoming their affiliate in the American Hockey League a year from now. Writes Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton: “As the AHL expands further west, want to bet we have AHL hockey here next winter? My bet is that it would be a hit.”

Justin Kemp, who runs the ECHL’s Ontario Reign with his father, Barry, also mentioned the possibility of an AHL presence in San Diego recently. If anything, Kemp suggested the 2010-11 season would be too early, but at least there are rumblings. San Antonio, Texas, is host to the nearest AHL team to California. Its territory is decidedly in the American Northeast, though the league has been expanding gradually westward in recent years.

Speaking of the ECHL, a TV report out of Bakersfield tonight suggested that the Ducks might not be partners with the local Condors in 2009-10.

This entry was posted in Anaheim Ducks/NHL by J.P. Hoornstra. Bookmark the permalink.

About J.P. Hoornstra

J.P. Hoornstra covers the Dodgers, Angels and Major League Baseball for the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, Long Beach Press-Telegram, Torrance Daily Breeze, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Pasadena Star-News, San Bernardino Sun, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Whittier Daily News and Redlands Daily Facts. Before taking the beat in 2012, J.P. covered the NHL for four years. UCLA gave him a degree once upon a time; when he graduated on schedule, he missed getting Arnold Schwarzenegger's autograph on his diploma by five months.

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