Report: Iowa Chops settling debt with Ducks.

According to a report in the Des Moines Register, the Ducks will receive nearly $700,000 from the owners of the Iowa Chops, their former American Hockey League affiliate, if a sale of the franchise to the owner of the Dallas Stars is approved.

The Register reports that a partnership led by Tom Hicks is bidding for the defunct franchise, which served as the Ducks’ AHL affiliate during the 2008-09 season. The Ducks severed ties after the Chops failed to make scheduled payments as part of the affiliation agreement.

If approved, the proposal from Schlegel Sports to Polk (Iowa) County would include “payment of $613,884 to the Anaheim Ducks in money owed from a previous affiliation
agreement.”

Report: AHL shakeup could help Ducks.

A story posted today at SBNation.com insinuated that the Ducks might not be without an American Hockey League affiliate much longer.


Entitled “AHL Shakeup Coming?”, the story said that AHL Commissioner David Andrews has a couple possibilities on the horizon. One would see the Iowa Chops re-activated under new ownership, and renewing its affiliation with Anaheim. The Des Moines-based team failed to make payments owed the Ducks and thenwas booted from the league, after its owners encountered financial difficulties.

Andrews also told SBNation thatthe Texas Stars are only temporarily associated with the Dallas Stars and, if the affiliation isn’t made permanent, the league will not exempt the franchise and it may cease operations.