Good news for the Reign next season.

The Anaheim Ducks have their own American Hockey League affiliate, after the team announced a partnership this morning with the Syracuse Crunch.

Here’s why that is good news for the Reign:

The Bakersfield Condors, the Ducks’ ECHL affiliate, got off to a torrid start this season because Anaheim – without an AHL affiliate – was forced to send many of its top prospects to Bakersfield early in the year. Forwards Dan Sexton and Kyle Calder, and goaltender Timo Pielmeier, have all spent time in both a Condors and Ducks uniform this season. The Condors were leading the Pacific Division by 13 points at one point in January, before injuries allowed some of their best players to find homes in the AHL.

With the Ducks’ best prospects heading to Syracuse next season, don’t expect to see them beating up on the Reign early next year.

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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.