The American Hockey League's Board of Governors announced on Monday that the Flames are relocating their affiliate from Stockton (California) to Calgary beginning next season.
More details are to come at a later date, as well as realignment for the 2022-23 season, which should be confirmed within the next couple of months.
With the Seattle Kraken's AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, set to begin play next season, that would have made the Pacific Division have ten teams. Calgary's affiliate will likely move to the Central Division and having their AHL team in the same city as them will make it a lot easier to recall and send players down.
Calgary's AHL affiliate has been playing in Stockton since the 2015-16 season. The move from Stockton to Calgary now leaves the California city without professional hockey for the first time in nearly 20 years. Prior to the Heat, Stockton had an ECHL club from 2005-2015 before they relocated to New York State.
.@TheAHL Board of Governors has approved the relocation of the franchise owned by the #Flames to Calgary, Alta., beginning in 2022-23.
📝: https://t.co/Qdusgs8tqQ pic.twitter.com/9JoPfRL8Fj— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) May 23, 2022
