AHL Welcomes New Teams for 2014-2015

(Photo: Calgary Flames)

It seems to be a yearly event, at least in recent times, that each season sees the make-up of the AHL looking different from the year before. Going from the 2012-2013 season to to the 2013-2014 season, the Peoria Rivermen made the exit while the Utica Comets made their entrance.

Next season will be no different. The American Hockey League will host two new teams for the 2014-2015 season but only one change in cities. Prior to this past season, it was announced that the Adirondack Phantoms would play their last season in Glens Falls. The affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers spent 5 seasons as the Adirondack Phantoms. During those 5 seasons, the Phantoms were not able to make it to the postseason. Their best season came during 2011-2012 and it was the only season that they finished above .500.

Come October, the Adirondack Phantoms will become the Lehigh Valley Phantoms as the franchise moves to Allentown, Pennsylvania. This move will bring the franchise closer to the Flyers as they will just be about 60 miles apart now.

The end of the regular season also brought the news that the Calgary Flames would be pulling their AHL team out of Abbotsford in British Columba. In that case, they were not able to make the finances work despite great partnerships and felt that it was in their best interest to put the franchise elsewhere.

When the news came out about the Flames moving their AHL franchise, Glens Falls was immediately the front runner. They made a big push to get Calgary to put their team there so that the fans would not have to be without hockey next season. And they got their wish. Calgary will place the franchise in Glens Falls. The Abbotsford Heat will become the Adirondack Flames.

You can find both teams on Twitter (@LVPhantoms and @AHLHeat) to keep up with all the latest news as they prepare for the 2014-2015 season.