Montreal, Winnipeg moving AHL franchises
The Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets are moving their American Hockey League affiliates and the Ontario Hockey League's Belleville Bulls will play in Hamilton, Ontario, next season.
Montreal is shifting its AHL team from Hamilton to St. John's, Newfoundland, where it will be called the IceCaps, while the Jets are moving their farm team from St. John's to Winnipeg. The Bulls will move to Hamilton's FirstOntario Centre and be renamed the Bulldogs.
Also Thursday, owner Michael Andlauer sold the AHL's Bulldogs to the Canadiens and purchased the Bulls. IceCaps CEO Danny Williams will lease the AHL club from the Canadiens for two years and bring it to the Mile One Centre in St. John's. The Canadiens are expected to eventually move their AHL affiliate to a proposed new rink in Laval, Quebec.
