Norfolk, Va. - The Edmonton Oilers NHL club announced Friday that they will move their ECHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors, to Norfolk next season.
Oilers President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe says, "We are very excited to open a new chapter with our ECHL team moving to Norfolk, a city with a deep history for the game. Norfolk is a great place for our young players to learn and develop and we look forward to working with the fans and the city of Norfolk.”
The current Norfolk Admirals AHL team is being moved to San Diego next season after being sold to their parent team, the Anaheim Ducks. The move is part of the creation of a five-team Pacific Division.
Though the ECHL is a level lower than the AHL, it's still expected to be an exciting time for hockey in Hampton Roads.
The Admirals were previously part of the ECHL from 1989 until 2000. In that time, the Admirals won three ECHL championships, including back-to-back Riley Cups in 1991 and 1992, and the first-ever Kelly Cup in 1997. The Admirals are currently tied for the most ECHL championships by any franchise in league history and also lead with nine inductees to the ECHL Hall of Fame that have been members of the Admirals organization.
"The Norfolk Admirals are proud to be able to continue to bring professional hockey to Norfolk as we start a new chapter in our rich history," said Admirals Vice President Joe Gregory. "We remain committed to providing quality hockey and affordable family entertainment to Hampton Roads. The Edmonton Oilers and the ECHL are both tremendous partners. We look forward to working together with them next year and for years to come."
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