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Ottawa Senators Have New ECHL Affliliate

By Ian Smith

May 9, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Guy Boucher is introduced as the new head coach of the Ottawa Senators at a press conference at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2016; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Guy Boucher is introduced as the new head coach of the Ottawa Senators at a press conference at the Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /
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During a quiet free agency period, the Ottawa Senators are still finding ways to make news despite the absence of any significant maneuvering within the free agent market.

Murray Pam of “The Hockey News” is reporting that the Senators will have their affiliate in the East Coast Hockey League be the Wichita Thunder.

This is welcome news for the Senators, because they were 1 of 5 NHL teams with no affiliate in the ECHL as of last month. The other teams were the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Florida Panthers, the New Jersey Devils, and the St. Louis Blues.

The Evansville IceMen were previously the the affiliate of the Senators since the beginning of the 2014-2015 season.

That team has decided to go dormant until the 2017-2018, however. They are relocating to Owensboro, Kentucky and will need necessary time to renovate the arena in Owensboro.

This caused the Senators to need to find a new affiliate, and Wichita was conveniently available.

Along with the Colorado Eagles, the Wichita Thunder operated in the league independent of any NHL connection. The Eagles most recently served as the Calgary Flames’ affiliate during the 2014-2015 season, but are currently independent.

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With news of the Senators claiming Wichita, the Blue Jackets, Panthers, Devils, or Blues should pounce on that last remaining affiliate in the ECHL.

The Wichita Thunder were first founded in 1992, and played in the Central Hockey League until 2014, when they switched to the ECHL.

No NHL team resides in Kansas, and this could be an opportunity to not just secure another outlet for player development, but convert some would-be fans in the heart of the U.S. to Senators’ hockey.

The Thunder play in Intrust Bank Arena, located in downtown Wichita. Any community gaining affiliated hockey has a new opportunity to embrace the connection to a premier sports league like the NHL.

It’s still the same team, but the new cache of an NHL affiliation will likely send a wave of excitement through the community.

Malcolm Cameron was named as their new coach in May, and he’ll be the first to preside over this new incarnation.

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Hopefully this is the start of a prosperous partnership between Ottawa and Wichita. Congrats on the pairing!

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