Wednesday, May 09, 2001
Report: Cyclones, IHL to fold
Enquirer news services
MILWAUKEE — The Cincinnati Cyclones and the International Hockey League are going out of business, according to a published report.
Six IHL teams - not including the Cyclones - will be absorbed by the American Hockey League, according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sources.
That will leave Cincinnati with one hockey team, the Mighty Ducks of the AHL.
The six IHL teams are expected to officially become members of the AHL Thursday following a meeting of the AHL's board of governors, including Cincinnati Mighty Ducks chairman Pete Robinson.
The IHL teams joining the new AHL — or as some call it, NHL2 — are the Milwaukee Admirals, the Chicago Wolves, the Grand Rapids Griffins, the Utah Grizzlies, the Houston Aeros and the Manitoba Moose.
All six teams will pay $2.5 million apiece to enter the AHL, with $1 million from each team earmarked for the IHL to help the league close business after 56 years of operation.
The Cyclones (who lost their affiliation with NHL Carolina), Cleveland Lumberjacks, Detroit Vipers and Orlando Solar Bears have been plagued by financial problems and dismal attendance and were not expected to be part of the IHL next season. The IHL, which had 19 teams in 1996-'97, was down to 11 clubs this season and was on life-support.
The Lumberjacks almost folded during the season but were bailed out and run by the league midway through the season. The Lumberjacks lost their NHL affiliate last week when the Minnesota Wild chose not to exercise its option for the 2001-2002 season. Efforts by the IHL to find a Cleveland buyer for the Lumberjacks have been fruitless.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has envisioned one 30-team league to serve as the minor-league affiliates to the NHL. With the addition of the six IHL teams, the AHL would have 26 clubs.
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Report: Cyclones, IHL to fold
