Canucks make moves to bring AHL team to Abbotsford: report

Anthony Peluso of the Peoria Rivermen, left, fights with Brandon Bolig of the Portland Winterhawks during an American Hockey League game at Carver Arena in Peoria, Ill., Friday, Oct. 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Peoria Journal Star/Ron Johnson)

A report claiming the Vancouver Canucks have purchased a minor league hockey team in Illinois is fueling speculation that the organization will move its farm club to Abbotsford.

Andy Strickland, a sports reporter for the Fan 590 in St. Louis, said the St. Louis Blues have reportedly sold the Peoria Rivermen, an American Hockey League team, to the Canucks.

The Canucks and Blues have not confirmed the deal, but Strickland said if it were true, the teams would essentially swap their AHL affiliations. The Canucks currently hold an affiliation agreement with the AHL's Chicago Wolves.

“It looks like the Blues are now going to partner with the Chicago Wolves and my sources tell me Vancouver was looking to own an AHL affiliate and place one closer to Vancouver, B.C.,” he told CTV News.

That place would almost certainly be Abbotsford, where the Calgary Flames’ AHL affiliate currently plays.

In a potential deal, the Abbotsford Heat would likely move and the Peoria Rivermen – the Canucks’ new farm team – would settle in to the Fraser Valley.

Tom Mayenknecht of the radio show Sport Market said the deal has been slowly aligning for a few weeks now, but reiterated that nothing is confirmed.

“But where there’s smoke, there’s heat, so to speak,” he said.

Mayeknecht said a move could do wonders for Abbotsford, where attendance has been chronically low for Heat games.

“More Canucks fans will come to games to see the Canucks’ affiliate than to see the Flames’ affiliate, I don’t think there’s any question about that,” he said. “The bottom line is this would make a lot of sense for the City of Abbotsford, number one. Number two, I think it would be a great opportunity for the Vancouver Canucks.”

That’s because with their farm team in Chicago, calling up players can be a lengthy process for the Canucks.

But with a Canucks affiliate in Abbotsford, a prospect getting his shot at the big leagues would only have to make a short trip on Highway 1.

“If it does materialize this way I think it’s common sense for it to happen,” Mayeknecht said. “I think it’s a good move, but until it’s dotted and crossed, there is no deal in place.”

With a report from CTV British Columbia’s Scott Hurst