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SYRACUSE -- The Syracuse Crunch announced that the Columbus Blue Jackets have entered into an affiliation agreement with the Johnstown Chiefs to serve as the ECHL affiliate for both clubs.The Chiefs will enter their twenty-first year of play in the ECHL as the premier ‘AA’ affiliate for the Columbus Blue Jackets. Johnstown plays in the American Conference’s North Division and is the only original ECHL team in its original city. The Chiefs play their home games at the historic Cambria County War Memorial Arena, which served as the home arena for the fictional Charlestown Chiefs in the 1977 film Slapshot.
“We are very excited to be partnering with the Chiefs this year,” said Blue Jackets Assistant General Manager Chris MacFarland. “Developing players is crucial to the long term success of any team, and we feel Johnstown will be a positive place for our young players to learn the game and gain professional experience.”
Two former members of the Blue Jackets and Crunch organizations that have played for Johnstown in the past include defenseman Derrick Walser, who led the Crunch in scoring during the 2000-01 season, and left wing Jody Shelley, who ranks fourth on the Crunch’s all-time penalty minutes list (522).
“We are extremely happy to be working with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Syracuse Crunch because, as an organization, they believe in developing their prospects the right way, and that’s what we strive for here,” said Chiefs coach Ian Herbers.
Columbus and Syracuse were affiliated with the Elmira Jackals during the 2007-08 season. The Dayton Bombers had previously served as the Blue Jackets’ and Crunch’s ECHL affiliate from 2000-07.
The Crunch open their 15th AHL season with a home-and-home series against their I-90 rivals, the Rochester Americans. The teams will face-off at the Blue Cross Arena on Friday, October 10, followed by the Crunch’s home opener at the War Memorial at Oncenter on Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available by calling the Crunch office at (315) 473-4444, stopping by the Oncenter box office located on the State Street side of the War Memorial, or by calling TicketMaster at (315) 472-0700.
Courtesy Syracuse Crunch
