Barons Announce Affiliations

Published on August 22, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Cleveland Barons News Release


CLEVELAND-San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson and Sharks Vice President and Assistant General Manager and Cleveland Barons General Manager Wayne Thomas announced today that the club has formalized secondary affiliations with the Fresno Falcons and Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL, America's Premier "AA" Hockey League. The Sharks top development affiliate is the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League.

"We are pleased to add these two quality organizations as development affiliates," said Thomas. "The Johnstown and Fresno clubs both have long-standing traditions of excellence in their markets - on and off the ice - and we look forward to their assistance in the development of Sharks prospects."

The ECHL began play in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has now expanded to 32 teams in 18 states from New Jersey to Alaska. The Johnstown Chiefs enter their 16th season in the ECHL in 2003-04. The Chiefs are the only original member of the ECHL that is still operating and playing in the same city since the League's inception in 1988.

Hockey has a rich tradition in Johnstown dating back to 1942. The cult hockey film "Slapshot" was filmed in Johnstown and based on the Johnstown Jets of the North American Hockey League. The Blue Birds, Wings and Red Wings have also called the War Memorial Arena home.

Seventeen former Chiefs have gone on to play in the NHL, including goaltender Peter Skudra. Furthermore, the Chiefs continue to lead the ECHL in player call-ups to higher leagues. During the 2002-03 season, 17 different players saw action in the AHL.

In 2002-03, the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons and for the 2003-04 season, second-year Head Coach Toby O'Brien and the Chiefs hope to improve on their 28-33-11 record. Their 72-game schedule commences on Friday, October 17th at Toledo.

The Fresno Falcons open a new chapter in their history in 2003-04 as they begin their first season of play in both the brand new, $100 million Save Mart Center on the Fresno State campus and in the ECHL.

Under the tutelage of Head Coach and General Manager Blaine Moore, the Falcons closed out their eight-year run as an original member of the West Coast Hockey League with back-to-back Taylor Cup Finals appearances.

Fresno completed a storybook 2001-02 season in dramatic fashion by capturing its lone Taylor Cup title with the help of a double-overtime, Championship-winning goal scored by Kris Porter in Game Six of the Taylor Cup Finals. In 2002-03, the team fell one victory short of becoming just the second team to repeat as Taylor Cup Champions after forcing a decisive seventh game of the League Finals.

Players expected to return for the club's inaugural year in the ECHL include Porter, last season's leading scorer, captain and All-WCHL Forward Jason Weaver, All-WCHL Defenseman Cory Murphy and former Sharks draft pick Goaltender Terry Friesen.

Get ready for the Barons home opener live at Gund Arena on October 11th at 7:05pm. From a Full Season Ticket to a 3-game Hat Trick, every Barons ticket offer includes the home opener. For more information, contact a Cleveland Barons Account Executive at 216-420-0000 or Crash The Net at www.clevelandbarons.net.

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American Hockey League Stories from August 22, 2003


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