Ice Pilots Announce New Affiliation

September 2, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Pensacola Ice Pilots News Release


Pensacola, FL - The Pensacola Ice Pilots, under the ownership group of Hockey Enterprises of Pensacola L.L.C. with owner Tim Kerr, announced that the team has signed an affiliation agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. The affiliation is a one-year deal and includes an affiliation with the St. John's Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League.

"We are excited and extremely pleased to have a working agreement with the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League this season. I played for Toronto Head Coach Pat Quinn and have the utmost respect for him along with General Manager John Ferguson and Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Mike Penny. We are looking forward to a great working relationship," said Ice Pilots owner Tim Kerr.

"We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Ice Pilots. As an organization we are confident that our young players will be able to continue their development with the Pensacola hockey club," said Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager John Ferguson.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the "Original Six Members" of the NHL and is the second NHL affiliation in Ice Pilots history. (Tampa Bay was an affiliation with the Ice Pilots the last three years).

Ice Pilots Owner Tim Kerr played for Toronto Head Coach Pat Quinn (when Pat Quinn was head coach of Philadelphia) during his first two seasons in the NHL and Ice Pilots Head Coach Dave Farrish played four seasons with Toronto during his NHL playing career.

"We are very excited to have Toronto as an affiliation as the Maple Leafs are one of the most prestigious organizations in the world," said Farrish. "Through the ability of Frank Milne's connections with Toronto, we were able to land such a storied organization as our affiliate. I know a lot of minor league teams had to be interested in Toronto and we hope this will be the start of a long relationship."

The Ice Pilots under new Head Coach Dave Farrish will begin the 2004-2005 regular season at Mississippi on October 23 and play their home opener Saturday, October 30 vs. the Kelly Cup Finalists Florida Everblades at 7:05 p.m.

Season tickets for all 36 home games for floor and glass seats are $649.44, side seats are $459.00, goal seats and lower upper seats are $411.84 and upper seats cost $324.00. 16 game plans, 8 game plans and flex packs also are available. Fans can call the Ice Pilots office at 432-7825 for season ticket and corporate sponsorship information.



ECHL Stories from September 2, 2004


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