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(Press Release)WEST VALLEY CITY -- Utah Grizzlies Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations Kevin Colley announced today that the team has signed an affiliation agreement with the Calgary Flames to again work with them and their AHL affiliate in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
"Calgary is a first-class organization and we had solid communication with them last season as we worked to develop their ECHL skaters; we're excited to continue in an expanded roll in 2010-2011." said Colley. "I found they share with us a common belief that hard work and professionalism on and off the ice go a long ways in player development and winning hockey games."
"We enjoyed our first year working with the Grizzlies in 2009-10," said Flames Director of Player Personnel Duane Sutter. "We are confident, given the working relationship we have with Kevin Colley, that our players' developmental needs will be well taken care of and that we can contribute to the on-ice success of the Grizzlies."
Pairing Utah with Abbotsford, the Flames will be closer to their ECHL and AHL affiliates than any other team in the NHL's Western Conference. Prior to working with the Grizzlies last year, the Flames were affiliated in Utah with the IHL's Salt Lake Golden Eagles from 1984-1993.
"Coach Colley had a great working relationship with Duane Sutter and the Calgary Flames last year," said Grizzlies CEO Kevin Bruder. "The regional proximity makes this a great fit for the Utah Grizzlies as well."
In 2009-2010, J.D. Watt, Josh Meyers, Hugo Carpentier and Peter Vandermeer played in both Utah and Abbotsford. Watt was promoted from Utah to Abbotsford after the first game of the season and never returned; totaling 265 penalty minutes in 70 AHL games. Meyers played the first 12 games in Utah, before joining Abbotsford for the final 65 games of their season.
As Utah expands their role with Calgary, the organization has also announced that they have parted ways with the New York Islanders organization, whom they had been affiliated with since 2007.
- Utah Grizzlies -
