MTS Centre (STAN MILOSEVIC / CHRISD.CA FILE)
Winnipeg sports fans are in store for a second professional hockey team in the city.
True North Sports and Entertainment has announced the relocation of its Winnipeg Jets’ AHL affiliate to Winnipeg next season. The St. John’s, NL franchise — known as the IceCaps — will play at MTS Centre.
To fill the gap left by the IceCaps, the Montreal Canadiens will move their affiliate team — the Hamilton Bulldogs — to St. John’s.
Hamilton will not be losing hockey altogether as the OHL’s Belleville Bulls have been sold and will relocate to Hamilton.
The AHL says division alignments and schedule formats for the 2015-16 season will be determined at a later date.
The moves come a few weeks after the AHL unveiled a new Pacific Division that will begin next season.
The AHL Manitoba Moose played in Winnipeg for 15 seasons before the return of the Jets in 2011.
— With files from The Canadian Press
