News release
4 October 2007
START OF TRAINING CAMP PUNCTUATED BY NHL AFFILIATION AGREEMENT
ELMIRA, NY The Elmira Jackals, proud member of the ECHL, announced today that they have obtained their first National Hockey League affiliation as a member of the ECHL, signing a one-year agreement with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2007-08 season.
The Jackals enter their first year of play in the ECHL as the sole AA affiliate of the Blue Jackets and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
Elmira and Syracuse are approximately 90 miles apart, benefiting the Blue Jackets organization with reduced travel costs and more timely transactions between their two minor league affiliates. Columbus had previously been affiliated with the Dayton (Ohio) Bombers of the ECHL.
No minimum player commitment is included in the affiliation agreement, but it is expected that Columbus will be reassigning several players from Syracuse to Elmira prior to the start of the Jackals training camp Friday morning at First Arena.