The Vancouver Sun is running a poll asking its readers whether they would be more likely to support an Abbotsford AHL team if it were a Canucks affiliate.
The poll, published Monday, asks readers: “With news the Vancouver Canucks have bought the Peoria Rivermen, the St. Louis Blues’ AHL farm team, the rumour mill is back churning that the Canucks want to relocate their AHL affiliate to Abbotsford, now home of the Heat (the Calgary Flames’ affiliate).”
“Would you be more likely to support a Canucks farm team in the Fraser Valley city, even including going to games?”
The poll comes just two days after it was learned that the St Louis Blues had sold their Peoria Rivermen farm team to the Vancouver Canucks. The Cancucks have decided not to renew their affiliation with the Chicago Wolves and rumours have been circulating since February that the Aquilini family has its eyes on the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre (AESC) and that the Abbotsford Heat would be moving to Utica.
In March it was revealed deals were in the works to move the Heat to Utica and that the Rivernmen would be coming to Abbotsford.
Saturday the Peoria part of the equation fell into place.
The only thing holding up the deal, according to the Province’s Ed Willes is the deal struck by former Abbotsford Mayor George Peary to guarantee the Heat owners never lose money for ten years.
It will be hard to find a city dumb enough to top that deal.