PORTLAND — The Portland Pirates minor league hockey team will likely become affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers next season.
The Portland Press Herald reports the Pirates plan to make an announcement of their new affiliation on Wednesday. The Maine club is in its fourth and final season as the American Hockey League farm team of the Arizona Coyotes. The Coyotes says the partnership will not be renewed.
The Panthers’ current affiliation in the AHL is the San Antonio Rampage. That agreement is also set to expire.
The Pirates have also been an affiliate of the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks and Buffalo Sabres. The club started play in 1993 and hosts its home games at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
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