(Team Press Release) Youngstown SteelHounds General Manager Joe Gregory, in conjunction with Columbus Blue Jackets President and General Manager Doug MacLean, announced today that an affiliation agreement has been reached for the 2006-07 season making the SteelHounds the primary Central Hockey League affiliate of the Blue Jackets and the Syracuse Crunch (the Blue Jackets top American Hockey League affiliate).

“We are very excited to announce this relationship,” said Gregory. “The Blue Jackets have been considered one of the elite and best-run organizations in the NHL since their first season and to have them associated with our on and off ice initiatives makes the SteelHounds one of the strongest organizations in the CHL.”
The SteelHounds will serve as the Blue Jackets CHL affiliate and will have the opportunity to have Columbus and Syracuse contracted players assigned to Youngstown. The relationship has already served dividends as both Kelly Thomson, Brad Roberts and Shaun Landolt attended Syracuse training camp prior to joining the Hounds for their camp. Both Roberts and Landolt made the Hounds opening day roster.

“Having that relationship and support from an NHL organization is invaluable,” said Youngstown Head Coach Kevin Kaminski. “The credibility it gives our efforts to recruit and field the most competitive team in the CHL is something that makes us one of the top clubs that players would target to play for in our league.”
The Blue Jackets entered the NHL in 2000 and have since been one of the top organizations in the league with their fan friendly programs and initiatives. Fans from all over Ohio including Northeast Ohio have ventured to Nationwide Arena to watch the NHL’s best including current Blue Jacket’s Rick Nash, Sergei Federov and David Vyborny.

“We would like to welcome the SteelHounds to the Columbus Blue Jackets family and wish them the best of luck in the upcoming Central Hockey League season,” said Blue Jackets Executive Vice-President and Assistant General Manager Jim Clark, who oversees hockey operations for the club’s affiliates. “We are excited about this partnership and look forward to working with Joe Gregory, Kevin Kaminski and the rest of the organization in helping grow the sport throughout Northeast Ohio.”

The agreement will continue the Blue Jacket’s outreach efforts as the SteelHounds will market Ohio’s lone NHL club with promotional nights, ticket giveaways and special appearances.

“The sport of hockey is very loyal and we know that many of our fans are Columbus fans and with this marketing program we will assist branding the Jackets in Northeast Ohio,” said Gregory.

The Crunch will serve as the Hounds AHL affiliate and have been with the Blue Jackets since Columbus’ inaugural season in the NHL. The Crunch have a long history in the AHL starting their 13th season and developing top players for Columbus in the past including Parma, Ohio’s Dan Fritsche.

The SteelHounds will have their home opener on Friday, October 27th versus Rocky Mountain at the Chevrolet Centre.