Ducks Shopping for Minor League Affiliate

Las Vegas, Salt Lake and San Diego are among the minor league hockey teams that might be the Mighty Ducks’ affiliate this fall.

Ducks General Manager Jack Ferreira confirmed that the team has contacted those three teams and is arranging formal talks soon. Ferreira said he also has been contacted by groups interested in putting minor league teams in Denver and San Francisco, but he does not yet know if those teams could be ready next season.

The Las Vegas Thunder, which will play in Nevada Las Vegas’ Thomas & Mack Center, is an expansion International Hockey League team that has contacted several teams about an affiliation. The Salt Lake Golden Eagles, another IHL team, recently lost their affiliation with the Calgary Flames. The team is exploring an agreement with the New York Islanders, as well as the Ducks, said Tim Howells, Salt Lake general manager.

The San Diego Gulls are an independent IHL team that has had success with veteran players. Though General Manager Don Waddell said ownership has expressed reluctance about becoming a full affiliate, the team might be open to blending the Ducks’ young players with older players.

It appears likely that the Ducks, the only Anaheim professional team that will use the city as part of its official name, will be the only one to train and practice in Anaheim. Though there’s no contract yet, the team is expected to practice at the Glacial Garden Ice Arena on Cerritos Avenue in Anaheim, Ferreira and Ron White, the rink’s managing director, said. The team also is working to confirm its intention to hold its training camp in Anaheim Arena in September, as the arena lease contract provides.

The Rams practice and play in Anaheim but conducted training camp in Irvine last year and will train in Fullerton next season.

The Angels share Anaheim Stadium with the Rams, but their spring training home is Tempe, Ariz.

The Ducks’ exhibition schedule is not yet set, but Ferreira said the team will play the Kings at least once, and perhaps twice, with one game at each team’s building.