Manchester Monarchs, the Kings’ ECHL affiliate, are folding

The Manchester Monarchs, the Kings’ ECHL affiliate, announced that the franchise is folding.

The Monarchs have been affiliated with the Kings, either as an American Hockey League or ECHL team, since 2001. The owners could not find a buyer and chief executive Brian Cheek said “minor league hockey is not viable in Manchester at the ECHL level,” according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Manchester averaged 2,458 fans this season, the second-fewest in the league and just more than half the ECHL average of 4,445.

The Kings switched their AHL affiliate from Manchester to Ontario in 2015, shortly after Manchester won the Calder Cup. Among Kings players who played for the Monarchs are Dustin Brown, Jonathan Quick and Alec Martinez.