Professional hockey is set to return to San Diego, with the American Hockey League creating a West Coast division and the minor league Norfolk Admirals moving here.
The Norfolk Virginian-Pilot reported thatthe National Hockey League’s Anaheim Ducks will buy the Admirals in a forced sale. The team will compete with affiliates of the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks, Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers in the new West Coast division.
Ken Young, president of the Admirals, confirmed the pending sale to Virginia media outlets, telling the Virginian-Pilot, “I didn’t want to sell. In league meetings, it was determined that one way or another they were going to get a franchise and we weren’t going to get an affiliation.”
The American Hockey League’s board of governors voted Sunday at a meeting in Utica, NY. The league serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League.
The new San Diego team will likely play at the Valley View Casino Center when the next hockey season begins in October.
San Diego last had professional hockey when the minor league Gulls played here from 1990 to 2006.
