After three seasons of prospect development, the professional partnership dissolves, leaving both organizations searching for new coastal allies ahead of the 2026-27 hockey campaign.
On Wednesday morning, the Winnipeg Jets and the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals have officially ended their affiliation after three seasons together.
The Admirals announced the news in a statement released, confirming that their partnership with the Jets and the AHL's Manitoba Moose has come to a close.
"After three years, the Norfolk Admirals affiliation with the Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose has come to an end," the team said.
"The Norfolk Admirals thank the Winnipeg Jets and the Manitoba Moose organizations for their partnership and support as our affiliate over the last three seasons of unforgettable ECHL hockey in Norfolk, Virginia. We wish the Manitoba Moose and the Winnipeg Jets all the best going forward as we enter this new chapter."
The affiliation was originally established in August 2023, giving the Jets an ECHL development partner alongside their American Hockey League affiliate, the Manitoba Moose.
Over the course of the partnership, Norfolk served as a destination for prospects and depth players within Winnipeg's organizational pipeline, providing additional development opportunities at the professional level.
With the agreement now concluded, the Jets are left without an ECHL affiliate heading into the 2026-27 season with a new partnership likely to be announced at some point this off-season. Likewise, the Admirals will begin the search for a new NHL organization to align with as they prepare for the upcoming campaign.
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