The Winnipeg Jets and Manitoba Moose have announced a new affiliation with the ECHL's Norfolk Admirals.
The Winnipeg Jets have become the 28th NHL club with a full affiliation between the NHL, the AHL and the ECHL.
The team has announced a partnership with the Norfolk Admirals for the 2023-24 season that will see players able to be shifted up and down between the tiered leagues as managers see fit.
Entering the ECHL in 2015, the Admirals have yet to have a winning season, going 173-273-46 over the past seven seasons. Last year Norfolk managed a 21-46-5 record through its 72 games, finishing seventh in the North Division.
“We are excited to begin our partnership with the Norfolk Admirals,” said Winnipeg Jets' assistant general manager Craig Heisinger. “The city of Norfolk and the Admirals franchise have a rich hockey history. We look forward to the opportunity that this affiliation will provide for our prospects.”
16 different players on the 2022-23 Moose roster have played at least one ECHL game, while 10 such players did so on the season.
“This affiliation helps us build a solid base as we continue to ascend in our new culture," said Jeff Carr, General Manager and Head Coach of the Norfolk Admirals.
“Winnipeg's dedication to winning and development is no secret in the hockey world,” he added. “With the depth that Winnipeg has and their view on development, they're going to be very involved with our roster. We both felt joining forces together with the goals of character, winning, and development outweighed any obstacle of geographical distance.”
Norfolk, Virginia is roughly 2,850 kilometres from Winnipeg.
The team begins its 2023-24 ECHL season on Friday, October 20 in Georgia with a game against the Savannah Ghost Pirates. Manitoba starts its season the week prior with a four-game homestand to open the 2023-24 AHL season.