SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … Convening in Chicago today for its Spring Meeting, the American Hockey League Board of Governors has unanimously approved the sale of the Iowa Chops inactive franchise to Hicks Cedar Park, LLC, owners of the Texas Stars.
The sale brings the Texas Stars to full membership in the AHL and satisfies the conditions of the limited membership granted to Hicks Cedar Park for the 2009-10 season.
The Texas Stars have enjoyed an outstanding inaugural season in the AHL, finishing second in the West Division with a record of 46-27-3-4 (99 points) and advancing the second round of the Calder Cup Playoffs, where they are currently facing the Chicago Wolves. The Stars also ranked 10th in the 29-team AHL in regular-season attendance, averaging 5,335 fans per game at the Cedar Park Center in suburban Austin.
In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 85 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and this season marks the ninth consecutive year in which more than 6 million fans have attended AHL games across North America.
