ECHL Expansion Team Owned by Spittin' Chiclets Announces Affiliation Deal With the Carolina Hurricanes

Back in January this year, Paul Bissonnette and the rest of the Spittin' Chiclets hosts announced that they had joined the ownership group of an ECHL expansion team.

At the time, the team's logo, name, and color palette was revealed as they announced the Greensboro Gargoyles would be joining the league the following season.

Up until now, the team has been unaffiliated with any other teams, despite the fact that the ECHL is largely a developmental league for the NHL.

Most teams in the NHL have an ECHL partner. For example, the Pittsburgh Penguins are partnered with the Wheeling Nailers, the San Jose Sharks are partners with the Wichita Thunder, and the Toronto Maple Leafs have the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Not every team in the league has an ECHL partner though, but today one of those teams changed that fact.

That would be the Carolina Hurricanes, who have elected to enter into an affiliation deal with the league's newest club.

This move is a big deal for the Hurricanes as it means they now have an entire extra team to send their prospects to.

For players that aren't quite ready for the AHL, the East Coast league is a good option.

Furthermore, with the team being located in Greensboro, just a couple of hours away from Lenovo Center in Raleigh, it will be easy for prospects to go to and from the NHL facilities for development days and call ups.

With the Gargoyles joining the Hurricanes organization, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Ottawa Senators are now the only NHL clubs without an ECHL partner.

be sure to tune in next year to see how the Gargoyles fair in their inaugural season.