Published: September 17, 2007 12:31 pm      

Johnstown Chiefs announce affiliation with NHL's Boston Bruins

The Johnstown Chiefs looked to the past while building for the future.

The Chiefs today announced a working agreement with the NHL’s Boston Bruins for the upcoming season. Coach Ian Herbers’ team will have affiliations with both the Bruins and the Colorado Avalanche. Johnstown and Colorado struck a deal on Aug. 17.

“Boston is another first-class organization that develops their players from within,” Herbers said. “The Bruins used to be affiliated with Johnstown before, and it’s nice to get that tradition back in the community. I think it will be a nice complement to what we will be doing with Colorado. I think working with both organizations will enable us to put together a quality team for the people of Johnstown.”

The Chiefs’ first official NHL affiliation was signed with the Bruins on Aug. 26, 1989 and lasted four seasons until April 28, 1993. Former Chiefs General Manager John Daley, coach Steve Carlson and former Boston General Manager Harry Sinden worked out that agreement. Boston scout Joe Lyons had visited Johnstown earlier in 1989 and was impressed by the Chiefs’ operation, setting the stage for the developmental pact.

That first official affiliation helped the ECHL mold its reputation as a developmental league.

As the ECHL nears its 20th anniversary season, most league teams have at least one affiliation and the Chiefs join the Florida Everblades (Carolina/Florida) and North Division rival Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh/Philadelphia) as teams with dual NHL working agreements this season.

Through last season 329 ECHL “graduates” advanced to play in the NHL, including a record 47 in 2005-06 and 26 last season. The ECHL had affiliations with 25 of the NHL’s 30 teams last year, the 10th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 NHL organizations.

Herbers said Boston will provide “a limited number of players, and it all depends on the players we bring into camp.”

Former ECHL and IHL coach Grant Sonier is a scout in the Bruins organization. Sonier had an administrative role with the Chiefs’ former NHL affiliate the Tampa Bay Lightning and frequently visited Johnstown earlier this decade.

Herbers also has ties to Boston’s power-skating coach Paul Vincent.

“I think it’s a great honor to be a part of a team that was one of the Original Six NHL teams, a team that has successful roots in the NHL,” said New England native Kevin McGeehan, Chiefs vice president and director of hockey operations. “Boston certainly is an organization on the upswing. The Bruins have quality players in their system. The 2007-08 season is shaping up to be a good one and that’s what we want for our fans in Johnstown.”