This is the official press release from the Maple Leafs. The Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL will be the Toronto Maple Leafs’ affiliate starting in the 2024–2025 season, the team announced today. The Cyclones take the position of the Newfoundland Growlers as the primary affiliate of the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and the secondary affiliate of the Maple Leafs. From 2018 to 2024, the Growlers were the Maple Leafs’ ECHL affiliate; however, they ceased operations before the conclusion of the current season.
“We are thrilled to start this new relationship with the Cincinnati Cyclones,” Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said. “Our hockey team is making a big investment in order to give our players the greatest tools possible to support their personal and professional development.”
Cincinnati Cyclones General Manager Kristin Ropp stated, “We are excited to be linked with an organisation with such a storied heritage as the Toronto Maple Leafs.” It is really exciting to collaborate with a company that values the growth of players from the ECHL, the AHL, and the NHL.
Since 1990, the Cyclones have been a mainstay in Cincinnati. They play out of Heritage Bank Centre and are members of the Western Conference of the ECHL’s Central Division.
The Maple Leafs were formerly associated with Orlando, Reading, Columbia, Pensacola, and Newfoundland in addition to other ECHL teams.”
The news that the Newfoundland Growlers, the Leafs’ former ECHL affiliate, would be closing their doors came back in April, and Toronto had to find a new affiliate.
“NL’s St. John’s Deacon Sports and Entertainment regrets to inform you, despite the best efforts of our front staff, the sale of the Newfoundland Growlers was not able to be completed before the league-mandated deadline of April 2, 2024. As a consequence of unanticipated difficulties, the ECHL only accepted the Trois-Rivières Lions’ continuation, despite discussions to save both teams’ futures. Consequently, the ECHL Board of Governors has decided to remove the Newfoundland Growlers from the league.”
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