Affiliates

Wheaton Whip-Crack to Join Caps Family as 2016-17 ECHL Affiliate!

Despite their long-standing favourable relationship with the ECHL‘s  South Carolina Stingrays (and that team’s entrance to the playoffs yet again this year), the Washington Capitals have decided to try their luck with a closer ECHL affiliate.  This time around, however, they’re taking a note from the LA Kings and establishing up a brand new team all their own – the Wheaton Whip-Crack!

The Caps have tried moving their ECHL affiliation down the street once before, partnering with the Reading Royals for two memorable seasons from 2012-14.  While the Royals got a Kelly Cup Championship out of the deal, the Capitals… didn’t add to their hardware collection. The biggest winners were the rookie pros, who were able to bounce between the Royals (ECHL) and Hershey Bears (AHL) with only an hour in the car. The minor league distance will be a bit greater with the swap to Wheaton, but it still allows call-ups to make the trip by car instead of airplane.

The first season of the Whip-Crack will coincide with the opening of a new arena being built in Downtown Wheaton, part of the ongoing revitalization project centered around the Wheaton Urban District.  Capitals alumnus Peter Bondra has been tapped as General Manager for the new team, so watch for him to be scouting talent at this year’s Capitals Development Camp.

 

As always, the devil’s in the details – in this case, in the datebook.

Happy April Fools Day from Capitals Outsider!

M. Richter

Em is a fan of hockey first and individual teams second, with geographical ties that cross the NHL. She was born in the Midwest, raised along the East Coast, and graduated from a university in Western Canada. A firm believer in context above all else, and a card-carrying on-ice official with USA Hockey, she splits her time between the big picture and the details. When not covering the AHL and ECHL for Caps Outsider, her photography can be found on Behance and Flickr. She also occasionally chimes in about the Hershey Bears on the Power Play Post Show.

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