ECHL confirms hockey franchise for St. John's

The board of governors of the ECHL has confirmed the approval of an expansion hockey team for St. John's.

In an announcement Tuesday, the league said play will resume at Mile One Centre for the 2018-19 season.

The city of St. John's said theECHLhas agreed to a minimum of 36 games per season for three years, beginning this fall.

"Good news for the city, good news for Mile One, good news for downtown," said Mayor Danny Breen.

As reported by CBC News on March 7, the St. John's franchise will be owned by Deacon Investments, a group controlled by businessman Dean MacDonald.

• Game on: Groups trying to bring hockey back to Mile One reach agreement

Glenn Stanford, who was president of the IceCaps, an American Hockey League franchise, will oversee team operations.

"We think hockey works here. We felt that pro hockey was what people here would support. We think that the ECHL product is a good product," Stanford told CBCNews.

"We are working towards a partnership with the Toronto Maple Leafs. We still have to work towards that, I don't want to mislead people to think that it's done. We have to work towards an affiliationagreement that'll be the next step in the process."

The hockey team will work in a partnership with the owners of the St. John's Edge basketball team, Irwin Simon and Rob Sabbagh.

The Edge will continue to play a minimum of 20 home games per season.

"I think that speaks well for the community that you've got two sports teams that are working together for the good of the community," Stanford said.

Breen said the owners of the hockey and basketball teams have also agreed to pursuea potential management agreement for both Mile One and the Convention Centre, which are currentlyrun by St. John's Sports and Entertainment.

The road to securing a hockey deal has had its rough patches. InJanuary,Edge owners asked for arbitration in a dispute over the timeline related to first rights to secure a team for Mile One.

According to the ECHL announcement, the unnamed St. John's hockey team will play in the North Division. The league has also approved the Maine Mariners in that division.