The Indy Fuel have announced a three-year agreement with the Chicago Blackhawks and Rockford IceHogs to continue being the teams ECHL affiliate. It also includes an option for an additional two years. This comes as no surprise as the Fuel have been Chicago’s ECHL Affiliate since they joined the league in 2014. Indy has made the Kelly Cup Playoffs in three of the last four seasons.
Over the course of the 10-year partnership, 11 players who have played with the Fuel have seen time in the NHL, including goaltenders Matt Tompkins and Kevin Lankinen. For a young team like the Blackhawks, this partnership with Indy gives them another option for their prospects and gives them a chance to stay in North America.
“We are thrilled to renew our affiliation once again with the Indy Fuel,” said IceHogs President and General Manager of Hockey Operations Mark Bernard. “For the past 10 seasons, the relationship between organizations has been productive and impactful. Jim Hallett, Larry McQueary, and Duncan Dalmao have always treated our players with the utmost professionalism, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.
The affiliation agreement is just one of the big things happening with the Fuel. Beginning next season, Indy is moving to the newly built Fishers Event Center and will also be looking for a New PA announcer after Scott Alan recently announced that he’s heading to Bloomington to join the front office of the Bloomington Bison, one of the two expansion teams joining the ECHL for the 2024-25 season
