The Quad City Flames was an American professional ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 2007 to 2009. They were owned by QC Sports Ventures Inc., an ownership group based out of the Quad Cities. The Flames played at the iWireless Center in Moline, Illinois, serving as the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames. The move to the Quad Cities was confirmed on May 24, 2007. As a result, the arena's previous hockey tenant, the Quad City Mallards of the United Hockey League ceased operations.[1]

Quad City Flames
CityMoline, Illinois
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
Founded1977
Operated20072009
Home arenaiWireless Center
ColorsRed, black, gold, white        
AffiliateCalgary Flames
Franchise history
1977–1987Maine Mariners
1987–1993Utica Devils
1993–2003Saint John Flames
2005–2007Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
2007–2009Quad City Flames
2009–2014Abbotsford Heat
2014–2015Adirondack Flames
2015–2022Stockton Heat
2022–PresentCalgary Wranglers

The team left the Quad Cities after the 2008–09 season and relocated to Abbotsford, British Columbia to play as the Abbotsford Heat in the 2009–10 season.

History

edit

The Flames AHL franchise relocated from Omaha, Nebraska, where the team spent two seasons as the Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights. Following two disappointing seasons at the gate in which the Flames and the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben lost over $4 million, the Flames chose to relocate the franchise.[2] The new franchise joined former UHL rival, the Rockford IceHogs in moving up to the AHL. The Flames made their AHL regular-season debut in Moline on October 6, 2007, with a 5–1 victory over Rockford.[3]

The Flames were the third team to attempt to place an AHL team in the Quad Cities. Both the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers were unable to reach an agreement with the owners of the Mallards and of the arena.[4] While the NHL franchise had signed an affiliation agreement to the end of the 2011–12 season, the Flames and Quad City Sports Ventures agreed to end the agreement after just two seasons and the Flames placed their affiliate in Abbotsford, British Columbia for the 2009–10 AHL season.[5] Local ownership in Quad Cities estimated the team's losses for 2008–09 at $1.3 million.[6]

This market was previously served by:

The market was subsequently home to:

Affiliates

Season-by-season results

edit

Regular season

edit
Season Games Won Lost OTL SOL Points Goals
For
Goals
Against
Standing
2007–08 80 38 32 3 7 86 203 214 6th, West Division
2008–09 80 36 31 6 7 85 212 216 5th, West Division

Playoffs

edit
Season 1st round 2nd round 3rd round Finals
2007–08 Out of playoffs.
2008–09 Out of playoffs.

Team records

edit

Single season

edit
Goals: 39   Kyle Greentree (2008–09)
Assists: 43   Grant Stevenson (2007–08)
Points: 76   Kyle Greentree (2008–09)
Penalty Minutes: 248   Brandon Prust (2007–08)
GAA: 2.23   Leland Irving (2008–09)
SV%: .912   Matt Keetley (2007–08), Leland Irving (2008–09)
Wins: 24   Leland Irving (2008–09)
Shutouts: 3   Curtis McElhinney (2007–08)
  • Goaltending records need a minimum of 25 games played by the goaltender

Career

edit
Career Goals: 43   Kris Chucko
Career Assists: 76   Carsen Germyn
Career Points: 108   Carsen Germyn
Career Penalty Minutes: 271   Matt Pelech
Career Goaltending Wins: 24   Leland Irving
Career Shutouts: 3   Curtis McElhinney   Matt Keetley
Career Games: 154   Kris Chucko

References

edit
  1. ^ DeVrieze, Craig (May 25, 2007). "Mallards migrate, Flames light in Q-C". The Quad-City Times. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Patterson, Mike; Shatel, Tom (May 15, 2007). "AHL: Knights are leaving for the Quad Cities". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on July 13, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2007.
  3. ^ "River of Red Flows Over Rockford". Quad City Flames. October 6, 2007. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  4. ^ DeVrieze, Craig (May 24, 2007). "Quad-Cities step up to AHL". The Pantagraph. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2008.
  5. ^ "Report: Flames plan to move AHL affiliate to Abbotsford". TSN. March 12, 2009. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
  6. ^ Hall, Vicki (March 12, 2009). "Calgary Flames' farm team to move from Quad Cities to Abbotsford, B.C." Calgary Herald. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved March 14, 2009.