Multiple sources are reporting that the NA3HL Quad City Flames are moving to Madison Wisconsin for the 2013-2014 season.
Madison is considered to be a very hot hockey area for player development by many junior programs as is evident by an increased scouting presence during the past season at Dells Ducks, and Wisconsin High School games by many Tier II programs in the United States and Canada.
The move, though not officially announced as yet looks to be all but certain. Sources are reporting that dressing room renovations are under way, and that arena management in Quad City has been informed the team will not be back.
Sources within the Minnesota Junior Hockey League are not said to be happy with this “incursion” into what they believe is their territory. Typically territory rights are defined by league bylaws and most establish a 75 or 50 mile radius to protect any one teams territory.
The Madison market would typically fall into the territory rights of the MNJHL’s Dells Ducks who are located roughly forty minutes outside of Madison.
In the recent past, USA Hockey has not approved of Tier III teams entering another Tier III team’s territory, usually citing over saturation of the market as its reason to deny the teams location. In this case, it does not appear as though the MNJHL or the Dells Ducks were consulted about the possible saturation of the market. Though no one will confirm or deny USA Hockey’s approval of the move, enough people are talking about it openly to make it easy enough to believe it will happen.
Could a quid pro quo situation be developing? Perhaps a lack of objection to the NA3HL move will result in a favorable vote for MNJHL expansion of the Great Lakes Division? Could this be the ticket to obtaining the former MWJHL Growl? Could this ease the way for the Fort Wayne Federals move to Marquette? Could this also open the door for a final MNJHL Great Lakes Division addition that raises the GL team count to ten?
TJHN will update this story as more information becomes available.
