Syracuse Crunch, Tampa Bay Lightning extend affiliation through 2016-2017 season

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Crunch and Tampa Bay Lightning professional hockey clubs have jointly announced an extension of their affiliation agreement for two more seasons.

The Crunch are part of the American Hockey League (AHL), while the Lightning are a National Hockey League (NHL) franchise.

The extension means Tampa Bay’s top prospects will develop their talents in Syracuse through the 2016-17 AHL season, the Crunch said in a news release.

The partnership between the two hockey teams, which started during the 2012-2013 season, is entering its third season.

Neither team released any financial or contractual terms of their affiliation agreement.

“We are thrilled to be extending our partnership with the Tampa Bay Lightning and continuing to grow our strong relationships with Steve Yzerman, Julien Brisebois and the entire Lightning organization,” Howard Dolgon, owner of the Syracuse Crunch, said in the release.

Steve Yzerman serves as Tampa Bay’s vice president and general manager, while Julien Brisebois is the parent club’s assistant general manager.

During the team’s first season as the Lightning’s top affiliate, the Crunch completed their “most successful” season to date, making their first appearance in the Calder Cup Finals, the team said.

The Crunch did not qualify for the AHL playoffs in its second season with the Lightning.

The Crunch own a record of 74-54-10-14 over the two seasons of the partnership.

Since the start of the affiliation, 26 former or current Crunch players have played for the parent club, the Crunch said.

The Lightning are the fourth primary NHL affiliate of the Crunch, who previously partnered with Vancouver (1994-1999), Columbus (2000-2009), and Anaheim (2010-2012).

Syracuse had a dual affiliation with Vancouver and Pittsburgh from 1997 to 1999.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com