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ITS OVER... HOCKEY FANS ARE SAD, BUT ARE NOT SUPRISED. <CLIP 0028- 27:26 IT WAS NICE TO HAVE A PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY TEAM IN MANCHESTER TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE TOWN, CITY. 27:31> <CLIP 0030- 29:15- THE FACT THAT THE MONARCHS AREN'T ABLE TO HOLD IT TOGETHER IS REALLY GONNA AFFECT THE CITY. 29:20> MANCHESTER MONARCHS FANS SAD TO SEE THE TEAM CEASE OPERATIONS TODAY. SOME ADMIT THEY STOPPED GOING A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN THE LA KINGS AFFILIATE DROPPED FROM THE AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE TO THE EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE. <CLIP 0033- 31:15 IT WAS FUN AT FIRST, I THINK IT WAS UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT, IT WAS A LITTLE EXCITING. I THINK WHEN THEY DROPPED A LEVEL THAT MIGHT HAVE LOST SOME OF THE INTEREST. 31:22> <CLIP 0030- 29:41 WHEN I HEARD THEY DROPPED DOWN IN LEAGUE, STOPPED THEN, IT JUST DIDNT FLOAT MY BOAT. 29:49> MONARCHS CEO BRIAN CHEEK TOOK OVER THE TEAM IN 2016 AND SAYS DECLINING ATTENDANCE AND LACK OF SPONORS ARE TWO OF THE REASONS THE TEAM IS DONE. <CLIP 0024- 22:09- WE'VE TRIED HARD TO IMPROVE ATTENDANCE AND MAKE THE MINOR LEAGUE HOCKEY A VIABLE OPTION FOR THE CITY OF MANCHESTER AND SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE AND UNFORTUNATELY WE JUST FOUND THAT WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT. 22:20> THEY RECENTLY TRIED TO SELL THE TEAM, BUT DIDNT RECEIVE ANY CONCRETE OFFERS. THE MOVE PUTS FRONT OFFICE AND SALES PERSONNEL OUT OF WORK, ALONG WITH THE PLAYERS AND COACHES. <CLIP FANS SAY THEY HOPE ANOTHER TEAM COMES TO TOWN SOON. SNHU ARENA'S GENERAL MANAGER RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY NOW HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FO

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The Manchester Monarchs announced Wednesday they have played their last game.The Monarchs organization announced on its website that this past season was the hockey team's last. >> Download the FREE WMUR app"We are obviously disappointed that this day has come, but over the course of those three years, we've tried hard to improve attendance and make minor league hockey a viable option for the city of Manchester and southern New Hampshire, and unfortunately, we just found that we are not able to do that," Monarchs CEO Brian Cheek said.The Monarchs organization recently tried to sell the team but didn’t receive any concrete offers.The move puts front office and sales personnel out of work, along with the players and coaches. “We have a very good team, obviously a very good coaching staff and hockey support staff,” Cheek said. “I have no doubts that they'll be offered great positions in the future, if they choose to pursue that.”SNHU Arena officials said they were surprised by the news."We are still processing the news we recently were made aware of via the team's website," said Tim Bechert, senior general manager. "The arena has consistently ranked within the Top 10 of venues our size. We have a strong event year ahead, with more opportunity now for additional concerts, trade shows, family shows and other sporting events."Bechert said the arena will begin researching a new professional team to bring to Manchester. Local hockey fans were disappointed by the news.“It was nice to have a professional hockey team in Manchester, to do something for the town,” said Wally Houser, of Bedford.“The fact that the Monarchs aren't able to hold it together is really going to affect the city,” said Marigrace O’Leary, of Manchester.Some admitted they stopped going to Monarchs games a few years ago, when the team dropped from the American Hockey League to the East Coast Hockey League. “It was fun at first,” one man said. “I think it was unique and different. It was a little exciting. I think when they dropped a level, that might have lost some of the interest.”“When I heard they dropped down in league, I stopped then,” O’Leary said. “It just didn’t float my boat.”The Monarchs have played for 18 seasons in Manchester, first as an AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings before trading places with the Ontario Reign, the Kings' affiliate in the ECHL. The ECHL team retained the Monarchs name after moving to Manchester.The Monarchs finished the season with a regular-season record of 39-29. The team lost in the second round of the playoffs.