Norfolk Admirals

Goalie Dustin Tokarski and the Norfolk Admirals won the Calder Cup in 2011-12. The franchise is relocating to San Diego next season.

(The Virginian Pilot / L. Todd Spencer )

In a move President-CEO Dave Andrews termed a "monumental shift" for his league, the AHL formally announced Thursday the formation of a five-team Pacific Division for the 2015-16 season.

What has been long expected became official during a press briefing at SAP Center in San Jose, California, attended by representatives of the Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks.

The Ducks are purchasing the Norfolk Admirals franchise and moving it to San Diego. Calgary (Glens Falls, New York, to Stockton), Edmonton (Oklahoma City to Bakersfield) Los Angeles (Manchester, New Hampshire, to Ontario) and San Jose (Worcester, Massachusetts, to San Jose) are relocating the AHL franchises they own to California.

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We're thrilled to bring the AHL to California and add to the incredible growth of the game on the West Coast," Andrews said. "I want to thank, though, our fans and all of those individuals who have supported the American Hockey League in Adirondack, in Norfolk, in Manchester, in Worcester and Oklahoma City."

The advent of the Pacific Division marks the most profound change in the AHL since 2001, when the IHL ceased operations and the AHL absorbed six of its teams (Chicago Wolves, Houston Aeros, Manitoba Moose, Utah Grizzlies, Milwaukee Admirals and Grand Rapids Griffins).

Economics led to the IHL's demise. The geographical pull that had helped made it a viable entity never went away.

Thus, logistical and developmental reasons sparked a migration west for the AHL, which now has a footprint stretching from St. John's, Newfoundland, to San Diego.

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This is a significant day for hockey and the growth of the sport here in California," said Sharks Chief Operating Officer John Tortora, whose AHL team will play in the same building as his NHL team.

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I think that the western division is a positive thing for the American Hockey League," Hershey Bears President-GM Doug Yingst said. "Logistically it makes sense for those West Coast teams in the NHL to have their affiliates closer to them."

The clubs involved believe closer proximity will lead to developmental benefits for their prospects in the AHL and improved regional team branding at the NHL level.

Kevin Lowe, vice chair of Oilers Entertainment Group, estimated that reduced game travel will result in 20-25 extra practice days for his AHL team. Ducks GM Bob Murray noted the convenience of being able to travel down the San Diego Freeway to watch his AHL team practice.

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There's no price tag you can put on that," Murray said. "That is just so valuable to your players and to you."

Major questions about schedule length (and how much Pacific Division teams will play against the rest of the league), conference and division alignments and the playoff format remain unresolved.

#Oilers' Kevin Lowe says teams in Pacific Division will have option on number of games played. Sounds like less than rest of AHL. — Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) January 29, 2015

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What it's really going to affect -- and yet to be determined -- is the divisional layouts and the conference layouts and, obviously, the crossover in the scheduling if, in fact, there will be any," Yingst said. "I would think there would be some just because of rivalries.

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It could end up to be 15 teams in each conference. Or is it going to be an offset? Will there be 16 and 14? Those things and proposals are being worked out now."

With Western Conference teams not included in the Pacific Division theoretically facing reduced scheduling options, it could result in more schedule variety for Hershey should they look to fill dates with more Eastern Conference competition.

Norfolk will be subtracted from the East Division, where Hershey plays, next season.

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With Norfolk leaving, certainly there will be a team added to the division," Bears head coach Troy Mann said. "I'm not sure who. At least we'll have a new rivalry within the division itself and maybe a couple new teams to play against in the Eastern Conference."

Mann coached the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors last season. He said that the buildings in Bakersfield, Stockton and Ontario, currently home to ECHL clubs, are AHL ready.

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Based on my experience in the ECHL, they're all viable AHL markets with great buildings," Mann said.

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All those places have got beautiful facilities and great fan bases. I think they're going to be really good American League markets."

The Admirals, Adirondack Flames, Manchester Monarchs, Oklahoma City Barons and Worcester Sharks now will be playing out lame duck seasons in their current locales. Manchester currently is in first place in the Eastern Conference and Oklahoma City is in first place in the Western Conference.

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Within the locker room, I don't know if it's necessarily going to be affecting the individual players," Mann said. "At the end of the day, they're all trying to get to the NHL.

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The fan base, that might be a different story."

Andrews said he is confident "that fans in the near future in cities we are departing will continue to enjoy a high level of minor professional hockey."

The Condors are expected to relocate to Norfolk, which has a rich ECHL tradition. But the AHL is a higher level league than the ECHL.

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We do understand and recognize there are markets today that are losing a team," Flames GM Brad Treliving said. "And that's a difficult thing."