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Former GriďŹƒns defenseman todd Nelson was hired by the Edmonton Oilers to be the head coach of their AhL aďŹƒliate in Oklahoma City.
the Ahl WelComes ChArlotte AnD oklAhomA City to the folD. a couple of historic nicknames and another name familiar to West Michigan hockey fans highlight the arrival of new aHl teams in Charlotte and oklahoma City this season. The Charlotte Checkers, who begin play in the aHl as the affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes, borrowed their identity from the team of the same name that competed in the ECHl from 1993-94 until last season. actually, the moniker goes back even further. Hockey history buffs may remember that there was a team called the Charlotte Checkers that played in the Eastern Hockey league and southern Hockey league from 1956 to 1977. Grand Rapids GRIFFINS 53