By WMBD-TV
BLOOMINGTON – The Bloomington Bison announced that its team will be affiliated with the New York Rangers during a press conference at Grossinger Motors Arena on Thursday.
The affiliation is a five-year agreement.
Team owner Jim Hallett gave Ranger jerseys to Bloomington City Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe and the City Manager Jeffrey Jurgens immediately after the announcement.
“This affiliation with such a celebrated franchise as the New York Rangers brings a new level of excitement and prestige to Bloomington,” Jurgens said. “We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on the City and the electrifying hockey it will bring to Grossinger Motors Arena.”
The Bison are in the ECHL, a class AA minor league hockey franchise. Most teams within the ECHL are affiliated with the National Hockey League.
The Bison also announced that Phillip Barski will be the teams head coach and general manager.
“I am honored and excited to be named head coach and general manager of the Bloomington Bison,” said Barski. “Starting a new team in a city with such enthusiasm for hockey is a tremendous opportunity. I’d like to thank Jim Hallett for this incredible opportunity. And in the short time that I have gotten to know Larry McQueary with the Bison and Ryan Martin with the Rangers and his staff I feel tremendously honored to be surrounded by such incredible people. Together, we will strive for excellence on and off the ice.”
Hallett also took a moment of silence for Bloomington Bison’s vice president for operations Scott Alan, who died in a two-vehicle car crash on Monday.
More information on the Bloomington Bison is available on their website.
This story will be updated.
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