Blue Jackets, Monsters Announce Multi-Year Extension Of Affiliation

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Cleveland Monsters announced today a multi-year affiliation agreement extension of their current National Hockey League and American Hockey League affiliation partnership. Terms were not announced. The Monsters have been the Blue Jackets' AHL affiliate since the 2015-16 season which culminated with the club capturing the 2016 Calder Cup championship, the first in franchise history and the first by a Columbus affiliate.
During the 2018-19 campaign, the Monsters compiled a 37-29-8-2 record for 84 points and qualified for the 2019 Calder Cup Playoffs for the second time in the past four years. In a first-round series matchup that mirrored its parent club, the Monsters defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning's AHL affiliate, Syracuse Crunch, in four games before falling to the Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs) in the North Division Final. The Monsters finished the 2018-19 season averaging 8,901 fans per game, third in the AHL, and sixth consecutive season in the top three in league attendance. The club also won the AHL's award for best overall fan experience for the 2018-19 season.

"The partnership has been very successful for both organizations and markets over the past four years and we look forward to having our top prospects continue their development in Cleveland," said Bill Zito, Columbus Blue Jackets Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations.
Mike Ostrowski, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Office of the Monsters added, "We are thrilled to continue our affiliation with the Blue Jackets. Throughout the first four years together, we have grown the overall connection for hockey fans in the state of Ohio and we look forward to continued growth of our partnership into the future."
The Monsters will open their 13th AHL season, and fifth as the Blue Jackets affiliate, under new head coach Mike Eaves on Friday, October 4 when they visit the Laval Rocket. The club makes it home debut at the newly-transformed Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Friday, October 11 vs. the Syracuse Crunch. The Blue Jackets open their 19th NHL season on Friday, October 4 with a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.