Goodbye Ducks; it's now RailRaiders
The Cincinnati Mighty Ducks are officially history, replaced by the Cincinnati RailRaiders.
The team planned to announce the new name - and a new logo - at a news conference at the Montgomery Inn at the Boathouse today.
"I will confirm for you that is the name," Don Helbig, the team's vice president of communications, said in an e-mail late Wednesday.
American Hockey League President David Andrews is expected to attend the news conference.
The Ducks have also hired Game Day Communications, led by former ESPN and local anchor Betsy Ross, to help with marketing and fan development, Helbig said.
The Ducks were affiliated with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in for the past eight seasons, but Anaheim moved its affiliation to Portland, Maine, in May. Cincinnati was unable to secure another NHL affiliate, and went dormant shortly after.
Thus the Robinson family still owns an AHL franchise here, as well as the Cincinnati Gardens.
The Ducks are now trying to reaffiliate and play here in 2006-07. The Columbus Blue Jackets are the most logical choice for the Ducks to affiliate with, but the Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers are among other potential suitors.
The fact that the league president is expected here for the news conference bodes well for Cincinnati's chances of putting a team back on the ice next season.