Flames move AHL Heat to Calgary for 2021

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — The Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate will play home games in Calgary this season after requesting relocation from Stockton, Calif.

The Stockton Heat plan to move north of the border for the 2021 season, giving the Flames easier access to their players during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The seven Canadian NHL teams are not crossing the border during the regular season this year. The Heat will join the Belleville Senators (Ottawa), Laval Rocket (Montreal), Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg) and Toronto Marlies (Maple Leafs) in the Canadian Division.

The league says the schedule for the Canadian Division will be released in the coming days. The move leaves the Vancouver Canucks (Utica, N.Y.) and the Edmonton Oilers (Bakersfield, Calif.) as the lone Canadian teams with Americanbased AHL affiliates this season.