The Chicago Blackhawks have renewed their ECHL affiliation agreement with the Indy Fuel, the team announced in a press release Thursday.
The new three-year agreement will run through the end of the 2021-22 season, the club announced.
The Fuel, first founded in 2013, play their home games in Indianapolis, and have been the Blackhawks’ ECHL affiliate since their inception. The team also has an affiliation agreement with the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs.
“Since our partnership began in 2014, the Indy Fuel organization and Chairman Jim Hallett have done an exceptional job developing prospects in our organization for the next level,” Blackhawks VP of Hockey Operations Mark Bernard said in a statement. “We are excited to continue our relationship with the Fuel and look forward to the continued growth of the players in our system who pass through Indy.”
Since the Fuel were founded, two of their players have made their way into the NHL. Defenseman Justin Holl made his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018, and Blackhawks goaltender Collin Delia made his debut in March of 2018, according to the team’s alumni register.
Several Blackhawks prospects have also started their careers with the Fuel, including Radovan Bondra and Matheson Iacopelli.
