Missouri Mavericks deny report outlining plans to take over AHL team for St. Louis Blues

The Missouri Mavericks refuted a report Wednesday that owner Lamar Hunt Jr. has agreed to take over an American Hockey League affiliate of the St. Louis Blues.

A report Wednesday from the “In the Slot” blog and TV station KSDK in St. Louis said that Hunt and Kansas City Youth Hockey Association president Tom Tilley would own the AHL team and house it at Sprint Center, noting that the team would replace the Blues’ current relationship with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. The report cited a source as saying the plans were “pretty much a done deal.”

When reached by The Star on Wednesday, Tilley said, “There’s no truth to that at all.”

The Mavericks, who play in the ECHL, entered into a “working agreement” with the Blues this year, which by extension places them in an arrangement with the Chicago Wolves as well. The Blues and Wolves have assigned players to the Mavericks this season.

In a statement Wednesday, the Mavericks denied there is any agreement to alter that relationship.

The Mavericks are the ECHL affiliate for the New York Islanders.

“Lamar Hunt Jr. and the Missouri Mavericks hockey team have a working relationship with the Blues and Chicago Wolves through the balance of the season, and have no plans at this time to leave the ECHL or Silverstein Eye Center Arena,” the statement read. “Any speculation would be just that. We are very happy with our partnership with the Blues at the National Hockey League level and the Wolves at the American Hockey league level, and appreciate the opportunity to develop the seven prospects that have played with the Mavericks so far.

“As we work to continue to grow the game locally in Kansas City, we are thrilled to partner with the Blues as they share our vision of growing the game of hockey throughout Missouri.”

This story was originally published November 30, 2016 at 4:30 PM with the headline "Missouri Mavericks deny report outlining plans to take over AHL team for St. Louis Blues."