The Quad City Flames were an American professional

ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an ice skating rink with lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two opposing teams use ice h ...

team that played in the

American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the le ...

from 2007 to 2009. They were owned by QC Sports Ventures Inc., an ownership group based out of the

Quad Cities The Quad Cities is a region of cities (originally four, see History) in the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport and Bettendorf in southeastern Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline and East Moline in northwestern Illinois. These cities are t ...

. The Flames played at the iWireless Center in

Moline, Illinois Moline ( ) is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. With a population of 42,985 in 2020, it is the largest city in Rock Island County. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island ...

, serving as the top minor league affiliate of the National Hockey League's

Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...

. The move to the Quad Cities was confirmed on May 24, 2007. As a result, the arena's previous hockey tenant, the

Quad City Mallards The Quad City Mallards were a minor league professional ice hockey team based in the Quad Cities area of Illinois and Iowa that competed in the International Hockey League, Central Hockey League and ECHL. They were named after the Mallards team ...

of the

United Hockey League The United Hockey League (UHL), originally known as the Colonial Hockey League from 1991 to 1997 and last known as the International Hockey League from 2007 to 2010, was a low-level minor professional ice hockey league, with teams in the Unite ...

ceased operations. The team left the Quad Cities after the 2008–09 season and relocated to Abbotsford, British Columbia to play as the

Abbotsford Heat The Abbotsford Heat were a professional ice hockey team that played five seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) between 2009 and 2014. The team was based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, and played its home games at the 7,046-seat A ...

in the 2009–10 season.

History

The Flames AHL franchise relocated from

Omaha, Nebraska Omaha ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Nebraska and the county seat of Douglas County. Omaha is in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about north of the mouth of the Platte River. The nation's 39th-largest cit ...

, where the team spent two seasons as the

Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights The Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Omaha, Nebraska, United States at the Omaha Civic Auditorium from 2005–07. Following the 2006–07 season, the Calgary Flames annou ...

. Following two disappointing seasons at the gate in which the Flames and the

Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation is a 501(c)(3) civic and philanthropic organization in Omaha, Nebraska. History The organization was formed in 1895 in an attempt to keep the Nebraska State Fair in Omaha after receiving an ultimatum to provide ...

lost over $4 million, the Flames chose to relocate the franchise. The new franchise joined former UHL rival, the

Rockford IceHogs The Rockford IceHogs are a professional ice hockey team based in Rockford, Illinois. They are members of the American Hockey League (AHL), having begun play in the League starting in the 2007–08 season. The team plays their home games at the ...

in moving up to the AHL. The Flames made their AHL regular-season debut in Moline on October 6, 2007 with a 5–1 victory over Rockford. The Flames were the third team to attempt to place an AHL team in the Quad Cities. Both the San Jose Sharks and

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference. They play their home games at Rogers Place, which ...

were unable to reach an agreement with the owners of the Mallards and of the arena. While the NHL franchise had signed an affiliation agreement to the end of the 2011–12 season, the Flames and Quad City Sports Ventures agreed to end the agreement after just two seasons and the Flames placed their affiliate in Abbotsford, British Columbia for the

2009–10 AHL season The 2009–10 AHL season was the 74th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 regular-season games each from October 2 to April 11. This season featured the addition of one new team, the relocation of two others, and t ...

. Local ownership in Quad Cities estimated the team's losses for 2008–09 at $1.3 million. This market was previously served by: *

of the UHL (1995–2007) The market was subsequently home to: *

of the IHL, CHL, and the

ECHL The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL). The ...

(2009–18) Affiliates *

(2007–2009)

Season-by-season results

Regular season

Playoffs

Team records

Single season

:Goals: 39 Kyle Greentree (2008–09) :Assists: 43 Grant Stevenson (2007–08) :Points: 76 Kyle Greentree (2008–09) :Penalty Minutes: 248

Brandon Prust Brandon Raymond James Prust (born March 16, 1984) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Prust was drafted in the third round, 70th overall, by the Calgary Flames in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, and has played in the NHL for the ...

(2007–08) :GAA: 2.23 Leland Irving (2008–09) :SV%: .912 Matt Keetley (2007–08), Leland Irving (2008–09) :Wins: 24 Leland Irving (2008–09) :Shutouts: 3

Curtis McElhinney Robert Curtis McElhinney (born May 23, 1983) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He previously played in the NHL with the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks, Ottawa Senators, Phoenix Coyotes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple L ...

(2007–08) *Goaltending records need a minimum 25 games played by the goaltender

Career

:Career Goals: 43 Kris Chucko :Career Assists: 76 Carsen Germyn :Career Points: 108 Carsen Germyn :Career Penalty Minutes: 271

Matt Pelech Matt Pelech (born September 4, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenseman/ forward who last played for and captained the Belfast Giants of the Elite Ice Hockey League (EIHL). He formerly played with the Calgary Flames and the San J ...

:Career Goaltending Wins: 24 Leland Irving :Career Shutouts: 3 Curtis McElhinney Matt Keetley :Career Games: 154 Kris Chucko

References

{{Defunct AHL Calgary Flames minor league affiliates Ice hockey teams in Illinois Ice hockey clubs established in 2007 Ice hockey clubs disestablished in 2009 2007 establishments in Illinois 2009 disestablishments in Illinois Moline, Illinois Rock Island County, Illinois Sports teams in the Quad Cities