Manchester Monarchs Will Cease Operations

After 18 years of strong crowds, the ECHL hockey team will be iced out of Manchester.

While New England hockey fans continue to rally around the surging Boston Bruins, supporters of minor league professional hockey are lamenting the loss of Manchester's Monarchs. According to the Union Leader, a press released issued by the Monarchs does not specify when the organization will fold. However, they have finished their 2018 - 19 season.

Monarchs chief executive praised the team's performance, citing deep playoff runs, but said in the statement  "But ultimately, after discussing it with the city, state, arena, and the L.A. Kings, and seeking investment from other potential buyers, it became clear that ECHL hockey was no longer viable in Manchester, NH.”

The Monarchs arrived in the Queen City as an AHL team, just below the NHL. Then, starting with the 2015-16 season, the Los Angeles Kings moved the AHL franchise to southern California, and affiliated the Monarchs with the lower level East Coast Hockey League.