The American Hockey League franchise in Des Moines has signed a two year affiliation agreement with the Anaheim Ducks. The team had been affiliated with the Dallas Stars and were known as the Iowa Stars for the past three years. Anaheim’s AHL team had been located in Portland, Maine.

Duck’s General Manager Bryan Burke says it’s a big day as they take their A-H-L affiliate very seriously and are committed to winning. Burke says they believe in Des Moines as a hockey town. He says they want their players to become part of the community. He says their goal is to provide "a winning hockey team with a competitive presentation and strong community spirit."

Burke says the Ducks teach an aggressive style that helped them win the Stanley Cup in 2007. He says their style of play is "not for the feint of heart." Burke says they either possess the puck or are pursuing the puck at all times. "We believe in fighting when necessary, and sometimes when it’s not necessary," Burke says.

Kirby Schlegel is the owner of the Des Moines franchise and says they are in the process of renaming the team. He says they’ve narrowed it down to several names and will make an announcement in three-to-four weeks.

Schlegel says the team will not take the names of the parent club and instead will choose a name that gives the team a local identity. He says they’ve been doing fan surveys and through outreach on their website to come up with a name.

Des Moines native Michael Annet is advancing in the NACAR ranks after playing a few seasons for the Waterloo Black Hawks ice hockey team. Annet, who is nearing his 22nd birthday, will race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

His first competition at this new level will be at The Milwaukee Mile in June and he’ll be driving a Toyota Tundra. Annet has moved into a "driver development" program and will split racing dates with another driver. In a statement released by his new team, Annet said he’s "thrilled" to get a chance to test his skilsl against NASCAR’s "elite" drivers. Annet has been racing for nine years and he’s accumulated two wins, five top-five finishes and eight top-10 finishes.

As a teenager, Annet was a hockey player who eventually spent two years on the Waterloo Black Hawks. He was named the USHL’s "most improved hockey player" in 2004. Now, in 2008, he’s a NASCAR truck driver who makes his home in North Carolina.

The Waterloo Black Hawks can wrap up their second U.S. Hockey League playoff title in four years, tonight, at home against Omaha. The Black Hawks lead the best-of-five Clark Cup finals two-games-to-one and coach P.K. O’Handley says his team his team will face a motivated opponent.

After making it to the championship game of the U.S. Hockey League playoffs the Waterloo Black Hawks have high hopes heading into this season. Waterloo’s first victory of the season with be the 300th in the career of coach P.K. O’Handley.

The Waterloo Black Hawks have been selected to host next season’s United States Hockey League Prospects/All Star Game. It is the first time Waterloo has hosted the event since back in 1996.

Black Hawk’s spokesman Doug Miller says it’s not a straight bidding process, but is rotated between the eastern and western division and they were going up against Indianapolis. He says it will be a great way to showcase Waterloo and Young Arena.

Miller says there will be other events surrounding the game, including a skills competition. He says they’re also trying to put together and old timer’s game.

Miller says the game will draw scouts from across North America as every team in the N-H-L and every college will be sending a representative. The All Star game is scheduled for January 23rd.