Professional could be coming back to Des Moines. A report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune says the NHL’s Minnesota Wild are set to move their American Hockey League affiliate, the Houston Aeros, to Des Moines to play in Wells Fargo Arena. Chris Connolly is general manager of the Iowa Events Center.
Connolly says they’ve had some discussions with Minnesota and know that their lease with Houston is coming to an end. He says they are just in a standby mode right now.
Des Moines had an AHL franchose for four years before the Iowa Chops closes up shop following the 2009 season. The Chops had out of state owners. The Wild own the Houston franchise.
Connolly says while they have been working to get hockey back they are not desperate for a team and it needs to be the right situation.
He says they have the Iowa Energy basketball team and the Iowa Barnstormers football team and they need the right hockey team if they decide to go that route.
Connolly says it may be a few weeks before they hear anything official.