Chicago Gets Another Pro Hockey Team

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Apr 14, 2006 10:16PM

Starting in the fall, Chicago will add yet another pro hockey team to the area, as the Chicago Hounds join the UHL. They'll begin play in October, playing their home games at the Sears Centre -- currently under construction in suburban Hoffman Estates.

Is there enough of a market to support a second minor league hockey team, in addition to the NHL's Blackhawks? Chicagoist believes there is. There are certainly a lot of hockey fans in the area -- you just don't realize it because the Blackhawks' profile has been so low in recent years. But that's more a testament to the horrible mis-management of the organization by owner Bill Wirtz, and the NHL work stoppage that wiped out the 2004-2005 season. The Wolves have remained among the most popular minor league hockey teams in the country and have even outdrawn the Blackhawks when they've both played home games on the same day. Our only concern with the Hounds joining the fray is that they and the Wolves both play in the northwest suburbs, where they might compete for the fans who don't want to drive into the city to attend games. The Hounds might have been better off if they could play in the Naperville/Aurora area, but you've got to play where the arena is.