New ECHL team to be named the Bloomington Bison

One of the newest professional hockey teams has its identity.

On Wednesday, the new ECHL franchise based in Bloomington, Illinois will be known as the Bloomington Bison.

The league’s board of governors approved expansion for the franchise earlier this month, with the expectation that the team begins play in the 2024-25 season. The Bison will be the 30th team in the league.

The team will be playing in Grossinger Motors Arena, which was opened in 2006. It is owned and operated by the city of Bloomington. There are reports that the city is searching for new naming rights for the arena, with the new franchise next season.

“The ECHL is thrilled to welcome Bloomington, Illinois into the League and rejuvenate professional hockey in the market as the League’s 30th Member,” ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin said in a release earlier this month. “Bloomington is a natural geographical rival for our teams in the Central Division, and Hallett Sports has shown a commitment to the communities they serve in growing the game and fan experience.”

“I am extremely excited to bring professional hockey to Bloomington,” said Fuel Owner & Chairman Jim Hallett. “And watch the sport as well as the community grow through this expansion.”

The Bison will be coming into the league with the Tahoe Knight Monsters, who will be playing in Stateline, Nevada.

This is not the first time pro hockey has tried to make a name for itself in Bloomington. The Bloomington PrairieThunder played in the defunct United Hockey League, International Hockey League and Central Hockey Leagues from 2006 to 2011. They were renamed the Blaze in 2011, playing the CHL for two seasons.

Then, the Bloomington Thunder played one season in the SPHL (2013-14), before dropping down to the junior ranks, becoming a member of the United States Hockey League from 2014 to 2017. One last rebrand saw the franchise become the Central Illinois Flying Aces, playing in the USHL from 2017 to 2019.

The ECHL has seen rapid growth over the last half-decade. They expanded into eastern Canada with the Newfound Growlers (f. 2018) and Trois-Rivières Lions (f. 2021). The Iowa Heartlanders (f. 2021) and Savannah Ghost Pirates (f. 2022) also joined the league.