Independence Day.
The Islanders and Missouri Mavericks of the ECHL announced a new affiliation partnership that will cover at least the next two seasons.
The Mavs, located in Independence, MO - nine miles from Kansas City and a scant 242 miles from St. Louis - replace the Stockton Thunder, who were bought by the Calgary Flames and moved to Glens Falls, New York to become the Flames' AHL affiliate.
The Mavericks have never had an NHL affiliation before. Owner Lamar Hunt, Jr, son late AFL founder, Kansas City Chiefs owner and MLS benefactor Lamar Hunt, bought the team in February of this year and was looking for an NHL connection.