User blog:Cbcarter34/Thunder sold; Chicago and Peoria gain new rival in the state

It was a day of breaking news for the IHL. Yesterday, "Wild Bill" Hancock sold the Las Vegas Thunder to MGM Resorts International, who in turn decided to withdraw their relocation request and keep the franchise in the Las Vegas area. However, the franchise will move their games from the Thomas & Mack Center to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in nearby Paradise, NV.

"The Thunder are in good hands. I feel that the Thunder have a very good change to survive and thrive here in Las Vegas, and our goal is to provide great entertainment for our fans while building a winning franchise that will compete for the Turner Cup year in and year out," CEO of MGM Resorts International James J. Murren said. The Thunder would be the second team to call Mandalay Bay home, following the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces.

This morning, a press conference was held at the TaxSlayer Center, where it was announced that Hancock has purchased the former ECHL franchise Quad City Mallards, and will revive them in the IHL, becoming one of the two expansion teams for the league. "Quad City has a fan base here that wants hockey and loves the sport. I was hoping that (then-owner) Jordan Melville would change his mind and keep the franchise going. But when he decided to fold for good, I knew that we have a golden opportunity to do great business here in Moline (while the Mallard are based) as well as the Quad City region," Hancock said.

The Mallards will be placed in the Central Division, along with the other two IHL franchises in the state of Illinois: The Chicago Flames and the Peoria Rivermen.