The Sharks are keeping their ECHL pipeline in Wichita.
On Wednesday, the organization announced it has re-signed its affiliation agreement with the Wichita Thunder for the 2026-27 season, extending a partnership that has been in place since 2022.
San Jose assistant general manager Joe Will, who also serves as GM of the AHL’s Barracuda, called the relationship a strong one in a statement. “We are proud to extend our partnership with the Wichita Thunder,” Will said. “Wichita is a first-class organization with an amazing staff, facilities and city.”
Wichita has spent the past several years in different NHL systems, previously serving as the affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers from 2017 to 2022 and the Ottawa Senators in 2016-17. The Thunder drew an average of 4,398 fans per game last season at Intrust Bank Arena, a building listed with a hockey capacity of 13,450 by HockeyDB.
On the ice, it was a tough year for Wichita. The Thunder finished with the 28th-best record in the 30-team ECHL last season at 25-35-8-4.
Joel T. Lomurno is the club’s general manager, and Travis Clayton is set for his first season as head coach after spending the previous two years as an assistant with Wichita.
Lomurno also voiced support for the continuation of the partnership. “We are really happy to continue our partnership with the San Jose organization,” he said in a statement. “The Sharks are on a path to having a tremendous season, and we look forward to helping develop their players.”
In Other News...
Macklin Celebrini Just Reached A Sharks Milestone Few Prospects Ever Do
Macklin Celebrinis rise has already given Sharks fans a reason to track every move he makes, and now it has spilled well beyond the rink. A 2024-25 Upper Deck Series 2 Young Guns Outburst Gold rookie card tied to the young center drew major attention at Goldin Auctions, a reminder that Celebrinis profile is expanding fast enough to reach collectors who may be just as invested in his name as in his next shift.
The sale put his card in rare company, landing it behind only the most famous name in hockey-card history and underscoring how much buzz can build around a prospect before he has even had time to settle into the NHL. The buyer, James from Illinois, said he was following Celebrinis performance at the Olympics, which says plenty about how far the Sharks new centerpiece is already traveling in the sports world. [Read more 🡒]