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Oklahoma City Barons to End Operations

facebook.com/OKCBarons
The Oklahoma City Barons play the Grand Rapids Griffins in an American Hockey League game at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City on December 13, 2014.

The Oklahoma City Barons have announced the team will end operations at the end of the current American Hockey League season.

The team said in a statement Thursday that the decision was made after it was unable to complete an affiliation agreement with the NHL's Edmond Oilers.

Bob Funk Jr., the chairman of Prodigal, which manages the Barons, praised the Edmonton organization — but said without a better financial agreement the company can no longer justify investing in the hockey team.

The Oilers issued a statement praising the Barons and said the decision to move on from Oklahoma City wasn't easy, but will open new opportunities for the Oilers organization.

Earlier this week, Edmonton fired head coach Dallas Eakins and named Oklahoma City coach Todd Nelson as interim coach of the NHL team.

The Barons have been the Oilers' AHL affiliate since the 2010-11 season.

Oklahoma City is averaging 3,219 fans, 26th in the 30-team league.

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