In 2011, Dave Checketts announced that the St. Louis Blues, Scottrade Center, and the Peoria Rivermen were all for sale. On May 10, 2012, Tom Stillman purchased the Peoria Rivermen franchise. On August 30, the Rivermen signed a one-year affiliation agreement with the Evansville IceMen, an expansion team in the ECHL, cutting ties with the Alaska Aces, who they were affiliated with since the Rivermen joined the AHL.[2]
On March 29, 2013, the Rivermen were purchased by the Vancouver Canucks.[3] On April 18, 2013, the AHL approved the sale of the Peoria Rivermen to the Vancouver Canucks.[4]
On May 13, 2013, the Vancouver Canucks confirmed with Peoria Civic Center officials that they would not bring back the Rivermen franchise and the AHL's Peoria Rivermen would no longer play in Peoria.[5] The AHL announced on June 14, 2013, that the franchise was being relocated to Utica, New York, as the Utica Comets for the 2013–14 AHL season.[6]