After reporting a loss of $13 million in the past four years, the Long Beach Ice Dogs pulled out of the International Hockey League and joined the lower-level West Coast Hockey League this week.
The Ice Dogs are the second team to leave the IHL since season's end. The Michigan K-Wings folded up operations last month.
Along with Long Beach, the WCHL consists of the Fresno Falcons, San Diego Gulls, Bakersfield Condors, Tacoma Sabercats, Phoenix Mustangs, Idaho Steelheads, Colorado Gold Kings and Anchorage Aces.
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"I think the difference in play between the IHL and the WCHL is so minuscule that I'm not sure it will be detectable," said Long Beach owner/TV producer Barry Kemp.