In 2015 the Cleveland (then Lake Erie) Monsters announced a multi-year NHL/AHL affiliation with the Columbus Blue Jackets, uniting two of the biggest hockey cities in the state of Ohio. Columbus Blue Jackets Prospects found a home in Cleveland and fans in both cities found ties as players moved up and down through the system, as well as up and down Interstate 71.
This series began during the Monsters 2015-16 season as a way to get the fanbase more familiar with the Columbus organization, and has carried on in the 2016-17 season as a way for fans to keep tabs on Monsters Alumni along with the latest CBJ news. The series ended up being very popular with fans and even caught interest of a mutual corporate partner of the Monsters and Blue Jackets.
Below are a few examples of the I-71 report.
Josephine Janavicius 