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DENVER (AP) -- The Colorado Avalanche has reached an affiliation agreement with Denver's new minor league hockey team.

The Denver Cutthroats, who begin play this fall in the Central Hockey League, will serve as a resource for the Avalanche and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Lake Erie Monsters.

Three CHL teams -- the Allen Americans, Arizona Sundogs and Missouri Mavericks -- had ties with NHL teams last season.

The Cutthroats begin their inaugural season in October, bringing pro hockey back to the Denver Coliseum after a 13-year absence.

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