The Americans are one of the oldest franchises in the AHL, celebrating their 50th consecutive season in the American Hockey League in 2005-06. The Amerks became a joint affiliate in 1956, of both the Montreal Canadians and the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League. In the summer of 1968, the team was sold to Vancouver, where the Amerks were established as the farm team of the expansion Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. In the summer of 1972, a group of Rochester businessmen bought the Americans franchise from Vancouver and the Boston Bruins became the Amerks' parent team shortly after in 1974. The Americans are currently affiliated with the Florida Panthers and in June of 2008, the Sabres officially ended their affiliation with the Amerks.
