PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Minor league hockey blossomed during the NHL’s 1994 lockout. The American Hockey League got more television exposure, gained fans and expanded its franchises by a dozen.

With the latest NHL lockout that began Thursday, minor league hockey again shifts into the limelight — and while officials are excited about the exposure and the possibility of more fan support, they also are fearful that a prolonged NHL absence could damage the sport itself.

That’s the dilemma for AHL president and chief executive officer David Andrews. He knows his league will get a fresh look from people who may not ordinarily watch, but he recognizes there are risks.

“Long term, if this goes longer than (in) 1994-95, it would begin to have a detrimental impact on the AHL and other leagues, because the NHL is really the engine that drives hockey from the public point of view,” Andrews said.

– Associated Press