NHL board approves Atlanta Thrashers' move to Winnipeg

photo Winnipeg hockey supporters cheer at a rally in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Tuesday, May 31, 2011, following the announcement that the Atlanta Thrashers NHL hockey club are moving to the city. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, David Lipnowski)

NEW YORK - The NHL board of governors has approved the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers, paving the way for the club to move to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for next season.

True North Sports and Entertainment bought the team last month and announced it was bringing the Thrashers to Winnipeg, which lost the Jets to Phoenix after the 1995-96 season. The vote by the board on Tuesday was the final hurdle in the process to relocate the team.

The sale is reportedly for $170 million, including a $60 million relocation fee that will be split by the rest of the owners. The Thrashers are the fifth NHL team to move since Gary Bettman became the league's commissioner in 1993.

Following the Flames, who moved to Calgary 31 years ago, the Thrashers are the second NHL team to leave Atlanta. Those clubs are also the last two teams to relocate to Canada. Seven of the league's 30 teams reside north of the border.

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