One of the I-AHL's first acts as a fully merged league was to grant an expansion franchise to the Hershey Bears, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The Bears transferred from the Eastern Amateur Hockey League to the I-AHL's West Division.
Upon becoming a fully merged league, one of the I-AHL's first moves was to award an expansion team to the Hershey Bears, which were originally based in Hershey, Pennsylvania. This team previously played in the Eastern Amateur Hockey League but now competes in the I-AHL's West Division.