BLOOMINGTON - After one season of play on the ice at U.S. Cellular Coliseum, ownership of the Bloomington PrairieThunder has shifted, a move that all but ensures the team will remain in the United Hockey League for the 2007-08 season.

Tony Lisman of Muskegon, Mich., has assumed full ownership of the PrairieThunder from partners John Butler and Mike Nelson, the team announced Tuesday

Lisman had been a joint partner with the Twin City businessmen during the PrairieThunder's inaugural season.

Lisman also has owned the fellow UHL member Muskegon Fury for the past 15 seasons and recently had led the charge along with Fort Wayne's ownership to keep the UHL from disbanding.

In a prepared statement, Butler said day-to-day operations of the team will remain the same.

"Mike and I will still be very involved with the organization and committed to its excellence and success," said Butler, who runs the downtown arena along with Nelson.

Lisman had expressed an interest during the past season in expanding his hockey operations, according to the press release. It is common for one party to have controlling interest in more than one minor-league sports franchise.

"We believe this is a tremendous opportunity for the PrairieThunder organization because of Tony's knowledge and success in hockey," Butler said.

League owners are scheduled to meet Thursday in Kalamazoo, Mich., to discuss the future of the league. Remaining members are expected to declare their intent to return to the league next season.

Additionally, the intentions of Flint and Port Huron, two struggling franchises, should become clear. Rockford left the UHL after this past season to become the Chicago Blackhawks' affiliate in the American Hockey League, while Elmira has left to join the ECHL.

That leaves eight teams in the UHL, although Quad-City has explored its options in the ECHL but was rejected by that far-reaching league.

Lisman's teams in Muskegon have been strong on the ice and have been well-supported by the community.

The Muskegon franchise has the highest winning percentage in minor-league hockey over the past 15 years an won the UHL's Colonial Cup as recently as 2005.

"I was very impressed with the success of the PrairieThunder in its first season," Lisman said in the statement. "The community showed great support for the team as evidenced by its No. 3 ranking in overall attendance in the UHL last year. For a community that had never experienced hockey before, that is outstanding.

"I am very confident with the current staff in place and pleased with the efforts of PrairieThunder vice president and general manager Jerry McBurney. I also look forward to working closely with John and Mike as consultants. There are a number of positives with the PrairieThunder as we move forward."

Bloomington City Manager Tom Hamilton said the change of ownership in the hockey team should have no effect on the management agreement between the city and Central Illinois Arena Management, managers of the city's $35.8 million U.S. Cellular Coliseum. The 10-year management contract calls for the company owned by Nelson and Butler to provide football and hockey teams for play for a minimum of 50 home games at the Coliseum between the two sports.

Hamilton said he is unsure if Lisman will have to re-sign a licensing agreement with the city for the hockey team.

"Tony was one of the original signers of that licensing agreement so we may not have to do anything or we may have to make some changes," Hamilton said. He referred the question to Bloomington city attorney Todd Greenburg for further research.

Phone messages left with Nelson and Butler seeking further comment were not returned.

M.K. Guetersloh contributed to this report.