Western semifinals start Thursday night

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League has announced the following schedules for the two Western Conference semifinal series in the 2014 Calder Cup Playoffs:

Western Conference Semifinals – Series “K”
1-Texas Stars vs. 4-Grand Rapids Griffins

Game 1 – Thu., May 8 – Grand Rapids at Texas, 8:30
Game 2 – Sat., May 10 – Grand Rapids at Texas, 8:00
Game 3 – Tue., May 13 – Texas at Grand Rapids, 7:00
Game 4 – Wed., May 14 – Texas at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 5 – Fri., May 16 – Texas at Grand Rapids, 7:00
*Game 6 – Sun., May 18 – Grand Rapids at Texas, 8:00
*Game 7 – Mon., May 19 – Grand Rapids at Texas, 8:30
    *if necessary… All times Eastern

Western Conference Semifinals – Series “L”
2-Chicago Wolves vs. 3-Toronto Marlies

Game 1 – Fri., May 9 – Toronto at Chicago, 8:30
Game 2 – Sat., May 10 – Toronto at Chicago, 8:00
Game 3 – Wed., May 14 – Chicago at Toronto, 7:00
Game 4 – Fri., May 16 – Chicago at Toronto, 7:00
*Game 5 – Sat., May 17 – Chicago at Toronto, 7:00
*Game 6 – Mon., May 19 – Toronto at Chicago, 8:00
*Game 7 – Wed., May 21 – Toronto at Chicago, 8:00
    *if necessary… All times Eastern

The Western Conference quarterfinals ended this afternoon with a 4-2 victory by the Chicago Wolves in their decisive Game 5 against the Rochester Americans.

The Calder Cup conference semifinals will begin Tuesday night with Game 1 between the St. John’s IceCaps and the Norfolk Admirals in St. John’s, N.L. The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Providence Bruins will face off in the other Eastern Conference semifinal beginning Friday.

In operation since 1936, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 88 percent of all players competing in the NHL are AHL graduates, and through the years the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.