SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today its composite 2011 preseason schedule, leading up to the start of the league’s 76th campaign.
The AHL enters the 2011-12 season with 30 teams including one new entry: the St. John’s IceCaps, top development team of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets. There are several new affiliations in place as well, as the Rochester Americans have reunited with the Buffalo Sabres, the San Antonio Rampage are the top affiliate for the Florida Panthers, the Portland Pirates are developing prospects for the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Chicago Wolves are now affiliated with the NHL’s defending Western Conference champion Vancouver Canucks.
In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 87 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the 10th year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2010-11.
The 2011-12 regular season begins on Fri., Oct. 7.
| 2011 AHL PRESEASON SCHEDULE | |||
| Tue., 9/27 | Albany vs. Connecticut | Koeppel Community Sports Center Hartford, Conn. |
7:00 ET |
| Wed., 9/28 | W-B/Scranton vs. Adirondack | Saratoga Springs Ice Rink Saratoga Springs, N.Y. |
7:00 ET |
| Connecticut vs. Springfield | MassMutual Center Springfield, Mass. |
7:00 ET | |
| Chicago vs. Rockford | Carlson Arctic Ice Arena Loves Park, Ill. |
7:00 CT | |
| Thu., 9/29 | Norfolk vs. St. John’s | Joe Byrne Memorial Stadium Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L. |
7:30 NT |
| Fri., 9/30 | Norfolk vs. St. John’s | Gander Community Centre Gander, N.L. |
7:30 NT |
| Albany vs. Portland | Olympia Ice Center West Springfield, Mass. |
7:00 ET | |
| Lake Erie vs. Charlotte | Extreme Ice Center Indian Trail, N.C. |
7:00 ET | |
| Worcester vs. Connecticut | TD Bank Sports Center Hamden, Conn. |
7:00 ET | |
| Springfield vs. Providence | New England Sports Center Marlborough, Mass. |
7:05 ET | |
| Hershey vs. W-B/Scranton | Mohegan Sun Arena Wilkes-Barre, Pa. |
7:05 ET | |
| Binghamton vs. Hamilton | Colisee Desjardins Victoriaville, Que. |
7:30 ET | |
| Rockford vs. Milwaukee | Kern Center Milwaukee, Wis. |
7:00 CT | |
| Houston vs. Oklahoma City | Cox Convention Center Oklahoma City, Okla. |
7:00 CT | |
| Chicago vs. Peoria | Carver Arena Peoria, Ill. |
7:00 CT | |
| San Antonio vs. Texas | Cedar Park Center Cedar Park, Texas |
7:30 CT | |
| Sat., 10/1 | Lake Erie vs. Charlotte | Extreme Ice Center Indian Trail, N.C. |
1:00 ET |
| Texas vs. San Antonio | Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods San Antonio, Texas |
3:00 CT | |
| Albany vs. Adirondack | Glens Falls Civic Center Glens Falls, N.Y. |
7:00 ET | |
| Milwaukee vs. Chicago | Hoffman Estates Park District Ice Arena Hoffman Estates, Ill. |
6:00 CT | |
| W-B/Scranton vs. Hershey | Giant Center Hershey, Pa. |
7:00 ET | |
| Providence vs. Springfield | MassMutual Center Springfield, Mass. |
7:00 ET | |
| Binghamton vs. Hamilton | Centre Marcel Dionne Drummondville, Que. |
7:30 ET | |
| Peoria vs. Rockford | BMO Harris Bank Center Rockford, Ill. |
7:00 CT | |
| Sun., 10/2 | Norfolk vs. St. John’s | Mile One Centre St. John’s, N.L. |
2:00 NT |
| Manchester vs. Portland | Cumberland County Civic Center Portland, Maine |
1:00 ET | |
| Worcester vs. Connecticut | Champions Skating Center Cromwell, Conn. |
2:00 ET | |
| Adirondack vs. W-B/Scranton | Mohegan Sun Arena Wilkes-Barre, Pa. |
5:00 ET | |
| Houston vs. Texas | Cedar Park Center Cedar Park, Texas |
5:00 CT | |
| Syracuse vs. Toronto | Trisan Centre Schomberg, Ont. |
7:00 ET | |
| Mon., 10/3 | Binghamton vs. Hershey | Giant Center Hershey, Pa. |
7:00 ET |
| Tue., 10/4 | Toronto vs. Syracuse | War Memorial at Oncenter Syracuse, N.Y. |
7:00 ET |
