SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The American Hockey League announced today that its Board of Governors has approved a schedule modification beginning with the 2011-2012 season.
Under the plan, the regular season playing schedule will be reduced to 76 games; the AHL playing calendar will be extended by one week; all sequences in which teams play four games in five nights will be eliminated; and the first round of the Calder Cup Playoffs will be reduced to a best-of-five series.
“As our league has grown in recent years, we have been working closely with the National Hockey League and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association to seek a solution to what has become a very onerous playing schedule,” said David Andrews, President and CEO of the American Hockey League. “As our league has grown and our game has become faster and more physical, the wear and tear on our players has begun to affect player development and at times the quality of competition. These steps are intended to provide a safer environment for our players through increased rest and recovery time, and also to provide our fans with an even higher caliber of play as a result of reduced player fatigue.”
Click here to see David Andrews’ letter to AHL fans.
Celebrating its historic 75th anniversary season in 2010-2011, the American Hockey League continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams, with more than 85 percent of today’s NHL players and 22 of the 30 NHL head coaches having graduated from the AHL. Through the years, the American Hockey League has been home to more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Bulldogs will begin their first round series of the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Barons on Thursday, April 14th at 7:30 p.m. at Copps Coliseum. Fans can tune in to all ‘Dogs playoff games on the flagship station of the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network, 820 CHAM, and online on www.hamiltonbulldogs.com and www.ahllive.com. All playoff Hamilton Bulldogs broadcasts on AM 820 CHAM will begin with a pre-game show 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
Tickets for Hamilton’s first round series in the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs are on sale now. All tickets are $19.50 and fans interested in purchasing group tickets can do so by calling 905-777-2372. Tickets will be available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, any Ticketmaster Outlet, online at www.ticketmaster.com or through charge-by-phone at 1-855-872-5000.
'Dogs News
April 13, 2011
