Three New Teams on Rockford's 2017-18 Schedule
May 11, 2017 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Rockford IceHogs News Release
Rockford, Ill. - The Rockford IceHogs, in conjunction with the American Hockey League, announced on Thursday the opponent breakdown for the 2017-18 season. The IceHogs schedule will feature three new opponents at the BMO Harris Bank Center and a total of 13 different teams will make their way to Rockford.
The IceHogs will battle two teams from the AHL's Eastern Conference, marking the first time since the 2008-09 season that Rockford has clashed with a foe from the East. The home-and-home matchups include a pair of Pennsylvania-based teams in the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals), the oldest franchise and charter member of the American Hockey League, and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins).
The IceHogs have not faced an opponent from the Eastern Conference since going head-to-head with the Norfolk Admirals during the 2008-09 campaign. During the team's AHL era, Rockford has only played against two other Eastern Conference-based teams - the Manchester Monarchs and Providence Bruins.
For the third consecutive year, the IceHogs will take on a new team from the golden coast. Rockford and the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers) will meet once at the BMO Harris Bank Center and once at the Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield, Cal. The swing through California will also include a matchup against the San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks), who the IceHogs last visited for San Jose's first-ever home game on Oct. 9, 2015, and the Ontario Reign (L.A. Kings).
In addition, the AHL announce the new divisional alignment and the Charlotte Checkers have moved to the league's Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The AHL features three new teams in the Belleville Senators, Binghamton Devils, and Laval Rocket, all of which will play in the North Division. The new alignment for the 2017-18 season is:
EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division Bridgeport Sound Tigers Charlotte Checkers Hartford Wolf Pack Hershey Bears Lehigh Valley Phantoms Providence Bruins Springfield Thunderbirds Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
North Division Belleville Senators Binghamton Devils Laval Rocket Rochester Americans Syracuse Crunch Toronto Marlies Utica Comets
WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division Chicago Wolves Cleveland Monsters Grand Rapids Griffins Iowa Wild Manitoba Moose Milwaukee Admirals Rockford IceHogs
Pacific Division Bakersfield Condors Ontario Reign San Antonio Rampage San Diego Gulls San Jose Barracuda Stockton Heat Texas Stars Tucson Roadrunners
The format for the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs will be finalized by the Board of Governors at its Annual Meeting in Hilton Head Island, S.C., July 2-6, and the complete playing schedule for the 2017-18 regular season, which begins Oct. 6, will be announced this summer.
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American Hockey League Stories from May 11, 2017
- Three New Teams on Rockford's 2017-18 Schedule - Rockford IceHogs
- AMERKS 2017-18 HOME OPENER SET FOR FRIDAY, October 6 - Rochester Americans
- American Hockey League Announces Alignment for 2017-18 Season - Syracuse Crunch
- San Antonio Rampage Announce Schedule Breakdown for 2017-18 Season - San Antonio Rampage
- Reign Announce Division and Conference Schedule Breakdown for 2017-18 - Ontario Reign
- AHL Sets 2017-18 Divisional Alignment - Milwaukee Admirals
- AHL Announces Divisional Alignment for 2017-18 Season - San Diego Gulls
- Griffins' 2017-18 Schedule Format Features Three New Foes - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Chicago Wolves Unveil Opponents for 2017-18 AHL Season - Chicago Wolves
- AHL Announces Realignment - Iowa Wild
- AHL Announces Division Alignment & Schedule Format for 2017-18 - Binghamton Senators
- Condors to Play 68 Games against 11 Opponents - Bakersfield Condors
- AHL Announces New Division, Opponents for Penguins In - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Checkers Move to Eastern Conference for 2017-18 Season - Charlotte Checkers
- AHL Announces Divisional Alignment for the 2017-18 AHL season - AHL
- Timo Meier Scores OT Winner in Barracuda Comeback over Gulls - San Diego Gulls
- Crunch Fall to Marlies, 3-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Anaheim Ducks Announce Roster Moves - San Diego Gulls
- Anaheim Ducks Announce Roster Moves - San Diego Gulls
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