'05 schedule set: back to St. Paul for opener

Published on September 22, 2004 under Northern League (NL)
Schaumburg Flyers News Release


SCHAUMBURG, IL- The Schaumburg Flyers released their 2005 schedule on September 22 as the club prepares for its seventh Northern League season next spring. Fresh off a runner-up showing in the Northern League playoffs, the Flyers will once again play a 96-game regular season schedule in 2005 in a newly aligned league that features two expansion clubs in western Canada. Northern League officials worked on the 2005 schedule throughout the just concluded season, readying the slate for an early autumn release.

The schedule has dealt an ironic twist to the Flyers as Schaumburg will return to St. Paul, site of their heartbreaking championship loss on September 19, to open their 2005 season. The Flyers & Saints will start a four-game Finals rematch on Friday, May 20 at Midway Stadium as Schaumburg opens a season on the road for the first time since 2000.

Fans will have their first chance to greet the South Division champions on Tuesday, May 24 when Fargo-Moorhead arrives at Alexian Field for the '05 home opener. Chicagoland rival Gary will arrive later on that homestand from May 27-29 as the Flyers open the year with a six-game home set. Other highlights on the 48-game slate include the annual 4th of July celebration at Alexian Field as Schaumburg hosts Kansas City on Monday, July 4.

The Northern League is welcoming expansion franchises in Calgary and Edmonton for the 2005 season. As a result, there is a new format, featuring two six-team divisions. Defending champ St. Paul is moving from the North Division to join Schaumburg in the South Division and create more matchups in what is rapidly becoming a great rivalry.

The new clubs from Canada are joining the North Division.

South Division
Schaumburg
Joliet
Gary
Kansas City
Lincoln
St. Paul

North Division
Calgary
Edmonton
Fargo-Moorhead
Sioux City
Sioux Falls
Winnipeg

The Flyers will play St. Paul 12 times during the 2005 regular season. The Saints will make their first appearances at Alexian Field from June 21-23. After an August series at Midway Stadium, the Saints will return to Schaumburg to conclude the regular season from September 2-4. Schaumburg will play Gary 14 times and Joliet 13 times in '05. Including the July 4 game, there are 13 meetings scheduled with 2004 playoff foe Kansas City, none after July 24. The first half will end on Sunday, July 10 in Joliet.

The Flyers will play the expansion clubs for the first time on a Canadian road trip from June 28-July 3. Calgary will make their first appearance in Schaumburg on July 25 while Edmonton will arrive on August 26. As part of the unbalanced schedule, one North Division city is ‘skipped' and the Flyers will not visit Sioux City during the 2005 regular season. The Flyers and Explorers will play just three games, a June 24-26 series at Alexian Field. Schaumburg has always visited every Northern League city at least once in a season since their inception in 1999.

2005 game times will be announced at a later time and promotional plans will be developed over the course of the off-season.

Notes: The Flyers have played St. Paul in one previous season opener, the club's inaugural game on May 28, 1999...Schaumburg played their home opener against the Saints in 2000 after starting the year with a three-game series in Duluth...The Flyers won both meetings...

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Northern League Stories from September 22, 2004


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