AHL announces 2003-04 schedule
July 31, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA ... The American Hockey League today released the complete schedule of regular season games for the 2003-04 season, the league's 68th year of operation. The season, comprising 1,120 games, begins on Wed., Oct. 8 and concludes on Sun., Apr. 11. Each of the league's 28 clubs will play 80 games, 40 at home and 40 on the road.
As the AHL returns to a divisional playoff format in 2004, more than two-thirds (760 of 1,120) of this year's schedule will feature games between division rivals. Also, home teams will wear their dark-colored jerseys throughout the season.
For the fourth year in a row, the AHL's regular season opens with a game at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza, as the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins host the Norfolk Admirals on Oct. 8.
The Houston Aeros begin defense of their Calder Cup 2003 championship on Fri., Oct. 17 when they visit the Milwaukee Admirals. One week later, the Aeros host the Cleveland Barons in the first game at the new Toyota Center in downtown Houston.
The defending Eastern Conference champion Hamilton Bulldogs have their home opener at Copps Coliseum on Oct. 13, in a Canadian Thanksgiving matinee against former head coach Geoff Ward and the Toronto Roadrunners. The first-year Roadrunners begin their season with a nine-game road trip, leading up to the grand re-opening of the newly-renovated Ricoh Coliseum on Sat., Nov. 1, against the Rochester Americans.
The 2003-04 AHL schedule also features several games in NHL arenas. The Phantoms will play three games at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia, on Nov. 12 vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 28 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Jan. 31 against Milwaukee. In addition, the Savvis Center in St. Louis (Worcester vs. Utah, Nov. 23), Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, N.J. (Albany vs. Bridgeport, Jan. 22) and the Corel Centre in Ottawa (Binghamton vs. Toronto, Feb. 15) will all host regular-season AHL action this season.
The Griffins and the city of Grand Rapids will host the 2004 AHL All-Star Classic at Van Andel Arena on Feb. 8-9.
The American Hockey League serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey Legaue clubs. The 2002-03 season saw an all-time high of 28 teams competing for the coveted Calder Cup, and more than 6.7 million fans attending games across North America, a league record for the 15th consecutive year. Over 78 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2002-03 were AHL graduates, and more than 380 players took the ice in both leagues.
American Hockey League Stories from July 31, 2003
- WBS Penguins Announce 2003-04 Schedule - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Amerks Open 48th Season at Home against Hamilton - Rochester Americans
- Wolves Kick-Off 10th Season on Oct. 11 - Chicago Wolves
- 2003-2004 Worcester IceCats Schedule Released - Worcester IceCats
- Season Opens October 10th at the Bradley Center - Milwaukee Admirals
- Barons Release 03-04 Schedule - Cleveland Barons
- Monarchs 2003-04 Schedule Released - Manchester Monarchs
- 'Building Memories, Building Excitement' Begins on October 11 - Manitoba Moose
- Sound Tigers Announce 2003-04 Schedule & Start Times - Bridgeport Islanders
- Barons Announce 'Hockey Fest' August 23rd - Cleveland Barons
- Rampage Announce Schedule - San Antonio Rampage
- Mighty Ducks Schedule Loaded with Weekend Dates - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Falcons Announce 2003-04 Schedule - Springfield Falcons
- Grand Rapids Griffins Announce Schedule - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Moose Announce 2003 Training Camp Schedule - Manitoba Moose
- AHL announces 2003-04 schedule - AHL
- Bulldogs 2003-04 Schedule Set - Hamilton Bulldogs
- P-Bruins announce 2003-04 schedule - Providence Bruins
- Boston Bruins sign Raycroft, Kutlak and Campbell - Providence Bruins
- Phantoms announce 2003-04 schedule - Adirondack Phantoms
- Stumpel, Brennan And Smithson Sign With The Kings - Manchester Monarchs
- Rivermen Head Coach Jason Christie To Appear on St. Jude's Telethon; Parking Pass Offered - Peoria Rivermen
- St. Louis Re-signs Goalie and Forward - Worcester IceCats
- Crunch Announce 2003-04 Schedule - Syracuse Crunch
- B-Sens Schedule Released - Binghamton Senators
- Wolf Pack Announce 2003-04 Schedule - Connecticut Whale
- Norfolk Admirals Unveil 2003-04 AHL Schedule - Norfolk Admirals
- Portland Pirates Release 2003-2004 Schedule - Portland Pirates
- Bears Announce 2003-04 Schedule - Hershey Bears
- Doug Jarvis Named Bulldogs New Head Coach - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Pittsburgh Penguins Agree to Terms with Rico Fata, Toby Peter sen and Rob Scuderi - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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