AHL Announces Changes

Published on July 9, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Worcester IceCats News Release


WORCESTER, MA- From their annual meetings in Hilton Head, South Carolina, the American Hockey League (AHL) today announced several changes for the 2003-2004 season. The adjustments included a realignment of the 28 members and a new playoff format.

The IceCats, set to begin their historic 10th Anniversary Season, were positioned in the newly created Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Classic New England foes will also take up occupancy in the seven-team division. They include Hartford, Lowell, Manchester, Portland, Providence and Springfield. Last season, the IceCats skated in the North Division with four other clubs. It was then one of three divisions in the Conference. This season, the league will have just two divisions in each conference, intensifying rivalries and putting more significance on division standings. With that in mind, the AHL members agreed to modify the Calder Cup Playoff format.

For the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs, the top five teams in each division will meet the requirements for post-season play. In each division, the fourth and fifth place clubs will play a three game qualifying round. Each subsequent round will be a best-of-seven. In the division semifinals, the first-place team will face the qualifying winner and the second-place team will face the third-place team from each division. The division finals will match the semifinal winners within each division, with those winners advancing to their respective conference final. Conference final winners will advance to the Calder Cup 2004 Finals.

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)
Lowell Lock Monsters (CAR/CGY)
Manchester Monarchs (LA)
Portland Pirates (WSH)
Providence Bruins (BOS)
Springfield Falcons (PHX)
Worcester IceCats (STL)

East Division
Albany River Rats (NJ)
Binghamton Senators (OTT)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)
Hershey Bears (COL/TB)
Norfolk Admirals (CHI)
Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)

Western Conference
North Division
Cleveland Barons (SJ)
Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)
Manitoba Moose (VAN)
Rochester Americans (BUF)
St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR)
Syracuse Crunch (CBJ)
Toronto Roadrunners (EDM)

West Division
Chicago Wolves (ATL)
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA)
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
Houston Aeros (MIN)
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)
San Antonio Rampage (FLA)
Utah Grizzlies (DAL)

The IceCats will open the AHL slate at Worcester's Centrum Centre on October 11th. Season ticket packages as well as group bookings for Opening Night are available by calling the IceCats ticket department at 1-800-830-CATS.

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American Hockey League Stories from July 9, 2003


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