AHL announces division alignments, schedule and playoff formats for 2005-06
Published on June 28, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews made several announcements today from the AHL Board of Governors' annual meeting at Amelia Island, Fla.
First, the Board has approved the conference and division alignment and playoff plan for the 2005-06 American Hockey League season:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Albany River Rats
Hartford Wolf Pack
Lowell Lock Monsters
Manchester Monarchs
Portland Pirates
Providence Bruins
Springfield Falcons
East Division
Binghamton Senators
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Hershey Bears
Norfolk Admirals
Philadelphia Phantoms
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
Western Conference
North Division
Cleveland Barons
Grand Rapids Griffins
Hamilton Bulldogs
Manitoba Moose
Rochester Americans
Syracuse Crunch
Toronto Marlies
West Division
Chicago Wolves
Houston Aeros
Iowa Stars
Milwaukee Admirals
Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights
Peoria Rivermen
San Antonio Rampage
At the conclusion of the 2005-06 regular season, the 2006 Calder Cup Playoffs will feature the top four teams in each of the four divisions, with one possible exception: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic Division finishes with more points than the fourth-place team in the East Division, it would cross over and compete in the East Division playoffs. The postseason format will again feature a divisional playoff, leading to conference finals and ultimately the Calder Cup Finals. All rounds will comprise best-of-seven series.
The Board of Governors also approved the schedule format for the 2005-06 regular season. The AHL's 70th season, which will begin on Wed., Oct. 12, will comprise a total of 1,080 games, with each of the league's 27 member teams playing an unbalanced 80-game schedule, including 40 home dates and 40 road dates and featuring both traditional and regional rivalries. The entire 2005-06 schedule is expected to be announced in late July.
In continuous operation since 1936, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. During the 2004-05 season, an all-time record of 7.1 million fans attended AHL games across North America.
American Hockey League Stories from June 28, 2005
- AHL Announces New Schedule - OSC Original by Chris Meiman
- Senators 2005-06 opponents announced - Binghamton Senators
- AHL Announces Division Alignment, Schedule Formats For 2005-06 - Manchester Monarchs
- Wolves remain in wild West - Chicago Wolves
- Penguins to remain in East Division - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Griffins move to North Division - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Bruins remain in Atlantic Division - Providence Bruins
- Ads to continue play in the West - Milwaukee Admirals
- Bears return to the FM dial in 2005-06 - Hershey Bears
- Bulldogs to play more teams than ever before in 2005-06 - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Lock Monsters remain in Atlantic Division - Albany Devils
- Wolf Pack remain part of Atlantic Division - Connecticut Whale
- AHL sets divisions, schedule and playoff formats for 2005-06 - Peoria Rivermen
- Falcons to have new division opponent in Albany River Rats - Springfield Falcons
- Stars aligned with geographical rivals - Iowa Chops
- Phantoms 2005-06 schedule format announced - Adirondack Phantoms
- Pirates announce date for home opener - Portland Pirates
- Bears announce 2005-06 schedule - Hershey Bears
- Three new divisional foes, 2003 Calder Cup Finals rematch await Aeros - Houston Aeros
- AHL announces division alignments, schedule and playoff formats for 2005-06 - AHL
- Griffins' home opener set for October 15 - Grand Rapids Griffins
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