
AHL Board Approves Plan for Schedule Unification
June 7, 2021 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms News Release
American Hockey League President and CEO Scott Howson announced that the league's Board of Governors has approved a schedule unification plan that will see all teams play a 72-game regular-season schedule beginning in 2022-23.
As part of the plan, for the 2021-22 season, teams in the Atlantic, North and Central Divisions have the option of playing either 76 or 72 games, while teams in the Pacific Division will play 68 games. Additionally, there will be an increase in the number of teams qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs each year; details will be finalized and announced later in the offseason.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms will play 76 games in the 2021-22 season including 38 home games during the regular season. The Phantoms will be in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference with the same opponents that competed against each other during the 2019-20 season.
"I am very pleased that we were able to achieve a schedule of 72 games for all teams in the American Hockey League," said Howson. "In coming together to create a plan that is fair and equitable, our owners have demonstrated a commitment to the long-term strength of the league."
The following division alignment has been approved for the 2021-22 AHL season (National Hockey League affiliations in parentheses):
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Bridgeport Islanders (New York Islanders)
Charlotte Checkers (Florida Panthers)
Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)
Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)
Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
Springfield Thunderbirds (St. Louis Blues)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)
North Division
Belleville Senators (Ottawa Senators)
Cleveland Monsters (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Laval Rocket (Montreal Canadiens)
Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres)
Syracuse Crunch (Tampa Bay Lightning)
Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Utica Comets (New Jersey Devils)
Western Conference
Central Division
Chicago Wolves (Carolina Hurricanes)
Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings)
Iowa Wild (Minnesota Wild)
Manitoba Moose (Winnipeg Jets)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators)
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks)
Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)
Pacific Division
Abbotsford (Vancouver Canucks)
Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers)
Colorado Eagles (Colorado Avalanche)
Henderson Silver Knights (Vegas Golden Knights)
Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings)
San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks)
San Jose Barracuda (San Jose Sharks)
Stockton Heat (Calgary Flames)
Tucson Roadrunners (Arizona Coyotes)
Teams playing 76 games in 2021-22: Chicago, Cleveland, Grand Rapids, Hershey, Lehigh Valley, Milwaukee, Rochester, Springfield, Syracuse, W-B/Scranton
Teams playing 72 games in 2021-22: Belleville, Bridgeport, Charlotte, Hartford, Iowa, Laval, Manitoba, Providence, Rockford, Texas, Toronto, Utica
Teams playing 68 games in 2021-22: Abbotsford, Bakersfield, Colorado, Henderson, Ontario, San Diego, San Jose, Stockton, Tucson
The playing schedule and postseason format for the 2021-22 season, which begins Oct. 15, will be announced this summer.
In operation since 1936, the AHL serves as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives and broadcasters of every National Hockey League organization. Nearly 90 percent of today's NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame spent time in the AHL in their careers.
American Hockey League Stories from June 7, 2021
- Capitals Re-Sign Axel Jonsson-Fjallby - Hershey Bears
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Laval Rocket to Play a 72-Game Schedule for the 2021-22 Season - Laval Rocket
- AHL Board Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- AHL Announces Schedule Unification, Divisional Alignment & 2021-22 Details - Ontario Reign
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Belleville Senators
- Penguins to Play 76-Game Schedule in 2021-22 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Cleveland Monsters
- All AHL Teams to Play 72 Games Beginning in the 2022-23 Regular Season - San Jose Barracuda
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Syracuse Crunch
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - San Diego Gulls
- AHL Plans for Schedule Unification, Stars Will Play 72 Games in 2021-22 - Texas Stars
- American Hockey League Announces 2021-22 Division Alignment & Schedule Length - Providence Bruins
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Henderson Silver Knights
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Colorado Eagles
- Bridgeport Islanders to Play 72-Game Schedule in 2021-22 - Bridgeport Islanders
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Manitoba Moose
- AHL Announces Divisional Alignment for 2021-22 Season - Rochester Americans
- AHL Announces Divisions; Schedule Unification in 2022-23 - Bakersfield Condors
- Admirals to Remain in Central Division in 21-22 - Milwaukee Admirals
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - Utica Comets
- Heat Rejoin Pacific Division in 2021-22 - Stockton Heat
- AHL Sets Divisional Alignment for 2021-22 Season - Chicago Wolves
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Plan for Schedule Unification - AHL
- 2021 AHL Team Business Summer Series Meetings Begin Today - AHL
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Lehigh Valley Phantoms Stories
- Ābols and Eklind Sign Contract Extensions
- Phantoms Fall in Playoff Series Finale
- Luchanko Geared for Phantoms' Biggest Game
- Preview: Phantoms at Bears, Game 5
- Bears Survive to Force Game 5

