American Hockey League Realigns into Four Divisions
May 12, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
The American Hockey League's Board of Governors approved a motion Tuesday to change from a six-division to a four-division format for the 2015-16 season.
The Chicago Wolves will be a part of the eight-team Central Division along with the Charlotte Checkers, Grand Rapids Griffins, Iowa Wild, Lake Erie Monsters, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals, and the Rockford IceHogs. The Central Division and the seven-team Pacific Division will comprise the Western Conference.
During the 2014-15 season, the Wolves competed in the Midwest Division with Grand Rapids, Lake Erie, Milwaukee and Rockford. Manitoba, which played in the Eastern Conference as the St. John's IceCaps for the last four years, is the top affiliate for the Winnipeg Jets and will share a building with the parent club. Charlotte and Iowa hail from the old West Division.
The Pacific Division will feature the five new teams in California (Bakersfield Condors, Ontario Reign, San Diego Gulls, San Jose Barracuda, and the Stockton Heat) along with the San Antonio Rampage and Texas Stars.
To offset the franchises moving from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference, the Rochester Americans, Toronto Marlies, and Utica Comets are shifting from the West to the East. In addition, the Hamilton Bulldogs are moving to St. John's, Newfoundland, and setting up in the Eastern Conference.
Rochester, St. John's, Toronto, and Utica join Albany, Binghamton and Syracuse to form the North Division. Bridgeport, Hartford, Hershey, Lehigh Valley, Portland, Providence, Springfield and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton comprise the Atlantic Division.
The AHL will unveil the format for the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs following its meeting July 6-9 in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
American Hockey League Stories from May 12, 2015
- Monarchs Hold on for 2-1 Win to Eliminate Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Monarchs Head to Conference Finals with 2-1 Win - Manchester Monarchs
- AHL Announces Seven-Team Pacific Division - Stockton Heat
- Manitoba Moose to Play in Central Division - Manitoba Moose
- AHL Board of Governors Approves Division Alignment for 2015-16 Season - Rockford IceHogs
- American Hockey League Realigns into Four Divisions - Chicago Wolves
- Falcons Inflate Spirits with Special Deflategate Package - Springfield Falcons
- IceCaps Join New Division with Arch-Rival Toronto - St. John's IceCaps
- Texas Stars to Compete in AHL's Pacific Division in 2015-16 - Texas Stars
- American Hockey League Board of Governors Approves Division Alignment for 2015-16 Season - AHL
- AHL Bulldogs Game-Used Memorabilia Auction Now Underway - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Wolf Pack Weekly - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Hershey Weekly - Hershey Bears
- IceCaps Buddy the Puffin Joins JUMPFest - St. John's IceCaps
- Admirals Ink Whitney to AHL Deal - Milwaukee Admirals
- B-Sens Release Five Guaranteed Dates for 2015-16 - Binghamton Senators
- Wolf Pack/Hershey Game Six Set for Friday Night at XL Center - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Barons Drop Game Three, 3-2 - Oklahoma City Barons
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