Monarchs 2003-04 Schedule Format Announced
July 15, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Manchester Monarchs News Release
MANCHESTER, NH â The Manchester Monarchs, the primary affiliate of the National Hockey League's Los Angeles Kings, learned today that they will meet all 13 of their Eastern Conference rivals as well as one Western Conference foe during the 2003-04 season.
The American Hockey League approved the 1,120-game schedule format at the annual meeting of the Board of Governors. The meeting concluded last week on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. League officials hope to release the entire 2003-04 schedule early next month.
Like the rest of the 28-team AHL, the Monarchs will play an unbalanced 80-game schedule in 2003-04 consisting of 40 home games and 40 road games. Sixty of the Monarchs 80 games (75 percent of the schedule) will be played against teams in the newly formed Atlantic Division. The Atlantic Division, one of four seven-team divisions approved by the Board last week, includes the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Lowell Lock Monsters, the Portland Pirates, the Providence Bruins, the Springfield Falcons and the Worcester IceCats. The Monarchs will play Lowell 12 times (six times at home), Portland, Providence, Springfield and Worcester 10 times (five times at home), and Hartford eight times (four times at home).
The Monarchs will also face all seven teams residing in the Eastern Conference's East Division during the 2003-04 season. The East Division includes the Albany River Rats, the Binghamton Senators, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the Hershey Bears, the Norfolk Admirals, the Philadelphia Phantoms and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. The Monarchs will play Bridgeport four times (two times at home) and Albany, Binghamton, Hershey, Norfolk, Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton twice (one time at home).
The Monarchs will play their lone Western Conference opponent, the Utah Grizzlies, four times (two times at home). The Grizzlies are members of the West Division.
The Monarchs, who will open the 2003-04 season at home against an undetermined opponent on Friday, October 10 at 7:35 p.m., have never met the Binghamton Senators, the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins and the Utah Grizzlies.
Please see the attached document for AHL divisional alignment...
Other business from the AHL's annual meeting of the Board of Governors...
AHL Rule Amendment: The AHL's Board of Governors amended AHL Rule #51 (Delaying the Game), eliminating the automatic minor penalty for shooting a puck out of the playing surface in the defensive zone. The rule still calls for a delay of game penalty on any player who deliberately shoots or bats the puck outside the playing area.
AHL Ownership Transfer: The AHL's Board of Governors approved the transfer of controlling interest in the Houston Aeros franchise from Chuck Watson to Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Aeros' parent club, the NHL's Minnesota Wild. Last month, the Aeros captured their first American Hockey League championship with a victory in the Calder Cup 2003 Finals.
Currently, the only way to secure a seat for the Monarchs 2003-04 Home Opener is to purchase one of the Monarchs three season ticket packages. The Monarchs offer full season, half season, and ten-game packages. Individual tickets for all Monarchs home games will go on sale to the public in late September. For more season ticket information, visit the Monarchs on-line at www.monarchshockey.com or call (603) 626-7825.
American Hockey League Stories from July 15, 2003
- Monarchs 2003-04 Schedule Format Announced - Manchester Monarchs
- Mighty Ducks, Severson Agree on One-Year Deal - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- American Hockey League Schedule Format & Rule Change Announced for 2003-04 Season - San Antonio Rampage
- Falcons Announce Schedule Format for 10th Campaign - Springfield Falcons
- Sound Tigers Keep Rivalries, Add Two Opponents - Bridgeport Islanders
- Columbus Signs Center Mark Hartigan - Syracuse Crunch
- Phantoms' 2003-04 schedule format announced - Adirondack Phantoms
- Admirals Invade Canada - Milwaukee Admirals
- Moose Yearling Foundation Hands Out Cheques Totalling $122,816 to 17 Local Children's Charities - Manitoba Moose
- Canucks Re-Sign Goaltender Dan Cloutier - Manitoba Moose
- Canucks Re-Sign Defenceman Marek Malik - Manitoba Moose
- AHL Releases Schedule Format - Rochester Americans
- Michel Therrien Named Head Coach of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- St. John's Maple Leafs face five new opponents in 2003-04 - Toronto Marlies
- Bears Unveil 2003-04 AHL Opponents - Hershey Bears
- Pirates Announce 2003-2004 Opponents - Portland Pirates
- Aeros 2003-04 Schedule Format Announced - Houston Aeros
- Rampage/Panthers Sweepstakes Begins Today - San Antonio Rampage
- Stats Prove AHL Home to NHL's Stars of Tomorrow - Manitoba Moose
- Moose Renew Old Rivalries - Manitoba Moose
- Wolf Pack Announce 2003-04 Schedule Format - Connecticut Whale
- AHL Announces 03-04 Schedule Format - Worcester IceCats
- Board of Governors meeting concludes - AHL
- Capitals Resign Defensemen Fortin, Hajt - Portland Pirates
- AHL Announces Schedule Format - Syracuse Crunch
- Scheduling Matrix Announced - Binghamton Senators
- Buffalo Sabres Sign Defenseman David Cullen - Rochester Americans
- Capitals Trade Farrell To Nashville For Riazantsev - Portland Pirates
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