NAHL set to open 29th season this weekend
September 16, 2004 - North American Hockey League (NAHL) News Release
After a significant amount of off-season activity, NAHL fans from Alaska to Texas to Ohio are ready to welcome the onset of the 2004-05 season, which begins this weekend.
The defending Junior "A" National Champion Texas Tornado open defense of their crown and kick off the season when they visit the Springfield Jr. Blues on Friday, September 17.
Other games slated for that night include the Cleveland Barons traveling to Sault Ste. Marie to take on the 2004 North Division regular season champion Soo Kewadin Casino Indians, the USA Under-18 National Development Team entertaining the Youngstown Phantoms, and the Billlings Bulls and Bozeman IceDogs renewing their interstate rivalry in Bozeman.
The 2004-05 NAHL regular season schedule consists of 568 games including junior hockey's largest showcase tournament ever, in Blaine, Minnesota; a North Divisions Showcase tournament on January 14-17 in Youngstown, Ohio, and the return of the NAHL All-Star Game on February 8 in Frisco, TX.
Among some of the other interesting dates on the schedule is the October 9 game between the Cleveland Barons and the Soo Kewadin Indians, which will be played on the campus of Bowling Green State University at the BGSU Ice Arena in Bowling Green, Ohio. A number of former Barons have gone on to play for Bowling Green and head coach/general manager Tim Alexander is a former Bowling Green player and assistant coach.
Another noteworthy point on the schedule is the November 15th game between Minnesota and Bismarck, a home game for the Blizzard which will be played in Fergus Fall, Minnesota, rather than their home rink in Alexandria, as the club extends its reach into a neighboring community in Central Minnesota.
The 2004-05 season wraps up Sunday, March 26, followed by the NAHL Playoffs and the 2004 National Championship Tournament to be played April 25 through May 1 in Bismarck, North Dakota.
The North American Hockey League is the oldest and largest Junior "A" hockey league in the United States. Over its 28 year history, the NAHL has developed more college and professional players than any other junior hockey league in the country.
North American Hockey League Stories from September 16, 2004
- Youngstown Begins NAHL Play After Impressive Preseason - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- IceDiggers home opener this Saturday - Alpena IceDiggers
- Tornado split weekend series with Wichita Falls - Texas Tornado
- Battle looms as Blues tangle with Tornado - Springfield Jr. Blues
- Regular season schedule changes, Barons to play at Bowling Green - Cleveland Barons
- Voice of the Soo returns for 10th season - Soo Indians
- Bighorns 'Koules' under pressure in weekend series - Helena Bighorns
- IceDogs look to rebound in season opener against Billings - Bozeman Icedogs
- Fraser name U-18 NTDP captain, Gerbe and Jones named assistants - U.S. National Team
- Bandits face off against NHLers to wrap up week in St. Louis - St. Louis Bandits
- Blizzard into pre-season preparation with 14 newcomers in camp - Alexandria Blizzard
- Myro hat trick sparks Jets comeback in first exhibition - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
- Phantoms prepare for season by sweeping eastern competition - Mahoning Valley Phantoms
- NAHL set to open 29th season this weekend - NAHL
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