Phantoms Announce 2007-08 Schedule Format

May 30, 2007 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Adirondack Phantoms News Release


PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phantoms and the American Hockey League today announced the league's divisional alignment and schedule formats for the 2007-08 season.

The coming campaign will mark the fifth season the Phantoms have played in the East Division of the Eastern Conference. The divisional makeup will remain the same, with the Phantoms joined by Albany, Binghamton, Bridgeport, Hershey, Norfolk and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The most significant change affecting the Phantoms in 2007-08 is that Norfolk is now affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, meaning that team will be comprised of much of the personnel that made up the Springfield Falcons in 2006-07. Springfield will now host Edmonton's prospects, which were scattered among several AHL teams a year ago. Also, Albany is now singularly affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Most of the league's divisional changes come in the Western Conference, where two new teams have joined the league, bringing membership to an all-time high of 29 teams. The Lake Erie Monsters, based in Cleveland, are the new primary affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche and will play in the North Division. The Rockford IceHogs of Rockford, Ill. are the new primary affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks and will play in the West Division. Colorado's prospects were part of a split affiliation in Albany last season, while Chicago's prospects played in Norfolk.

Also in the Western Conference, the Calgary Flames have moved their affiliate operation from Omaha, Neb. to the Quad Cities region of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. The Quad City Flames will participate in the West Division.

The AHL also announced the schedule format for 2007-08. Much like recent seasons, the league's scheduling emphasizes divisional rivalries. In the case of the Phantoms, 56 games of the 80-game season will be played against divisional opponents. The Phantoms will play a 12-game series against Hershey and will play 10 games apiece with Norfolk and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Philadelphia will face off eight times each with Bridgeport, Albany and Binghamton.

Outside of the East Division, the Phantoms will play four games against Lowell and will play a home-and-home series with the other six teams in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia will play eight games against the Western Conference, coming in the form of home-and-home series with North Division clubs Hamilton, Lake Erie, Syracuse and Toronto.

Specific dates of games will be announced when the AHL releases its 2007-08 schedule later this summer. The league is currently preparing for the Calder Cup Finals, which get underway on Friday when the Hamilton Bulldogs visit the Hershey Bears.

Season tickets and game plans are now available for the 2007-08 season. Fans can lock in the same great seat at a discount for 10, 20 or 40 Phantoms home games this season while receiving a whole list of great exclusive benefits. For more information or to make a deposit, call the Phantoms at 215-465-4522 during normal business hours. More information is also available at the Phantoms website, www.phantomshockey.com.



American Hockey League Stories from May 30, 2007


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