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Portland Pirates Release 2003-2004 Schedule

July 31, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Portland Pirates News Release


PORTLAND, ME - The Portland Pirates will begin their second decade as a member of the American Hockey League on Friday, October 10 when they visit the Lowell Lock Monsters. The Pirates released the complete 80-game schedule today, one that features a host of traditional New England rivals and family-friendly home dates.

"The 2003-2004 season is shaping up to be an exciting one for our fans," said Brian Petrovek, Pirates' CEO. "With the new division alignment in the AHL, we will be playing our fiercest rivals more often and in more meaningful games beginning earlier in the season. With a home schedule that features 37 of 40 games on either a weekend or a holiday, we think families will find that attending a Pirates' game has never been easier."

The Pirates will play 35 home games on weekends (Friday-Saturday-Sunday). Two more games, Wednesday, December 31 vs. Worcester and Monday, February 16 vs. Lowell, occur on holidays. For the second consecutive year, the Pirates' busiest month at home will be January when the team hosts nine games. Conversely, the Pirates will spend much of February and March on the road, playing a total of ten home games in that two-month period.

The American Hockey League's Board of Governors revised the conference and divisional alignment during its annual meeting at the beginning of July to create two conferences with two seven-team divisions in each. The goal was to emphasize divisional and regional rivalries. The Pirates (Washington Capitals) will be part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference this season, joining the Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers), Lowell Lock Monsters (Carolina Hurricanes/Calgary Flames), Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings), Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins), Springfield Falcons (Phoenix Coyotes) and Worcester IceCats (St. Louis Blues). The Pirates will play those teams a total of 60 times. In fact, the Pirates will play 76 of their 80 games against conference foes. The only Western Conference team on the Pirates' calendar this season is the St. John's Maple Leafs with whom they have had a long-standing rivalry. The Leafs come to Portland for a pair of games in October. The Pirates venture to Newfoundland in February.

The AHL's Calder Cup Playoff format has also been changed to further strengthen rivalries. The top five teams in each division will make the postseason. After a best-of-three series between the fourth and fifth seeds, teams will play within their own divisions in a one-four, two-three format until the conference finals and the Calder Cup Finals.

Fans will instantly recognize some traditional home dates on the Pirates' calendar. For the ninth time in their history, the Pirates will host their annual Kids' New Years celebration as part of New Years Portland with post-game fireworks on December 31 at 5:05 p.m. The Pirates will also host a special President's Day face-off on Monday, February 16 at 7:05 p.m. For the first time in their history, the Pirates will host a special 11:05 a.m. face-off on Wednesday, March 10 against Lowell. The Pirates' promotional plan and schedule will be released at a later date.

Full season and partial season ticket packages for the 2003-2004 season are on sale now. Fans can receive more information by logging on to the Pirates' web site, portlandpirates.com, or by calling the Pirates at (207) 828-4665.

PORTLAND PIRATES 2003-2004 SCHEDULE

OCTOBER

Friday, October 10 @ Lowell 7:00 pm
Saturday, October 11 @ Hartford 7:05 pm
Wednesday, October 15 @ Manchester 7:05 pm
Friday, October 17 vs. Hartford 7:05 pm
Saturday, October 18 vs. Manchester 7:05 pm
Friday, October 24 vs. St. John's 7:05 pm
Saturday, October 25 @ Worcester 7:05 pm
Sunday, October 26 vs. St. John's 4:05 pm
Wednesday, October 29 @ Worcester 7:05 pm
Thursday, October 30 vs. Norfolk 7:05 pm

NOVEMBER

Saturday, November 1 vs. Norfolk 7:05 pm
Friday, November 7 vs. Hartford 7:05 pm
Saturday, November 8 @ Manchester 7:35 pm
Sunday, November 9 vs. Springfield 4:05 pm
Friday, November 14 @ Providence 7:05 pm
Saturday, November 15 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scr. 7:05 pm
Friday, November 21 @ Norfolk 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 22 @ Norfolk 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 23 @ Philadelphia 6:05 pm
Wednesday, November 26 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scr. 7:05 pm
Friday, November 28 @ Providence 7:05 pm
Saturday, November 29 vs. Worcester 7:05 pm

DECEMBER

Friday, December 5 vs. Hartford 7:05 pm
Saturday, December 6 vs. Springfield 7:05 pm
Friday, December 12 @ Lowell 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 13 @ Springfield 7:35 pm
Sunday, December 14 @ Hartford 4:05 pm
Friday, December 19 vs. Springfield 7:05 pm
Saturday, December 20 vs. Providence 7:05 pm
Sunday, December 21 @ Springfield 4:05 pm
Friday, December 26 @ Worcester 7:05 pm
Saturday, December 27 vs. Providence 7:05 pm Sunday, December 28 vs. Albany 4:05 pm
Wednesday, December 31 vs. Worcester 5:05 pm

JANUARY

Saturday, January 3 vs. Hershey 7:05 pm
Wednesday, January 7 @ Lowell 7:00 pm
Friday, January 9 vs. Manchester 7:05 pm
Saturday, January 10 vs. Wilkes-Barre/Scr. 7:05 pm
Wednesday, January 14 @ Hartford 7:05 pm
Friday, January 16 vs. Manchester 7:05 pm
Saturday, January 17 @ Manchester 7:35 pm
Sunday, January 18 vs. Providence 4:05 pm
Friday, January 23 vs. Hartford 7:05 pm
Saturday, January 24 vs. Lowell 7:05 pm
Sunday. January 25 @ Lowell 4:00 pm
Friday, January 30 vs. Lowell 7:05 pm
Saturday, January 31 vs. Bridgeport 7:05 pm

FEBRUARY

Friday, February 6 vs. Worcester 7:05 pm
Saturday, February 7 vs. Providence 7:05 pm
Wednesday, February 11 @ Albany 7:00 pm
Friday, February 13 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scr. 7:05 pm
Saturday, February 14 @ Hershey 7:00 pm
Monday, February 16 vs. Lowell 7:05 pm
Wednesday, February 18 @ Bridgeport 7:05 pm
Friday, February 20 vs. Springfield 7:05 pm
Saturday, February 21 vs. Manchester 7:05 pm
Sunday, February 22 @ Lowell 4:00 pm
Wednesday, February 25 @ Manchester 7:05 pm
Friday, February 27 @ St. John's 6:05 pm
Saturday, February 28 @ St. John's 6:05 pm

MARCH

Wednesday, March 3 vs. Worcester 7:05 pm
Friday, March 5 @ Springfield 7:35 pm
Saturday, March 6 vs. Manchester 2:05 pm
Sunday, March 7 @ Providence 4:05 pm
Wednesday, March 10 vs. Lowell 11:05 am
Friday, March 12 vs. Lowell 7:05 pm
Saturday, March 13 @ Springfield 7:35 pm
Sunday, March 14 vs. Philadelphia 4:05 pm
Friday, March 19 @ Worcester 7:05 pm
Saturday, March 20 @ Hartford 7:05 pm
Sunday, March 21 @ Providence 4:05 pm
Friday, March 26 @ Springfield 7:35 pm
Saturday, March 27 @ Worcester 7:05 pm

APRIL

Friday, April 2 vs. Worcester 7:05 pm
Saturday, April 3 vs. Providence 7:05 pm
Sunday, April 4 @ Manchester 4:05 pm
Wednesday, April 7 @ Providence 7:05 pm
Friday, April 9 vs. Lowell 7:05 pm
Saturday, April 10 @ Lowell 7:00 pm
Sunday, April 11 vs. Springfield 4:05 pm

*All Game Times Eastern Time



American Hockey League Stories from July 31, 2003


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.

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