Rivermen Announce Schedule Format and Guaranteed Dates for 2006-07
June 28, 2006 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release
Peoria, IL (June 28, 2006) - The Peoria Rivermen, proud primary affiliate of the NHL's St. Louis Blues and member of the American Hockey League (AHL), announced today their schedule format and guaranteed home dates for the 2006-07 season, the 25th for professional hockey in Central Illinois.
The Rivermen will play all six of their fellow West-Division, Western-Conference foes 10 times each (five at home and five on the road), accounting for 60 (75 percent) of the team's 80-game regular season schedule. Last season, the Milwaukee Admirals, an old International Hockey League (IHL) rival, were the only division opponent Peoria did not face 10 times, splitting just eight games between Carver Arena and the Bradley Center.
With the Cleveland Barons' departure to Worcester, Mass., to become the Worcester Sharks, the Rivermen will now battle another IHL rival and North-Division resident, the Grand Rapids Griffins, twice as many times - eight contests instead of four - as Peoria did in its inaugural AHL campaign.
"Our format this year continues to emphasis rivalries within our division and with our old IHL/geographic rivals," Rivermen President/CEO Bart Rogers said. "Last year, our fans would have liked to see more of Grand Rapids and now the League's made that happen with two more home games. We're also excited about playing the Milwaukee Admirals another time at home.
"Building or reuniting these rivalries within our division and conference are important as we gain our footing in the AHL and continue to introduce Central Illinois to the best hockey outside the NHL," Rogers continued.
In favor of the aforementioned increases in games with geographic rivals, Peoria loses a home-and-home set with the North Division's Syracuse Crunch.
The Rivermen will again face off in home-and-home series with the North-Division's Hamilton Bulldogs, the Rochester Americans and the Toronto Marlines, along with a four-game set with the Manitoba Moose.
Peoria's only inter-conference matchup comes against the Albany River Rats, the primary affiliate for the Carolina Hurricanes, in a home-and-home series. Last season, the Rivermen took on the Manchester Monarchs in their only two Eastern Conference affairs.
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The team's five guaranteed home dates for the 2006-07 season include games on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, October 7, as part of the AHL's opening weekend.
Other guaranteed dates include: Friday, November 24; Saturday, December 16; and New Year's Eve (Sunday, December 31).
"It's a tremendous beginning to our schedule process," Rogers said. "Opening on the weekend at home for the second consecutive year is excellent for our fans, and we've always had tremendous support the day after Thanksgiving and on New Year's Eve."
Rivermen season ticket plans are on sale now with 1) a Full Season package (40 games), 2) the 25th Anniversary package (25 games), 3) a 12-game package, 4) a seven-game package and 5) undated voucher books (denominations of 20 vouchers). Packages start at just $75 per season.
For more information, please contact Director of Ticket Operations Jim Small at 309-676-1040 x 106 or via e-mail at tickets@rivermen.net.
American Hockey League Stories from June 28, 2006
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- Rampage announce schedule format for 2006-07 season - San Antonio Rampage
- Capitals to hold prospect camp at GIANT Center - Hershey Bears
- Rivermen Announce Schedule Format and Guaranteed Dates for 2006-07 - Peoria Rivermen
- AHL Board of Governors Overwhelmingly Approves Mandatory Use of Protective Visors by All Players - AHL
- 'Dogs home opener set for Friday October 6th - Hamilton Bulldogs
- AHL Announces Schedule Format For 2006-07 - Syracuse Crunch
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