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USHL Set to Open 2011-12 Regular Season

September 29, 2011 - United States Hockey League (USHL) News Release


Chicago, IL - As the United States Hockey League embarks on the 2011-12 season, it will be a milestone year. The League celebrates its 10th anniversary season as the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league, first designated by USA Hockey in August of 2002.

Fall Classic Roundup...All 16 USHL teams took part in last weekend's 2011 USHL Fall Classic hosted by the Sioux City Musketeers. The world's most highly scouted hockey event gives teams an opportunity to play three games in front of more than 200 scouts representing all 30 NHL clubs, and virtually every NCAA Division I hockey program.

"It was the best collection of talent that I have ever seen from the USHL," commented one NHL team scout. "There are multiple high-end prospects in this group, and players that we will continue to watch throughout the season as we prepare for the 2012 NHL Draft."

New Look...As it ushers in a new season, the USHL has unveiled a new League logo, launched a re-designed website (www.USHL.com), and partnered with the top broadband network in hockey, FASTHockey. All these initiatives reflect the USHL's re-branding and outreach efforts as the League continues to embrace its commitment of providing an elite - and exciting - development path for young hockey talent.

"It's a series of bold steps for us as we seek to improve the League's national brand and profile," said USHL Commissioner Skip Prince. "Our partners at Bluechip Athletic Solutions have joined us to build one of the most exciting digital platforms in hockey anywhere, and we'll be using it to extend our League message across all media this year. FASTHockey provides the same level of 'next-generation' delivery of live games. We're providing more USHL to a growing USHL fan base."

Protecting the Players...The USHL continues its emphasis on player safety, in particular by taking measures to deter dangerous hits to the head. While USHL officials have called such penalties in the past, a new "head contact" penalty has been designated to track such infractions. Accumulation of "head contact" penalties are subject to supplemental disciplinary action. The League continues to work as well with Reebok and CCM Hockey, its exclusive equipment supplier, to outfit America's most promising hockey talent with the safest and most professional equipment in the game.

Shootout Modification...Should USHL games remain tied after the five-minute overtime session in the regular season, teams will now participate in a three-round shootout. Previous USHL seasons utilized a five-round shootout, but the new shootout rule now mirrors the NHL's format - a three-round shootout, followed by "sudden death" should the shootout remain tied after three rounds.

Conference Alignment...The 16 USHL teams will again compete in two separate conferences - Eastern and Western - with eight Member Clubs in each conference. Alignment has slightly changed for the 2011-12 season as the Dubuque Fighting Saints will compete as a member of the Eastern Conference and the Waterloo Black Hawks as a member of the Western Conference. The re-alignment now represents a true geographical split of the USHL's 16 organizations.

States of the USHL...Players competing in the USHL this season are an incredible group of hockey talent that represents a cross-section of the United States plus a strong representation from around the globe. USHL players hail from 33 different states and 10 other countries, including seven provinces in Canada.

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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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