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June 27, 2008

P-Bruins to play 17 different opponents in 2008-09

The American Hockey League today announced its schedule format and divisional alignments for the 2008-09 season. The Providence Bruins will play six teams from the Western Conference next season along with their current Atlantic Division rivals from the Eastern Conference. All told, the 2008-09 competition for the P-Bruins features 17 different opponents, 11 of which made the postseason in 2007-08.

While the schedule will not be announced until late in the summer, the P-Bruins’ schedule format is as follows. In Atlantic Division competition, Providence will face all six teams, including the Hartford Wolf Pack, Lowell Devils, Manchester Monarchs, Portland Pirates, Springfield Falcons and the Worcester Sharks. In the East Division, the P-Bruins will battle the Albany River Rats, Bridgeport Sound Tigers, Hershey Bears, Norfolk Admirals and Philadelphia Phantoms. In the Western Conference, the P-Bruins take on the Chicago Wolves, Houston Aeros, Manitoba Moose, Rochester Americans, San Antonio Rampage and Toronto Marlies.

A complete breakdown of the P-Bruins’ opponents and how many times they will face each other, along with the conference and divisional alignments are as follows:

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION
PROVIDENCE BRUINS (Boston)
Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) – 4 H, 4 A
Lowell Devils (New Jersey) – 5 H, 5 A
Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles) – 4 H, 4 A
Portland Pirates (Buffalo) – 5 H, 5 A
Springfield Falcons (Edmonton) – 5 H, 5 A
Worcester Sharks (San Jose) – 5 H, 5 A

EAST DIVISION
Albany River Rats (Carolina) – 1 H, 1 A
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa)
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) – 1 H, 1 A
Hershey Bears (Washington) – 1 H, 1 A
Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay) – 1 H, 1 A
Philadelphia Phantoms (Philadelphia) – 1 H, 1 A
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

NORTH DIVISION
Grand Rapid Griffins (Detroit)
Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal)
Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado)
Manitoba Moose (Vancouver) – 2 H, 2 A
Rochester Americans (Florida) – 1 H, 1 A
Syracuse Crunch (Columbus)
Toronto Marlies (Toronto) – 1 H, 1 A

WEST DIVISION
Chicago Wolves (Atlanta) – 1 H, 1 A
Houston Aeros (Minnesota) – 1 H, 1 A
Iowa (Anaheim)
Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville)
Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis)
Quad City Flames (Calgary)
Rockford IceHogs (Chicago)
San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix) – 1 H, 1 A

The AHL will continue to feature two conferences, now encompassing three seven-team divisions and one eight-club division, giving the league a total of 29 clubs vying for the 2009 Calder Cup.

Posted by Art Martone at June 27, 2008 11:50 AM