This afternoon, the AHL announced the 2009-10 season which will include Austin for its first year in the West Division of the Western Conference. Since this league is one notch below the NHL (a less popular and prosperous sport in America), I figured it would be like most of the past schedules I have seen for Houston and San Antonio; predominantly interdivisional games with maybe one or two visitors from “exotic” locations such as Rochester, NY or Hamilton, ON.
Well I was pleasantly surprised to see the AHL shaking it up this year! Six of the seven teams in the North Division and one from the East Division of the Eastern Conference will be visiting Austin to play. This is awesome because it does keep things from being repetitive or dull, “Ho hum! Another visit from the Aeros to drub the Stars.” (It’s Austin’s initial year, I don’t expect them to be victorious often.) Besides, these will be NHL matches by proxy.
So who’s coming other than Houston (Wild), San Antonio (Coyotes), Rockford, IL (Blackhawks); Chicago (Thrashers), Milwaukee (Predators) and Peoria, IL (Blues)? Why Syracuse, NY (Blue Jackets); Grand Rapids, MI (Red Wings); Abbotsford, BC (Flames); Hamilton, ON (Canadiens); Cleveland (Avalanche – boooooo!); Winnipeg, MB (Canucks); and Toronto (Maple Leafs). Sadly, no Phantoms which is the Flyers’ AHL partner. Maybe next year.
If you want to go to a game, let me know. Jeremy and I are stoked about our season tickets.
I think they’ll be more competitive than you expect; minor-league expansion doesn’t have the same player-development pitfalls you see when the major leagues expand.