I know this is ancient history given that the AHL All-Star Game is long over and it’s when the AHL’s president makes announcements. I for one am glad about my team getting out of the Puss Division after two seasons. It’s been crap for us and San Antonio because we both play five more games/season than the five California and one Arizona teams. Thus the asinine percentage score determines who’s in first place, etc., instead of traditional points which is how it shakes out for the other three divisions. I despise the intrusion of other sports’ shitty systems to make it more “exciting” such as wild cards in the NHL come playoff time. What’s next? That “Games Behind” crap which really doesn’t matter since Wins are what determines who advances and who will be setting up a tee time in mid April? Points are what separates hockey from the Big Three thanks to its overtime play rewarding the losing side with a point. Overtime losses is what propelled my Stars’ killer season three years ago. They had the same number of wins as the Manchester Monarchs but having one additional OT loss gave us the one point advantage to win the President’s Cup. Even if we didn’t win 48 games outright, our 10 additional OT loss points would’ve still contributed to us having a berth in the playoffs.
Enough ranting there. I’m guessing we’ll be moved to the Central Division thus we get to see the Icehogs, Admirals, Wolves, Marlies, Wild, Griffins and Monsters more often. The Pacific will add the new franchise in Colorado which clawed its way from the long gone, defunct CHL my Austin Icebats were in. So the Avalanche will jump to them for the AHL and St. Louis will likely team up with poor San Antonio. I also think the poor Moose will be moved to the Pacific to prevent the Central from having nine teams while the Pacific has seven. Nothing new on those rumors about Reno, NV appearing to give Vegas a closer affiliate. As long as our divisional opponents play 76 games like us, I’m happier.