The Edmonton Roadrunners are owned by the Edmonton Investors Group, Ltd., a group of community and business leaders which also owns the Roadrunners’ parent team, the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. The Roadrunners will play their home games at Rexall Place, the Oilers’ home rink, and will remain in the AHL’s North Division.

A revised schedule format to include Edmonton is being developed by the American Hockey League and will be announced next week.

Also today, the AHL’s Board of Governors unanimously approved the transfer of majority ownership of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers franchise to the NHL’s New York Islanders. The Sound Tigers are preparing for their fourth season as the Islanders’ top affiliate at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, Conn.

Entering its 69th season this fall, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. The 2003-04 season saw 28 teams compete for the coveted Calder Cup, and more than 6.6 million fans attending AHL games across North America for the third straight year. Over 80 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2003-04 were AHL graduates, and more than 400 players took the ice in both leagues.

AHL DELAYS GOALIE EQUIPMENT RULE UNTIL 2005-06

Maximum Width of Goaltenders’ Pads Will Remain 12 Inches in ’04-’05

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today that the league will delay until the 2005-06 season a new regulation limiting the size of goaltenders’ pads.

Earlier this month, the league's Board of Governors had approved the reduction of the maximum width of AHL goaltenders’ leg pads from 12 inches to 10 inches.

“The International Hockey Industry Association [IHIA] has requested that the AHL reconsider its implementation schedule, and we have responded appropriately to that request,” said Andrews. “We look forward to the successful execution of this rule beginning in 2005-06, with the remainder of our rules package for 2004-05 remaining intact.”

Entering its 69th season this fall, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. The 2003-04 season saw 28 teams compete for the coveted Calder Cup, and more than 6.6 million fans attending AHL games across North America for the third straight year. Over 80 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2003-04 were AHL graduates, and more than 400 players took the ice in both leagues.