AEROS TO FACE ROADRUNNERS IN 04-05

League amends schedule format

HOUSTON, Texas – The 2004-05 American Hockey League season will see the Houston Aeros make their first ever trip to Alberta to play the Edmonton Roadrunners. The Roadrunners, who relocated from Toronto last week, were not scheduled to meet Houston in the original AHL schedule format, which was amended due to the move. The Aeros and Roadrunners will play four times, twice at Skyreach Centre and twice at Toyota Center.


The four games versus Edmonton adjust the remainder of the Aeros’ schedule format slightly. Houston will now play eight games (four home, four away) against Grand Rapids, instead of 10, and six games (three home, three away) versus Cincinnati, instead of eight.


Houston’s schedule is highlighted by 12 matchups (six home, six road) with in-state rival San Antonio. The Aeros will play 28 of their 40 home games and 56 of their 80 overall games against their division foes – Chicago, Cincinnati, Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, San Antonio and Utah. Houston will play 10 games (five home, five road) versus Chicago, Milwaukee and Utah.


Houston’s non-division schedule will remain the same from the 2003-04 season, with the exception of four tilts with the Roadrunners. At home, Houston will play Hartford, Worcester, Rochester and Syracuse once, and Norfolk, Cleveland and Manitoba twice. The Aeros will also make return trips to each of those cities to complete the 80-game schedule.


The AHL’s 69th season will once again comprise a total of 1,120 games, with each of the league’s 28 member teams playing an unbalanced 80-game schedule, including 40 home dates and 40 road dates and featuring traditional and regional rivalries.


The regular season will begin on Wed., Oct. 13, and conclude on Sun., Apr. 17.


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.