The American Hockey League the top development league for the National Hockey League now has 30 teams as it enters its 75th anniversary season. With the expansion, each NHL team will now have a single affiliate.
The Binghamton Senators will still reside in the Eastern Conference's East division. The division remains largely unchanged from last season, with one notable exception. The Charlotte Checkers, who will be the top-affiliate of the Carolina Hurricanes.
Here is the way each conference is broken down:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)
Manchester Monarchs (LA)
Portland Pirates (BUF)
Providence Bruins (BOS)
Springfield Falcons (CBJ)
Worcester Sharks (SJ)
East Division
Adirondack Phantoms (PHI)
Albany Devils (NJ)
Binghamton Senators (OTT)
Charlotte Checkers (CAR)
Hershey Bears (WSH)
Norfolk Admirals (TB)
Syracuse Crunch (ANA)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)
Western Conference
North Division
Abbotsford Heat (CGY)
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)
Lake Erie Monsters (COL)
Manitoba Moose (VAN)
Rochester Americans (FLA)
Toronto Marlies (TOR)
West Division
Chicago Wolves (ATL)
Houston Aeros (MIN)
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)
Oklahoma City Barons (EDM)
Peoria Rivermen (STL)
Rockford IceHogs (CHI)
San Antonio Rampage (PHX)
Texas Stars (DAL)
The format for the 2011 Calder Cup Playoffs will be determined by the Board of Governors at its Annual Meeting in Hilton Head Island, S.C., July 5-8.
With the addition of Charlotte and the move of the New Jersey Devils affiliate from Lowell back to Albany, along with a couple affiliation changes, there are definitely some things to look forward to as the new season approaches.
Binghamton has already released a list of guaranteed home dates. The full schedule will be released later this summer, with the regular season slated to begin on October 8th.
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