BULLDOGS SET TO FACE 18 TEAMS IN 2011-2012
‘Dogs look to defend North Division title
Hamilton Bulldogs’ Press Release
HAMILTON – The Hamilton Bulldogs announced today the hockey club’s schedule format for the 2011-2012 American Hockey League season.
The Bulldogs will play 60 of their regular season games against Western Conference opponents (40 games versus North Division teams, 12 games against West Division teams and eight games versus Midwest Division teams) and 16 games against Eastern Conference opponents (eight games versus Atlantic Division teams, four games against Northeast Division teams and four games against East Division teams).
The ‘Dogs will defend their North Division title as they battle the Toronto Marlies (AHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs) 12 times, the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings) and Rochester Americans (AHL affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres) 10 times and the Lake Erie Monsters (AHL affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche) eight times. Hamilton will also play four of the five teams in the Midwest Division as they meet the Chicago Wolves (AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks), Milwaukee Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators), Peoria Rivermen (AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues) and Rockford IceHogs (AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks) for two games each. The ‘Dogs are also scheduled to battle every team in the West Division as the play the Abbotsford Heat (AHL affiliate of the Calgary Flames) four times and the Houston Aeros (AHL affiliate of the Minnesota Wild), Oklahoma City Barons (AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers), San Antonio Rampage (AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers) and Texas Stars (AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars) twice.
The Bulldogs will play the Atlantic Division’s St. John’s team (AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets) eight times while meeting the Northeast Division’s Adirondack Phantoms (AHL affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers) and Albany Devils (AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils) twice. Hamilton will also play the East Division’s Binghamton Senators (AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators) and Syracuse Crunch (AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks) for two games each.
Below is a list of the Bulldogs opponents by division for the 2011-2012 season, with the National Hockey League affiliate in brackets followed by the number of games versus each team (home and away):
2011-2012 Hamilton Bulldogs Opponents
NORTH DIVISION
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) – 5 home / 5 away
Lake Erie Monsters (COL) – 4 home / 4 away
Rochester Americans (BUF) – 5 home / 5 away
Toronto Marlies (TOR) – 6 home / 6 away
MIDWEST DIVISION
Chicago Wolves (VAN) – 1 home / 1 away
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) – 1 home / 1 away
Peoria Rivermen (STL) – 1 home / 1 away
Rockford IceHogs (CHI) – 1 home / 1 away
WEST DIVISION
Abbotsford Heat (CGY) – 2 home / 2 away
Houston Aeros (MIN) – 1 home / 1 away
Oklahoma City Barons (EDM) – 1 home / 1 away
San Antonio Rampage (FLA) – 1 home / 1 away
Texas Stars (DAL) – 1 home / 1 away
ATLANTIC DIVISION
St. John’s (WPG) – 4 home / 4 away
NORTHEAST DIVISION
Adirondack Phantoms (PHI) – 1 home / 1 away
Albany Devils (NJ) – 1 home / 1 away
EAST DIVISION
Binghamton Senators (OTT) – 1 home / 1 away
Syracuse Crunch (ANA) – 1 home / 1 away
The complete schedule will be announced later this summer.