Providence's Atlantic Division Back To Seven Teams

AHL Announces Division Alignment for 2010
June 20, 2010

Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, entering their 19th season in the American Hockey League, announced today that they will be a part of a seven-team Atlantic Division when the AHL opens the 2010-11 season. The league will operate with an all-time high of 30 teams in its historic 75th campaign as all 30 National Hockey League clubs will be represented by their own primary AHL affiliate.

After the Atlantic Division grew to eight teams in 2009-10 with the addition of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, it is now back to seven squads with the loss of the Lowell Devils. The P-Bruins will play the majority of their games against Bridgeport, the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Manchester Monarchs, the Portland Pirates, the Springfield Falcons and the Worcester Sharks.

Below is a complete list of the new 2010-11 conferences and divisions, as well as the NHL affiliates of the teams involved.

Eastern Conference:

Atlantic Division - Providence (Boston Bruins), Bridgeport (New York Islanders), Hartford (New York Rangers), Manchester (Los Angeles Kings), Portland (Buffalo Sabres), Springfield (Columbus Blue Jackets) and Worcester (San Jose Sharks)

East Division - Adirondack Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers), Albany Devils (New Jersey Devils), Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators), Charlotte Checkers (Carolina Hurricanes), Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals), Norfolk Admirals (Tampa Bay Lightning), Syracuse Crunch (Anaheim Ducks) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Western Conference:

North Division - Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames), Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings), Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens), Lake Erie Monsters (Colorado Avalanche), Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks), Rochester Americans (Florida Panthers) and Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

West Division - Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers), Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild), Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators), Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton Oilers), Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues), Rockford IceHogs (Chicago Blackhawks), San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes) and Texas Stars (Dallas Stars)

The 2010-11 regular season will begin on October 8 with Providence hosting Springfield at the Dunkin' Donuts Center. The complete schedule will be announced later this summer.

*Information gathered from www.providencebruins.com