Hershey Bears

All Hail the AHL (Schedule)!

Does it really get more AHL than the All Star Game? (Photo Credit: M. Richter)

It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for since June’s NHL release.  With today’s release of the AHL schedule, the 2012-13 hockey puzzle is now complete (the ECHL released their schedule on May 30).  Plans can be made, trips can be plotted, and soon individual tickets will be purchased.

Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the elephant in the room: Depending on how things go between the NHL and NHLPA, the AHL schedule may also be the key to seeing the best hockey in the area for Caps fans come October.  Below are a few important dates to note on the coming season itself, now that the details are out.

Pre-Season:

Hershey Bears fans haven’t been completely in the dark about their fall plans, of course – the preseason has been on the books since August second.  It features home-and-home sets with two fellow members of the East division:

October 3 @ Binghamton, October 5 v. Bingo

October 6 @ Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, October 7 v. WBS

Regular Season:

Season Opens: October 13 at Syracuse Crunch (newly affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning)

First Home Game: October 20 v. Rochester

Flashy CLOSE Venue: December 6, at Verizon Center against the Norfolk Admirals (2012 Calder Cup Champions, newly affiliated with the Anaheim Ducks)

Outdoor Classic: January 20 at Hersheypark Stadium against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (5PM)

All Star Game: Hosted by the Providence Bruins this year, January 27-8.

Flashy Venue: February 24, in Atlantic City against the Albany Devils

International Appeal: Three Canadian teams have games against the Bears this season: The Hamilton Bulldogs, Toronto Marlies, and St. John’s IceCaps

Worth Noting: 11 of the last 14 games in the season will be on the road.  Gone March 22-29, April 5, and April 7-20.  There are single games between each of those away periods.

Last Regular Season Home Game: April 21 v. Manchester Monarchs.

Rivalry Note: In keeping with last year’s theme, the Baby Penguins & Hershey Bears play 12 games this season.  The Outdoor Classic counts as one of Hershey’s 6 home games in the series.

M. Richter

Em is a fan of hockey first and individual teams second, with geographical ties that cross the NHL. She was born in the Midwest, raised along the East Coast, and graduated from a university in Western Canada. A firm believer in context above all else, and a card-carrying on-ice official with USA Hockey, she splits her time between the big picture and the details. When not covering the AHL and ECHL for Caps Outsider, her photography can be found on Behance and Flickr. She also occasionally chimes in about the Hershey Bears on the Power Play Post Show.

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