Omaha Lancers Futures Camp

Starting tonight through Sunday, the United States Hockey League's Omaha Lancers will be at Polar Ice in Grapevine looking for future players for their team that plays in the best junior league in the United States. They will be looking for players that could have a shot of making the team mostly for 2010-2011 season, they not looking for players for this year because their roster for the 2009-2010 season is almost ready to go for the preseason and regular season that are about a month and a half away. Earlier this week the USHL released it's schedule for the USHL Fall Classic which will be hosted by the Sioux City Musketeers in Sioux City, Iowa coming up from September 24-26 which is the weekend before the start of the regular season which will be coming up on October 1.

Here's the schedule for the 2009 USHL Fall Classic. Their will be 2 arenas that will play host to the 21 games where each team will play 3 games (1 per day) during the event.

Here's the website for the event and schedule: www.ushlfallclassic.com

September 24

Chicago Steel VS. Sioux Falls Stampade 9:30 AM @ IBP

Indiana Ice VS. Lincoln Stars 10:00 AM @ TEC

Green Bay Gamblers VS. Des Moines Buccaneers 1:00 PM @ TEC

Youngstown Phantoms VS. Omaha Lancers 1:30 PM @ IBP

USNTDP VS. Tri-City Storm 4:00 PM @ TEC

Waterloo Blackhawks VS. Fargo Force 5:30 PM @ IBP

Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. Sioux City Musketeers 7:00 PM @ TEC

September 25

Youngstown Phantoms VS. Des Moines Buccaneers 9:30 AM @ IBP

Green Bay Gamblers VS. Lincoln Stars 10:00 AM @ TEC

Waterloo Blackhawks VS. Sioux Falls Stampade 1:00 PM @ TEC

Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. Tri-City Storm 1:30 PM @ IBP

Indiana Ice VS. Fargo Force 4:00 PM @ TEC

Chicago Steel VS. Omaha Lancers 5:30 PM @ IBP

USNTDP VS. Sioux City Musketeers 7:00 PM @ TEC

September 26

Green Bay Gamblers VS. Fargo Force 9:30 AM @ IBP

Youngstown Phantoms VS. Tri-City Storm 10:00 AM @ TEC

Indiana Ice VS. Sioux Falls Stampade 1:00 PM @ TEC

USNTDP VS. Des Moines Buccaneers 1:30 PM @ IBP

Chicago Steel VS. Waterloo Blackhawks 4:00 PM @ TEC

Cedar Rapids Roughriders VS. Lincoln Stars 5:30 PM @ IBP

Omaha Lancers VS. Sioux City Musketeers 7:00 PM @ TEC

Arena Code
TEC= Tyson Events Center
IBP= IBP Ice Arena

Sergei Zubov to play for SKA St. Petersburg

It's been confirmed that Sergei Zubov has left the Dallas Stars and to many hockey fans and especially Dallas Stars fans are sad to lose him, what's even more shocking is that he is about to sign with KHL Powerhouse SKA St. Petersburg. Earlier in the summer, it was reported that he was in contact with as many as 8 different teams in the NHL and because of his injuries, he had a tough time finding a long term contract that he could eventually end his career with. He nor his agent said anything about playing in Europe next year and this has made this so surprising, now because in the KHL you have to sign at the home team arena, it won't be official till sometime next week. What little you saw of him for the Dallas Stars this past season is most likely the last you will ever see from him in the NHL. Good luck to Zubov in Russia and hopes that he can end his career on a high note.

As we go through the year in the KHL Which begins on September 10 with a rematch of last year's championship series between AK Bars Kazan and Lokomotiv Yaroslaval. One of the big things I will be looking this season is when we reach the Olympic Hockey Tournament in February to find out how many KHL players make the Olympic teams and how they will do, especially the Russian national team and to a lesser extent the Belarus team.

Here's the tournament groups for the Vancouver Olympics next year.

Group A

1. Canada
6. U.S.A
7. Switzerland
12. Norway

Group B

2. Russia
5. Czech Republic
8. Slovakia
11. Latvia

Group C

3. Sweden (Defending Champions)
4. Finland
9. Belarus
10. Germany

How I will do Central and American Hockey League coverage

American Hockey League

After some ideas on how to do AHL and CHL coverage with their schedule's close to coming out. I have made my mind on how I will do it.

First with the American Hockey League, Since theirs only 3 teams from the southwest, I will cover the Texas Stars, the Houston Aeros and the San Antonio Rampage a lot more then the CHL Teams. First for obvious reasons, they much bigger leagues with players hoping to get a shot in the NHL and the coverage being easier to find and they also in bigger markets. In addition to the rest of the league, I will go more in depth for the rest of the AHL when it comes down big stories that break and keeping up with stats leaders (ESP. the top scores and Goaltenders, plus league standings.) The AHL plays an 80 game schedule with most of the games playing within your division with some games against your division within the Western and Eastern Conference.

Since theirs only 3 teams in the Southwest U.S.A., I will be able to give you the team news all at once allowing more time for coverage of the rest of the league. The 80 schedule for the American Hockey League 2009-2010 season is expected to be out during the first week of August.

In case you haven't seen the division alignment for the 2009-2010 season. Here it is again.

Eastern Conference:

Atlantic Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Hartford Wolfpack
Lowell Devils
Manchester Monarchs
Portland Pirates
Providence Bruins
Springfield Falcons
Worcester Sharks

East Division
Adirondack Phantoms
Albany River Rats
Binghamton Senators
Hershey Bears
Norfolk Admirals
Syracuse Crunch
W-B/Scranton Penguins

Western Conference

North Division
Abbotsford Heat
Grand Rapids Griffins
Hamilton Bulldogs
Lake Erie Monsters
Manitoba Moose
Rocester Americans
Toronto Marlies

West Division
Chicago Wolves
Houston Aeros
Milwaukee Admirals
Peoria Rivermen
Rockford Ice Hogs
San Antonio Rampage
Texas Stars

Central Hockey League

As for the CHL, I will cover the league in 2 parts. It will be divided into the North and South Zones due to the high number of teams in the region. For the North Zone, it will be the 2 D/FW Teams in the defending CHL Presidents Cup Champions Texas Brahmas and the expansion Allen Americans, in addition, it will also include the Tulsa Oilers and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs which play in the league's Northern Conference. As for the South Zone, it will be the other 5 teams in the Lone Star State, the 3 teams down south in the Corpus Christi Icerayz, the Laredo Bucks and the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees. Also the 2 west Texas teams as the Odessa Jackalopes and the Amarillo Gorillas. I will take turns covering the leagues (Mostly weekly) during the regular season then a lot more during the playoffs depending who gets in and how far they may go.

As for the league schedule, it's a 64 game schedule that's expected to come out some time this week as the season usually gets underway sometime in mid October and is usually one of the last pro hockey leagues to start it's season in North America. The biggest change this year is that the Divisions are gone, it's just going to be straight Northern and Southern Conferences.

Here's the Conference Alignment for the 2009-2010 season in case you haven't seen it yet.

Northern Conference
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Colorado Eagles
Mississippi Riverkings
Missouri Mavericks
Rapid City Rush
Tulsa Oilers
Wichita Thunder

Southern Conference
Allen Americans
Amarillo Gorillas
Arizona Sundogs
Corpus Christi Icerayz
Laredo Bucks
Odessa Jackalopes
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Texas Brahmas

The American Hockey League (AHL) coming to Oklahoma City?

Theirs been rumors over the last couple of weeks that the Edmonton Oilers may consider moving their AHL Franchise which is currently in Springfield, Massachusetts called the Falcons may consider moving their team. Right now, the Falcons team are down to the final year of their agreement with the city of Springfield with the Mass Mutual Center which is their home arena about possibly bringing their team to the Ford Center. It hasn't worked either on and off the ice, not making the playoffs since the 2003-04 season and having problems getting quality players to their team. Right now, their a long way off from making a decision on where they are going to stay in Springfield, Mass or move elsewhere right now. I will keep track if theirs any movement on this story.

Here's a show to check out.

Just before the NHL Draft, I recently found out about a show that features the top prospects that play in different junior leagues, the NCAA and the AHL and all the major events across North America. It's called the Pipeline Show which stars Guy Flaming and Dean Menard as they take into the world of prospect hockey to take a look at who could have a shot of making the NHL in their future.

At different parts of the year, they have the "Grand Slam Events" as they biggest focus of the year. These events are the NCAA Frozen Four in April, the CHL Memorial Cup in May, the AHL Calder Cup in June, the NHL Draft in the Summer and the World Junior Championships during the Winter Holidays.

This show comes on Tuesday nights from 8-10 PM where you can listen on the Internet and also have a huge media archive where it goes back most of it's history where you can listen to different interviews from the shows history. The show is based in Edmonton, Alberta and the radio station is called the Team 1260.

Here's some links to check out.

The Pipeline Show: www.thepipelineshow.com

Team 1260 in Edmonton: www.theteam1260.com

The Pipeline Show Blog: www.thepipelineshow.blogspot.com

Dean Millard Bio: www.thepipelineshow.com/team_dm.php

Guy Flaming Bio: www.thepipelineshow.com/team_gf.php

Southwest Quickhits

For you hockey fans, this is the slowest part of the year and I will post some intresting stories of note that have been out for the past few days. A few of them include the departure of Sergei Zubov, the Texas Tornado and Wichita Falls Wildcats schedules for the NAHL Blane Showcase.

Sergei Zubov leaving the Dallas Stars

Since the 1996-1997 season, Dallas Stars Defensemen Sergei Zubov has been the defenseive corner stone of the franchise by becoming a fan favorite and one of the best Russian Defensemen of all time. Since arriving, he has had some impressive stats including an impressive 11 seasons with 30 or more assists, numerous nights where he helped set up players like Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, and Brett Hull during big time playoffs and during the different playoff runs, he had 7 assists during the 1999 Stanley Cup Run and then the next year when they got back to the Final, another impressive 19 assists during the 2 Cup Runs.

He also had his best goal scoring years during the 2005-2006 season where he scored 13 goals the year after the lock out and had double digit goal seasons of 5 other occasions during the regular season. He's defenatly going to be missed as a Dallas Stars member and right now, reports are coming out that he's been talking with around 7 or 8 teams. I wish him well in his recovery and given healthy, he's can still do a lot on and off the ice for a team that can be a top 4 defensemen in the NHL.

Texas Tornado and Wichita Falls Wildcats Showcase Schedule

Showcase schedule for the event in Blane, Minnesota from September 16-19 are now out that will open the regular season for both teams. The rink name is the Schwan Super Rink

Here's the website for the National Sports Center in Blane, Minnesota which holds the Schwan Super Rink. www.nscsports.org

Texas Tornado
9/16: VS. Marquette Rangers 5:00 PM
9/17: VS. Bismarck Bobcats 4:30 PM
9/18: @ Owatonna Express 7:15 PM
9/19: @ Alpena Ice Diggers 1:00 PM

Wichita Falls Wildcats
9/16: VS. North Iowa Outlaws 7:15 PM
9/17: @ Alpena Ice Diggers 1:45 PM
9/18: @ Marquette Rangers 1:45 PM
9/19: VS. Janesville Jets 3:30 PM

In addidition, the Oklahoma University Club Team has announced pre-season games against both the Texas Tornado and the Wichita Falls Wildcats coming up in Early September. In Frisco, The Sooners will be playing the Tornado on both the September 5 and 6 at the Dr. Pepper Arena, as for the Wichita Falls Wildcats will be played on September 13 at the Kay Yeager Coliseum.

Both the Texas Tornado and Wichita Falls Wildcats will play exhitbition games against each other on September 11 and 12. The 9/11 game will be in Frisco while the 9/12 game will be in Wichita Falls. Times for all the pre-season games will be out soon.

In addidition, the full schedule for the O.U. 2009-2010 Season that was just relased. After the preseason games, the regular season will start on September 25. The O.U. Ice hockey team is a division 1 team in the American Collegiate Hockey Association:

American Collegiate Hockey Association: www.achahockey.org

Here's the website for the OU Ice Hockey Team: www.ouhockey.com

9/25: VS. Lindenwood 7:30 PM
9/26: VS. Lindenwood 6:30 PM
10/9-11: ACHA DIV 1 Showcase in Youngstown, Ohio
10/16: @ Iowa State 7:30 PM
10/17: @ Iowa State 8:15 PM
10/30: @ Indiana 7:30 PM
10/31: @ Indiana 7:30 PM
11/5: VS. Oakland U. 7:30 PM
11/6: VS. North Dakota St. 6:30 PM
11/7: VS. North Dakota St. 7:30 PM
11/13: @ Illinois 7:30 PM
11/14: @ Illinois 7:30 PM
11/20: VS. Mercyhurst 7:30 PM
11/21: VS. Mercyhurst 7:30 PM
11/27: @ Arizona St. 7:35 PM
11/28: @ Arizona St. 5:35 PM
12/4: VS. Central Oklahoma U. 7:30 PM
12/5: @ Central Oklahoma U. 7:30 PM
12/11: @ Lindenwood 7:00 PM
12/12: @ Lindenwood 4:00 PM
1/10: VS. Arizona St. 7:30 PM
1/11: VS. Arizona St. 6:30 PM
1/15: VS. Minot St. 7:30 PM
1/16: VS. Minot St. 6:30 PM
1/22: @ Rhode Island 7:30 PM
1/23: @ Rhode Island 7:30 PM
1/29: @ Liberty 7:30 PM
1/30: @ Liberty 7:30 PM
2/5: VS. Indiana 7:30 PM
2/6: VS. Indiana 6:30 PM
2/19: @ Central Oklahoma 7:30 PM
2/20: VS. Central Oklahoma 6:30 PM
2/26: VS. Liberty 7:30 PM
2/27: VS. Liberty 6:30 PM

ACHA DIV 1 National Championship: 3/6-9 in Chicago, Illinois

2009-2010 Dallas Stars Schedule

Well here it is, the Dallas Stars schedule for the 2009-2010 season was officially released at 2:00 PM today and your Stars will be starting the season on October 3 against the Nashville Predators at the AAC. Other big games include the dates against the Detroit Red Wings are on November 18 and 30th, in addition they will get them on December 19 and January 16. Also, this year's New Year's Eve game will be taking on the Anaheim Ducks this year.

Some of the other big dates throughout the NHL include the 2010 NHL Winter Classic will be between the Boston Bruins and the Philadelphia Flyers and the rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Final between January 31 and March 22. As for the European Openers on October 2 and 3 between the Detroit Red Wings and St. Louis Blues which will take place in Stockholm, Sweden while in nearby Helsinki, Finland will be the Florida Panthers and the Chicago Blackhawks. Finally the Olympic Break will be taking place starting on Valentines Day and then the season will resume on March 1. Overall the regular season will start on October 1 and will end on April 11.

All Start Times are Central Time

October
10/3 VS. Nashville Predators 7:00 PM
10/6 @ Edmonton Oilers 8:30 PM
10/9 @ Calgary Flames 8:00 PM
10/11 @ Vancouver Canucks 9:00 PM
10/14 VS. Nashville Predators 7:30 PM
10/16 VS. Boston Bruins 7:30 PM
10/17 @ Chicago Blackhawks 7:30 PM
10/19 VS. Los Angeles Kings 7:30 PM
10/21 @ Anaheim Ducks 9:00 PM
10/22 @ Los Angeles Kings 9:30 PM
10/24 @ St. Louis Blues 7:00 PM
10/28 VS. Toronto Maple Leafs 7:00 PM
10/30 VS. Florida Panthers 7:30 PM
10/31 @ Nashville Predators 7:00 PM

November
11/4 VS. Calgary Flames 7:30 PM
11/6 VS. Vancouver Canucks 7:30 PM
11/7 @ Minnesota Wild 7:00 PM
11/12 @ San Jose Sharks 9:30 PM
11/14 @ Phoenix Coyotes 7:00 PM
11/18 @ Detroit Red Wings 6:30 PM
11/19 VS. Columbus Blue Jackets 7:30 PM
11/21 VS. New Jersey Devils 7:00 PM
11/23 VS. Carolina Hurricanes 7:30 PM
11/25 VS. St. Louis Blues 7:30 PM
11/27 @ Phoenix Coyotes 8:00 PM
11/28 VS. Tampa Bay Lighting 7:00 PM
11/30 @ Detroit Red Wings 6:30 PM

December
12/3 VS. Anaheim Ducks 7:30 PM
12/5 VS. Edmonton Oilers 1:00 PM
12/8 @ Anaheim Ducks 9:00 PM
12/11 @ San Jose Sharks 9:30 PM
12/12 @ Los Angeles Kings 9:30 PM
12/16 @ Carolina Hurricanes 6:00 PM
12/17 @ Atlanta Thrashers 6:00 PM
12/19 VS. Detroit Red Wings 2:00 PM
12/21 VS. San Jose Sharks 7:30 PM
12/23 VS. Columbus Blue Jackets 7:30 PM
12/26 @ Colorado Avalanche 8:00 PM
12/29 VS. Chicago Blackhawks 7:30 PM
12/31 VS. Anaheim Ducks 7:00 PM

January
1/2 VS. Vancouver Canucks 1:00 PM
1/5 @ New Jersey Devils 6:00 PM
1/6 @ NY Rangers 6:00 PM
1/8 VS. NY Islanders 7:30 PM
1/10 @ Columbus Blue Jackets 6:00 PM
1/12 @ Philadelphia Flyers 6:00 PM
1/14 @ Montreal Canadaians 6:30 PM
1/16 VS. Detroit Red Wings 1:00 PM
1/18 VS. Minnesota Wild 7:00 PM
1/21 @ Vancouver Canucks 9:00 PM
1/22 @ Edmonton Oilers 8:00 PM
1/24 @ Colorado Avalanche 7:00 PM
1/27 VS. Calgary Flames 7:30 PM
1/29 VS. Colorado Avalanche 7:30 PM
1/31 VS. Phoenix Coyotes 5:00 PM

February
2/2 VS. Minnesota Wild 7:30 PM
2/4 @ Columbus Blue Jackets 6:00 PM
2/6 VS. Phoenix Coyotes 5:00 PM
2/9 @ Chicago Blackhawks 7:30 PM
2/11 @ Calgary Flames 8:30 PM
2/13 @ Phoenix Coyotes 7:00 PM

Break for the Winter Olympic Tournament in Vancouver, B.C. from February 14 Thru March 1

March
3/2 VS. Los Angeles Kings 7:30 PM
3/4 VS. St. Louis Blues 7:30 PM
3/6 @ Pittsburgh Penguins 12:00 PM
3/8 @ Washington Capitals 6:00 PM
3/10 @ Buffalo Sabres 6:00 PM
3/12 VS. Los Angeles Kings 7:30 PM
3/14 VS. Colorado Avalanche 2:00 PM
3/16 VS. San Jose Sharks 7:30 PM
3/18 VS. Philadelphia Flyers 7:30 PM
3/20 VS. Ottawa Senators 1:00 PM
3/21 VS. Phoenix Coyotes 6:00 PM
3/23 @ Nashville Predators 7:00 PM
3/25 @ San Jose Sharks 9:30 PM
3/27 @ Los Angeles Kings 9:30 PM
3/29 @ Anaheim Ducks 9:00 PM
3/31 VS. San Jose Sharks 7:30 PM

April
4/2 VS. Edmonton Oilers 7:30 PM
4/3 @ St. Louis Blues 7:00 PM
4/6 VS. Chicago Blackhawks 7:30 PM
4/8 VS. Anaheim Ducks 7:30 PM
4/10 @ Minnesota Wild 7:00 PM


For a breakdown of the schedule, here's a link from the Dallas Stars Website.
www.dallasstars.com/team/app?articleid=442744&page=NewsPage&service=page

2009-2010 NHL Schedule

We are just a day away from the releasing of the 2009-2010 NHL Schedule. Some of the big events will include the 2010 Winter Olympic Tournament which will be taking place in Feb. and the announcement of the 2010 NHL Winter Classic which has been confirmed that it will be taking place at Fenway Park in Boston where the Boston Bruins will be hosting the outdoor game that has been fantastic marketing and promoting the sport since the lock out ended in the summer of 2005.

As for individual teams, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the defending Cup Champions while the Detroit Red Wings came short in the 1st Stanley Cup Rematch in 25 years. For your Dallas Stars, the Stars are looking for a rebound after an injury plagued 2008-2009 season and also new head coach Marc Crawford and GM in former NHL Superstar Joe Nieuwendyk after what has been so far has been a relative slow off season. This was some what good, because I didn't think they needed to much to a roster that reached the Western Conference Semifinals just last year.

Here's the things to watch out for the Dallas Stars Schedule:

Month of October: This is always a big deal to find out how the season will start, espically if it's a heavy road or home schedule to determine what kind of start to expect. If it's a heavy home month, the team will look to get off to a fast start and make the rest of the Pacific Division to warn them that we are back. If it's a heavy road schedule, they will need to weather what problems that may come early and make sure that everyone avoids any potential injury problems.

The Holidays: Usually, the Holiday time is the slowest part of the season. However, with the Olympic Tournament in play and a 2 week break for the Olympic Tournament where no league games will be played, The league officials are going to pack in a very tight schedule to make up the for the break and make sure not to have the end of the regular season go well into April which happened back with the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy back in 2006. This will be a critical test that could make or break a teams season depending how they will do during the holiday season

New Year's Eve: This is more a symbolic deal more then anything, but the New Years Eve Game has been a big team tradition for most of the Stars History.

Mid March and April: The stretch run is always big for everyone. This always determines everything from Division Titles, Home Ice and possibly the #1 seeds and home ice advantage for the playoffs. If your team is playing great, then you will be fighting for the best playoff position possible, but a division title and your one of the top 3 seeds automatically. For teams that are not playing so well, they could be fighting just to get in. Everyone plays desperately this time of year and they's never an easy game near the end of the season.

Here's the Dallas Stars Preseason Schedule: All Start Times are Central

9/16 VS. Tampa Bay Lighting 7:30 PM
9/17 @ Colorado Avalanche 8:00 PM @ Pepsi Center
9/19 @ St. Louis Blues TBD @ Scottrade Center
9/22 VS. Florida Panthers 7:30 PM
9/23 @ Florida Panthers 6:30 PM @Bank Atlantic Center
9/24 VS. Colorado Avalanche 7:30 PM
9/26 VS. St. Louis Blues 7:00 PM
9/30 @ Texas Stars (AHL) 7:00 PM @ Cedar Park Center

Training Camp will begin on September 12th at the Frisco Starscenter with the Dallas Stars Ice Breaker meet and greet event just before training camp which should be at the Dallas Gallery.

Look for the Full Regular Season Schedule for the Dallas Stars sometime tomorrow night

Don't expect much comming up

I'm going to help my sister move to Houston coming up this weekend and be down their for a little while so I won't be able to submit many updates next week. However, with the league schedules coming out across NA for the 2009-2010 season. I will post them as I can find them after I get back to Dallas.

2009-2010 Wichita Falls Wildcats Schedule

Here's the schedule for the 2009-2010 Wichita Falls Wildcats schedule that will start at the annual NAHL Blane Showcase in Blane, Minnesota. The home portion of their season will start up on September 25 against the Springfield Jr. Blues.

All Home Games are at the Kay Yeager Coliseum in Wichita Falls, Texas and the start times will out soon.

September
9/16-9/19 @NAHL Blane Showcase Blane, Minnesota
9/25 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
9/26 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues

October
10/2 VS. St. Louis Bandits
10/3 VS. St. Louis Bandits
10/9 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
10/10 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
10/16 VS. Texas Tornado
10/17 VS. Texas Tornado
10/23 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
10/24 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
10/30 @ Wenatchee Wild
10/31 @ Wenatchee Wild

November
11/13 @ Topeka Roadrunners
11/14 @ Topeka Roadrunners
11/20 @ Texas Tornado
11/21 @ Texas Tornado
11/27 VS. Texas Tornado
11/28 VS. Texas Tornado

December
12/2 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
12/4 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
12/5 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
12/11 @ Texas Tornado
12/12 @ Texas Tornado
12/18 @ Springfield Jr. Blues
12/19 @ Springfield Jr. Blues
12/20 @ Springfield Jr. Blues
12/31 @ Topeka Roadrunners

NAHL Winter Break will be from December 20-28

January
1/1 @ Topeka Roadrunners
1/2 @ Topeka Roadrunners
1/6 VS. Wenatchee Wild
1/8 VS. Wenatchee Wild
1/9 VS. Wenatchee Wild
1/15 @ St. Louis Bandits
1/16 @ St. Louis Bandits
1/22 @ Texas Tornado
1/23 @ Texas Tornado
1/29 VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
1/30 VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs

February
2/5 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
2/6 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
2/12 @ St. Louis Bandits
2/13 @ St. Louis Bandits
2/14 @ St. Louis Bandits
2/17 VS. St. Louis Bandits
2/19 VS. St. Louis Bandits
2/20 VS. St. Louis Bandits
2/26 VS. Texas Tornado
2/27 VS. Texas Tornado

March
3/6 @ Wenatchee Wild
3/7 @ Wenatchee Wild
3/12 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
3/13 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
3/19 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
3/20 VS. Topeka Roadrunners

Texas Tornado 2009-2010 Schedule

The schedule for the North American Hockey League was revelied a couple weeks ago and here's the schedule for the Texas Tornado when the season starts in Mid-September with the League's Showcase in Blaine, Minnesota.

All Home Games are at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco, Start Times will be relased later this summer.

Personally, I'm not a big fan of how the North American Hockey League does the schedule. Way to many games against teams within the division and they will play only a handful of other teams during the year (Mostly at the Blane Showcase). The League needs to find a way to where teams can play more teams around the league during the season. The USHL and the major juniors do a much better job at this and it tiresome playing the same teams over and over, besides, it creates more exictment. The NHL tried this after the lockout and the fans wanted more balance. It's amazing that the fans of the NAHL Teams haven't demanded this for a long time.

I hope to have the Wichita Falls Wildcats Schedule up soon. I will also have teams from the AHL and CHL when those come out.

September
9/16-9/19 @ NAHL Showcase Blane, Minnesota
9/25 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
9/26 VS. Topeka Roadrunners

October
10/2 @ Topeka Roadrunners
10/3 @ Topeka Roadrunners
10/9 @ St. Louis Bandits
10/10 @ St. Louis Bandits
10/16 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats
10/17 @ Wichita Fallas Wildcats
10/23 VS. St. Louis Bandits
10/24 VS. St. Louis Bandits
10/29 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues

November
11/1 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
11/6 @ Wenatchee Wild
11/7 @ Wenatchee Wild
11/13 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
11/14 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
11/20 VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats
11/21 VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats
11/27 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats
11/28 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats

December
12/4 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
12/5 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
12/11 VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats
12/12 VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats
12/18 @ Topeka Roadrunners
12/19 @ Topeka Roadrunners

League Winter Break from December 20-28

Janaury
1/8 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
1/9 VS. Topeka Roadrunners
1/15 VS. Wenatchee Wild
1/16 VS. Wenatchee Wild
1/22 VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats
1/23 VS. Wichita Falls Wildcats
1/29 @ Topeka Roadrunners
1/30 @ Topeka Roadrunners

Febarury
2/3 VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
2/5 VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
2/6 VS. Fairbanks Ice Dogs
2/12 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
2/13 @ Fairbanks Ice Dogs
2/19 @ Wenatchee Wild
2/20 @ Wenatchee Wild
2/26 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats
2/27 @ Wichita Falls Wildcats

March
3/5 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
3/6 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
3/7 VS. Springfield Jr. Blues
3/12 @ Springfield Jr. Blues
3/13 @ Springfield Jr. Blues
3/14 @ Springfield Jr. Blues
3/18 VS. St. Louis Bandits
3/19 VS. St. Louis Bandits
3/20 VS. St. Louis Bandits
3/26 @ St. Louis Bandits
3/27 @ St. Louis Bandits

CHL and AHL Conference Alignment for 2009-2010

Two of the top Minor Leagues that hockey fans in the Southwest that they are the most fimilar with, the American Hockey League (AHL) and the Central Hockey League (CHL) have announced their Divisional Alignment for the 2009-2010 season.

American Hockey League (AHL)

For the American Hockey League, the addition of the Texas Stars and several teams moving over the course of the off season have made a few changes to the league for this year.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Hartford Wolfpack
Lowell Devils
Manchester Monarchs
Portland Pirates
Providence Bruins
Springfield Falcons
Worchester Sharks

East Division
Adirondack Phantoms
Albany River Rats
Bingamton Senators
Hershey Bears (Defending Champions)
Norfolk Admrials
Syracuse Crunch
W-B/Scranton Penguins

Western Conference

North Division
Abbotsfield Heat
Grand Rapids Griffins
Hamilton Bulldogs
Lake Erie Monsters
Manitoba Moose
Rochester Americans
Toronto Marlies

West Division
Chicago Wolves
Houston Aeros
Milwaukee Admirals
Peoria Rivermen
Rockford Icehogs
San Antonio Rampage
Texas Stars

The season will start on October 2 and the schedule will be coming out soon.

The 3 Texas teams will play in the West Division, while the Adirondack Phantoms have moved from Philadelphia to New York, the Abbotsford Heat have moved from Molina, Illinois to Abbotsford, B.C. and the Iowa Chops have suspended operations for the 2009-2010 season while they work out their NHL Affiliation Problems.

No changes to the playoff format with the top 4 teams in all 4 Divisions will go.

Central Hockey League (CHL)

With 3 teams annoucning that they will suspend operations this season in the Oklahoma City Blazers, New Mexico Scorpions and the Rocky Mountain Rage sitting out this year while getting off the ice issues resolved. 15 teams will take the ice where the North and South Conferences will remain, but the Divisions are gone. No more Northeast, Southeast, Southwest or Northwest Divisions. It will be straight South and North Conferences this season as the 7 Texas teams will make up the South along with the Arizona Sundogs while teams like the Tulsa Oilers and the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs will join the North Conference along with the expansion Missouri Mavericks.

The playoff format will stay unchanged while the top 5 teams in both conferences will still go to the playoffs in both Conferences.

North Conference
Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs
Colorado Eagles
Mississippi Riverkings
Missouri Mavericks (Expansion)
Rapid City Rush
Tulsa Oilers
Wichita Thunder

South Conference
Allen Americans (Expansion)
Amarillo Gorillas
Arizona Sundogs
Corpus Christi Icerayz
Laredo Bucks
Odessa Jackalopes
Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees
Texas Brahmas (Defending Champions)

North American Junior League Schedule and Divisional Alignment Part 2 of 3

This is the 2nd part of the Divisional Alignment and the Schedules that have been out already. They are 10 Junior A Leagues across Canada.

British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL)

The BCHL has released their regular season back on June 24 and they will be 17 teams playing this year with the return of the Williams Lake Tiberwolves who were away after an arena dispute that kept them out of the league last year. BCHL'S Regular Season will get underway on September 11.

www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=1413&leagueID=2393&page=36491&stype=2

Divisional Alignment

Costal Conference
Alberni Valley Bulldogs
Burnaby Express
Cowichan Valley Capitals
Langley Cheifs
Nanimo Clippers
Powell River Kings
Surrey Eagles
Victoria Grizzlies

Interior Conference
Merritt Centennials
Penticton Vees
Prince George Spruce Kings
Quesnel Millionares
Salom Arm Silverbacks
Trail Smoke Eaters
Vernon Vipers (Defending League Champions)
Westside Warriors
Williams Lake Timberwolves (Return after a Year Absence)

Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL)

For the AJHL, they will also get underway on September 11 as 16 teams will hope to knock off the league champions Grande Prairie Storm as the pre season will get underway on August 25 as 3 teams the Spruce Groove Saints, Sherwood Park Crusaders and the St. Albert Steel will host 4 team preseason tournaments that will have both AJHL and BCHL Teams playing in them. Also, the league's showcase will take place from October 1-3.

www.ajhl.ca/news/2009/06/29/ajhl-unveils-200910-league-schedule

Here's the Division Aliment

North Division
Bonnyville Pontiacs
Drayton Valley Thunder
Ft. Mcmurray Oil Barons
Grande Prairie Storm (Defending League Champions)
Lloydminster Bobcats
Sherwood Park Crusaders
Spruce Groove Saints
St. Albert Steel

South Division
Brooks Bandits
Calgary Canucks
Calgary Royals
Camrose Kodiaks
Canmore Eagles
Drumheller Dragons
Okotoks Oilers
Olds Grizzlies

Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL)

Play in the SJHL will get underway on September 18 as all 12 teams will challenge the Humboldt Broncos have been the class of the league winning the SJHL Title the last 3 years in a row and have been to the RBC Cup National Championship game the last 2 years and winning it in 2008. A 58 game schedule will be underway as the divisions remain unchanged.

www.sjhl.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=1542

The Itech Conference is the North while the Sherwood Conference is the South.

Itech Conference (North)
Nipawin Hawks
La Ronge Ice Wolves
Melfort Mustangs
Flin Foln Bombers
Humboldt Broncos (Defending Champions)
Battlefords North Stars

Sherwood Conference (South)
Kindersley Klippers
Melville Millonares
Estevan Bruins
Norte Dame Hounds
Yorkton Terriers
Weyburn Red Wings

Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL)

A new team will be entering the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in the Steinbach Pistons. Them and 11 other teams will be starting their season on September 11 with a 62 game schedule and the ending on Feb. 21 and the Dauphin Kings will be hosting this year's RBC Cup coming up in May.

www.mjhlhockey.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=1444

Addison Division
Winnipeg Saints
Selkirk Steelers
Winkler Flyers
Winnipeg South Blues
Beausejour Blades
Steinbach Pistons (Expansion)

Sherwood Division
Portage Terriers
Dauphin Kings
OCN Blizzard
Wayway Wolverines
Neepawa Natives
Swan Valley Stampeders

North American Junior League Schedule and Divisional Alignment Part 1 of 2

A few of the Junior Leagues across North America have been coming out over the last few weeks as most of these leagues will get underway any form mid to late September. Here's a look at a few that are already out. Any changes regarding Divisions, Teams entering or leaving different leagues will also be posted.

Part 1 of this post will contain the U.S.A. Based Leagues and the Major Juniors. Part 2 will have the Canadian Junior A Leagues.

U.S.A. Juniors

United States Hockey League (USHL)

The United States Hockey League hasn't come out yet, but their opening event called the USHL Fall Classic which will be taking place from September 24-26 in Sioux City, Iowa. Two teams that have been mainstays in the NAHL will be switching to the USHL this season as the Youngstown Phantoms and the USNTDP will be joining them for the 1st time increasing the number of teams to 14.

www.ushlfallclassic.com

With the Youngstown Phantoms and USNTDP entering the league. Here's the new divisional alignment.

East Division
Cedar Rapids Roughriders
Chicago Steel
Green Bay Gamblers
Indiana Ice (Defending Champions)
USNTDP (Moved from NAHL)
Waterloo Blackhawks
Youngstown Phantoms (Moved from NAHL)

West Division
Des Moines Buccaneers (Moved from East Division)
Fargo Force
Lincoln Stars
Omaha Lancers
Sioux City Musketeers
Sioux Falls Stampade
Tri-City Storm

North American Hockey League (NAHL)

19 teams will play in the North American Hockey League Season as the Texas Tornado are back after a year off and a new team called the Janesville Jets will be making their debut. A few teams will start the season on September 11 with the NAHL Blaine Showcase taking place from September 16-19 that will kick off the season for most of the teams.

www.nahl.com/schedule0910.cfm

The North American Hockey League has made a bunch of changes regarding Divisional Alignment as they will have 3 divisions of 5 teams and 1 division of 4 teams.

North Division
Alpena Ice Diggers
Janesville Jets (Expansion Team)
Marquette Rangers
Motor City Machine
Traverse City North Stars

Central Division
Albert Lea Thunder
Alexandria Blizzard
Bismarck Bobcats
North Iowa Outlaws
Owatonna Express

South Division
Springfield Jr. Blues
St. Louis Bandits (Defending Champions)
Texas Tornado
Topeka Roadrunners
Wichita Falls Wildcats

West Division
Alaska Avalanche
Fairbanks Ice Dogs
Kenai River Brown Bears
Wenatchee Wild

Major Juniors

Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL)

So far, only the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League has revelled their schedule in which their season will get underway on September 10 with the defending champions Drummondville Voltigeurs while the rest of the league will get underway on September 11.

www.lhjmq.qc.ca/lang_en/index.php?page=232&id_nouvelle=2134

Also, the Divisional Alinment will stay the same for next year.

West Division
Gatineau Olympqiues
Montreal De Junior
Rouyn-Nornda Huskies
Val-dor Floures

Central Division
Drummondville Voltigeurs (Defending Champions)
Lewiston Maineiacs
Shawinigan Cataractes
Victoriaville Tigers

East Division
Baie-Comeau Drakkar
Chicoutimi Saugeneens
Quebec City Ramparts
Rimouski Oceanic

Atlantic Division
Acadie-Bathrust Titans
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Halifax Mooseheads
Moncton Wildcats
P.E.I. Rockets
St. John Seadogs

Western Hockey League (WHL) and Ontario Hockey League (OHL)

Schedules for the WHL and OHL haven't come out yet. However, both leagues divisional aliment will stay the same.

Eastern Conference

East Division
Saskatoon Blades
Brandon Wheat Kings
Swift Current Broncos
Prince Albert Raiders
Regina Pats
Moose Jaw Warriors

Central Division
Calgary Hitmen
Medicine Hat Tigers
Kootenay Ice
Lethbridge Hurricanes
Edmonton Oil Kings
Red Deer Rebels

Western Conference

B.C. Division
Vancouver Giants
Kelowna Rockets (Defending Champions)
Kamloops Blazers
Prince George Cougars
Chilliwack Bruins

U.S. Division
Tri-City Americans
Spokane Cheifs
Seattle Thunderbirds
Everett Silvertips
Portland Winterhawks

Ontario Hockey League

Eastern Conference

East Division
Belleville Bulls
Ottawa 67s
Peterborough Petes
Oshawa Generals
Kingston Frontenacs

Central Division
Brampton Battalion
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Barrie Colts
Niagara Icedogs
Sudbury Wolves

Western Conference

Midwest Division
London Knights
Guelph Storm
Erie Otters
Owen Sound Attack
Kitchener Rangers

West Division
Windsor Spitfires (Defending League and Memorial Cup Champions)
Saginaw Spirit
Plymouth Whalers
Sarnia Sting
Sault St. Marie Greyhounds

NHL Free Agents

Today's the 1st day of the Free Agent Signing period and the Dallas Stars have made their first big move by keeping Winger Jere Lehtinen and signing him to a one year contract worth $1.5 Million with some incentives that could total as much as $1 Million dollars for next season. This is a great move for the team as even because of his injuries, he was still able to make an impact by scoring 8 goals and had 16 assists last season while despite a lot less playing time, he's still a staple of the team's success and has found himself helping a lot of the younger forwards starting to become big time play makers on the Stars like Loui Eriksson and Mike Ribeiro.

Don't expect the Stars to get too involved in the free agent market as the Stars with the rooster they have could be close to at least challenge Detroit for the Western Conference Title and possibly the Stanley Cup both last season and this season depending what the roster they will have come October when the season get's underway.

Other Free Agents

Some of the big names to watch for is Marian Hossa going to the Chicago Blackhawks who scored 40 goals for the Detroit Red Wings this past season. This could be the player that could end the Blackhawks Stanley Cup drought since the early 60s. This is a player that has had some bad luck in recent years.

First in 2007, he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins then last year, he signed with the Red Wings to have a stronger shot to win the Cup where both teams lost in the final. Could the anwser be with Patrick Kane and Jonathan Towes in Chicago?

It could definitely be with the offensive duo as they will have a combined 99 goals last year during the regular season. In both speed and the scoring ability the Red Wings, as both Kane and Towes get more experienced, they will give teams like the Red Wings and the Stars to put up a great fight next year out in the Western Conference.

Odessa Jackalope to play in World Series of Poker

Odessa Jackalopes Goalie Jeremy Symington has clinched a seat for the World Series of Poker for the 2nd straight year. Getting in by playing in a series of online tournaments, he has turned his hobby into one that has helped play in some big tournaments over the years and this is his 2nd year in a row to make the tournament and it turns out, hes no push over. He finished 584th out of over 6600 players and won an impressive $23,160 last year and is hoping to do even better this year. The tournament begins on Friday and the 1st round goes till July 6.

To follow the tournament, log on to www.wsop.com