23 replies to this topic

[Panigale]

Chicago, IL – The United States Hockey League today announced that the USHL Board of Directors has approved an increase in the League’s regular season schedule from 60 to 64 games beginning with the 2012-13 season.

Each USHL Member Club will play 32 home games and 32 road games in 2012-13, an increase of two home and two away contests over the 30 home, 30 road game schedule each team is playing this season. The announcement marks the first time the USHL has changed the number of games each team plays in the regular season since it was first designated by USA Hockey as the only Tier 1 junior hockey league in theUnited States in August 2002.

“As the League has expanded over the past several years, it has considered a number of ways to adapt its regular season schedule to the League’s new Member Clubs and geography while still maintaining its traditional rivalries,” said USHL Commissioner and President Skip Prince. “While we will be playing more games in the October to April regular season time frame, we are working to maintain a game and travel schedule that remains consistent with the guidelines set forth in previous seasons – that is, promoting education through limited absence by players from classroom time, continued player commitment to community involvement, and maintaining a proper balance of practice time, off-ice training, and games for the safety and health of players.”

The 2012-13 USHL regular season is set to begin on Friday, September 28^th, 2012 and conclude no later than Saturday, April 20^th, 2013. A committee, appointed under the direction of the USHL Commissioner’s Office, is already in preparations to develop the 2012-13 regular and post-season schedule, to be released this summer.

[hockeypalooza]

Wow.

This stretches the season out a bit. I bet there really aren't many more weeknight or Sunday games.

This year most teams opened on October 1st, right? And it looks like most teams end on April 14? That is a llllooooooonnnnnggggg calendar. And according to that, they will start on Sept 28 next year and go to April 20. They added 4 games and about 10 days to the schedule.

I bet for the average team it adds 1 Friday, 1 Saturday, 1 Sunday and 1 weeknight game is all.

I agree this is pretty grueling for these kids. Must be a grind.

[Storm Chaser]

I agree with the posts on seeing the same teams too many times. I know that the Storm will see Fargo 8 times this year. In a 60 game schedule of a 16 team league, thats ridiculous. Every team should play each other in the league at least once. Surely the league can figure something out to improve this. I understand cost cutting but lets do something different.

[Mr Ricochet]

hockeypalooza, on 10 February 2012 - 03:13 PM, said:

This year most teams opened on October 1st, right? And it looks like most teams end on April 14? That is a llllooooooonnnnnggggg calendar. And according to that, they will start on Sept 28 next year and go to April 20. They added 4 games and about 10 days to the schedule.

Yep, it looks to add at least a week at the end of the season and as you point out they start a bit earlier as well.

For any of you who follow AA or lower pro you know that the schedule is filled with games v geographical opponents. In the CHL and ECHL they have teams playing each other 14-15-16 times!! It seems it's a sign of the times and one of the ways they keep franchises afloat.

Sucks, but it's the way the sport is going right now..........Personally I'm sick I won't see Lincoln or Omaha come through Chicago this year and the nearest city to do so would be Indy if they played the Ice, which is 180 miles away.