For the first time since expanding with more West Coast teams, the American Hockey League will have a uniform number of games being played across the league starting in 2022-23.
On Monday afternoon, the AHL Board of Governors announced that the league had come to an agreement for all teams to play 72 regular season games starting in 2022-23. Previously, the Pacific Division teams had played 68 games, while the rest of the league played 76 games mainly due to travel issues. The changes for all teams to play 72 games will begin in the 2022-23 season, but a number of teams will play 72 games in 2021-22, while others will remain with 76-game schedules and the Pacific Division will have 68 games.
The AHL Board of Governors has approved a schedule unification plan that will see every team play 72 games beginning in 2022-23.
Alignment and schedule lengths for 2021-22 have also been set.
Details: https://t.co/RY25ya38VC pic.twitter.com/FFoKPfux0W
— AHL Communications (@AHLPR) June 7, 2021
From the AHL press release:
The following division alignment has been approved for the 2021-22 AHL season:Western Conference
Central DivisionChicago WolvesÂGrand Rapids GriffinsÂIowa WildÂManitoba MooseÂMilwaukee AdmiralsÂRockford IceHogsÂTexas StarsÂPacific DivisionAbbotsfordÂBakersfield CondorsÂColorado EaglesÂHenderson Silver KnightsÂOntario ReignÂSan Diego GullsÂSan Jose BarracudaÂStockton HeatÂTucson RoadrunnersÂEastern ConferenceAtlantic DivisionBridgeport IslandersÂCharlotte CheckersÂHartford Wolf PackÂHershey BearsÂLehigh Valley PhantomsÂProvidence BruinsÂSpringfield ThunderbirdsÂWilkes-Barre/Scranton PenguinsÂNorth DivisionBelleville SenatorsÂCleveland MonstersÂLaval RocketÂRochester AmericansÂSyracuse CrunchÂToronto MarliesÂUtica CometsÂ