The Mariners second season begins with home opener October 11th
BY: Michael Keeley, Maine Mariners
PORTLAND, ME – June 13, 2019 – The Maine Mariners, along with the ECHL released the full schedule for the 2019-20 season on Thursday. The Mariners will begin the season at home on Friday, October 11th against the Adirondack Thunder at the Cross Insurance Arena and will play 36 home games at the Cross Insurance Arena against nine different opponents, two of which they did not play in 2018-19. The Mariners posted a 22-12-1-1 record on home ice last season, the third-best mark in the North Division, and the fifth best in the Eastern Conference. The regular season home finale is March 29th against the Worcester Railers and the final game of the regular season is Sunday, April 5th at Worcester.
The Mariners will once again compete in the ECHL’s North Division along with Adirondack, Worcester, the Reading Royals, the Newfoundland Growlers, and the Brampton Beast. The Manchester Monarchs announced a cease of operations on May 15th and had its membership terminated on May 20th, leaving six teams in the division instead of seven. The Mariners most common opponents will be the Worcester Railers and Adirondack Thunder, each of whom they play 18 times. The Mariners and Railers will split their season series with nine games in each city, while Maine will travel to Glens Falls ten times and host the Thunder for eight. The Mariners will play the defending Kelly Cup champion Newfoundland Growlers 11 times this coming season, seven of the games at home. Rounding out divisional play, the Mariners and Reading Royals meet nine times (six in Reading), and seven matchups are scheduled against Brampton (four home, three away).
Outside the North Division, the Mariners welcome in the South Carolina Stingrays (March 1) and Norfolk Admirals (March 10) of the South Division for the second consecutive season. They’ll also host the Indy Fuel (November 29) and Jacksonville IceMen (January 3-4), inaugural meetings with both organizations. On the road in interdivisional play, the Mariners travel to Norfolk once again and will visit the Wheeling Nailers for the first time in history, a homecoming of sorts for Mariners Head Coach Riley Armstrong, who spent two seasons as an assistant coach there. The Nailers came to Portland last season.
January is Maine’s busiest month, with 15 games scheduled in the first month of 2020. By the day of the week, the Mariners will play 12 home Saturdays, 11 Fridays, six Sundays, five Tuesdays, and just one Monday and Thursday each. Start times will remain 7:00 PM on weekdays, 7:15 PM on Fridays, 6:00 PM on Saturdays, and 3:00 PM on Sundays. Doors will open one hour before start time, one hour and 15 minutes for season ticket holders.
Versions of the schedule in both calendar and list (printable) formats are attached. All game times are subject to change.
Full and half season ticket packages plus group ticket discounts are available now by calling 833-GO-MAINE or visiting the Mariners front office located next to the Cross Insurance Arena at 94 Free Street. Single game tickets will go on sale on September 16th. Registration for Beacon’s Kids Club and the Mariners inaugural summer reading program, “Read with ME” are also underway. More information can be found at MarinersOfMaine.com.
