AHL REALIGNMENT

The interstate – inter-franchise rivalry between the Hartford Wolf Pack and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers is about to get a whole lot more intense. The AHL today announced the involuntary suspension of the Iowa Chops franchise. That plus some teams relocating etc, led the Board of Governors to realign the conferences and as a result they moved the Sound Tigers into the Atlantic Division. With the likelihood that ex-Pack captain Greg Moore will be with Sound Tigers, that should just add to the intensity of the relationship between the two clubs. The Pack and Sound Tigers have not been divisional rivals since the 2001-02 and 2002-03 campaigns, when both played out of the East Division

Here’s the official release:

American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced that the league’s Board of Governors has approved the following conference and division alignment for the AHL’s 2009-10 season (NHL affiliates in parentheses):

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)
Lowell Devils (NJ)
Manchester Monarchs (LA)
Portland Pirates (BUF)
Providence Bruins (BOS)
Springfield Falcons (EDM)
Worcester Sharks (SJ)

East Division
Adirondack Phantoms (PHI)
Albany River Rats (CAR)
Binghamton Senators (OTT)
Hershey Bears (WSH)
Norfolk Admirals (TB)
Syracuse Crunch (CBJ)
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)

Western Conference
North Division
Abbotsford Heat (CGY)
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)
Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)
Lake Erie Monsters (COL)
Manitoba Moose (VAN)
Rochester Americans (FLA)
Toronto Marlies (TOR)

West Division
Chicago Wolves (ATL)
Houston Aeros (MIN)
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)
Peoria Rivermen (STL)
Rockford IceHogs (CHI)
San Antonio Rampage (PHX)
Texas Stars (DAL)

The 2009-10 regular season will begin on Oct. 2. The complete schedule will be announced later this summer.