FanPost

Charlotte Checkers schedule "Matrix" announced

First home game Oct. 15; Norfolk, Hershey remain as Eastern opponents

With the realignment of the AHL that put Carolina Hurricanes' affiliate Charlotte Checkers in the Western Conference, the question of how many times they would face established Eastern Conference rivals was open. While we're still waiting for specifics, we learned more today when the AHL's matrix for the newly-reduced 76 game schedule for each team was announced.

After the jump the team's breakdown of how many games the Checkers have versus all opponents for the 2011-12 season.

The Checkers were moved to the Midwest Division earlier this month and will face teams in the Chicago area the most. The Milwaukee Admirals, affiliated with the Nashville Predators, are a particularly strong club and may prove to be the biggest challenge for the highly regarded prospects in Charlotte.

The schedule format is as follows (NHL affiliate) [Home/Away]:

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest Division
Chicago Wolves (VAN) [4/4]
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) [4/4]
Peoria Rivermen (STL) [4/4]
Rockford IceHogs (CHI) [4/4]

West Division
Abbotsford Heat (CGY) [2/2]
Houston Aeros (MIN) [2/2]
Oklahoma City Barons (EDM) [4/4]
San Antonio Rampage (FLA) [2/2]
Texas Stars (DAL) [2/2]

North Division
Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) [2/2]
Lake Erie Monsters (COL) [2/2]

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Hershey Bears (WSH) [2/2]
Norfolk Admirals (TBL) [4/4]

No games versus the Wilkes-Barre or Binghamton clubs that the Checkers encountered in their recent run during the 2011 post-season, but they do take on the Washington Capitals' minor team in Hershey four times and the nearby Norfolk Admirals, farm club to the NHL Southeast division rival Tampa Bay Lightning for eight games.

That's 16 games against the two teams named the Admirals. That'll be confusing if we don't learn to be specific.

The rest of the release is here. CHECKERS ANNOUNCE OPENING NIGHT, SCHEDULE FORMAT