SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League today released the complete schedule of regular-season games for the 2012-13 season, the league’s 77th year of operation. The season, comprising 1,140 games, begins on Fri., Oct. 12 and concludes on Sun., Apr. 21; each of the league’s 30 clubs will play 76 games, 38 at home and 38 on the road.

Some highlights of the 2012-13 schedule:

• The 2012-13 regular season opens with seven games on Oct. 12, including the Norfolk Admirals opening defense of their Calder Cup championship at home against the Worcester Sharks. The Toronto Marlies, defending Western Conference champions, begin their season hosting Rochester on Oct. 13.

• There are two NHL affiliation changes heading into the new season, with Norfolk now the top affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks and the Syracuse Crunch taking over as the top development team for the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Crunch, many members of whom won the Calder Cup with Norfolk last season, make two trips to Scope Arena in 2012-13, visiting Norfolk on Jan. 4-5 and again on Mar. 29-30.

• Two outdoor games are on the 2012-13 AHL schedule: On Dec. 30, the Grand Rapids Griffins will take on the Toronto Marlies at Comerica Park in Detroit, part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival leading up to the 2013 NHL Winter Classic. And on Jan. 20, the Hershey Bears, as part of the celebration of the franchise’s 75th AHL season, will host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Hersheypark Stadium.



http://theahl.com/stats/schedule.php...&month=2012-10