Chirps from Center Ice

The AHL is realigning things again for 2013-14.

The Penguins aren’t going anyplace. Still in the East Division, with Norfolk, Hershey, Binghamton and Syracuse.

In fact, the entire Eastern Conference hasn’t changed at all.

The new team in Utica, the Comets, will play in the Western Conference in the North Division. The new team in Iowa, the Wild, will play in the Midwest Division.

Looking at a map, Syracuse is west of Utica, but will play in the Eastern Conference, in the East Division.

Hold on. It gets better.

The Abbotsford Heat, all the way out in British Colombia, are in the same division as the Charlotte Checkers, in the Western Conference in the West Division.

Huh?

For the Checkers, it’s the fourth division in four seasons. My blog pal Jenni runs the blog Chasing Checkers and had some thoughts on all this moving her team is enduring.

Kevin Oklobzija covers the Rochester Americans for the Democrat and Chronicle and had some thoughts on realignment that make sense.

The AHL also announced that the season starts October 4. WIth the Penguins opening at home on October 12, it looks like for a second straight year that the Penguins will open their 15th season on the road.

The Penguins have won some awards worth noting. Individually and as a team. Good times.

No signings to note in the East Division today. I wanted to off this news about realignment today and not let it get stale.

Oh, and in case you still haven’t figured out the headline.