Chirps from Center Ice

The date may be the middle of August and approaching the Labor Day weekend, but today was like Christmas morning for fans and teams in the American Hockey League as the playing schedule for the 2014-2015 season was released at 11 a.m. today.

You are coming here with questions on the schedule. I have them. Read on…

Question 1: Who are we playing first this season?

Answer: The Lehigh Valley Phantoms on October 11, at 7:05 at home, which is the Penguins home opener. The schedule ends in Allentown against Lehigh Valley on April 19.

Question 2: Home opener details, please.

Answer: I just gave them to you. See above.

Question 3: Please tell me Rockford, or any other Western Conference team is on the schedule this year!!

Answer: Sorry to disappoint you, but there are NO Western Conference teams on the schedule this season. Not even Rochester, Utica or Adirondack.

Question 4: How many games against the division this year? Breakdown please…

Answer: Hershey and Lehigh Valley twelve times, Binghamton and Norfolk eight times. Games are split home and away.

Question 5: Longest road trip and home stand, please and thank you.

Answer: Road: February 22 through March 8. Six games all in New England. — Home: Twice, four games in late December, including New Years Eve vs. the Bears and mid-February.

Question 6: How many three in threes?

Answer: Nine. A large amount. Six before we ring in 2015, including twice back to back in November and December.

Question 7: What’s the setup with Norfolk this season? Any game with Hershey the next day, which is always a Penguins loss?

Answer: They are all on their own, Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and Jan. 23 and 24. No game in Hershey the next day.

Question 8: Last year you had charts, let’s see ‘em again!

Coal Street built them already for me. Here is the Daily breakdown:

And the Monthly…

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Question 9: Any kids games?

Kids games are, by definition, games that start at 11 a.m., or any time in early afternoon. The Penguins will not be participating in any early afternoon or morning day games.

Question 10: Hey, where are they playing the All-Star Classic at this year?

Answer: The League has not announced a venue yet. It will be held January 25 and 26.

Question 11: Are the Penguins playing in any special venues this year?

Answer: Nope. All either at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza or at the opponents home venue.

Question 12: Tell me the theme that the Penguins are using this year. What about a promotional schedule or a PensFest?

Answer: Theme this season is, “United in Hockey” and Coal Street hasn’t said anything about a promotional schedule or a PensFest yet. I’d anticipate word on this within a few weeks, and we’ll blog about it all.

Question 13: Anything else I need to know?

Answer: The annual AHL Previews that I run on the blog will be out in about a month. I can ramp up production on this now that I have a schedule. Also, my weekly Power Rankings will be back with hopefully a new look and feel. I’m planning on updating and maintain my fancy chart that I played with in playoffs late last season. Also, I’m planning on some other improvements and have ideas on all that in the sandbox. Stay tuned!!!