2021 AHL Season Plans Announced: Bridgeport Analysis and Divisions
On Wednesday Afternoon, new AHL President Scott Howson announced that framework for the 2021 AHL Season.
“The American Hockey League Board of Governors has approved the structural framework for an AHL season that will begin on February 5, 2021.
“Details are still being worked out, but this step allows our teams and their National Hockey League partners to better determine their plans for the coming season. We look forward to dropping the puck on Feb. 5.”
This is huge, with the AHL being one of two minor leagues in North America not playing currently. What will that mean for the Sound Tigers, and the league as a whole? Let’s take a look.
Geographical Division Ideas
The American Hockey League has always had a geographic outlook, as geographic locations have created the outline for divisions. But, this time, in a league where costs are high, it may be necessary to play in smaller regional bubbles of 4-5 teams based on relative location. So, here are some possible mock ideas of divisions based on geography just for this season, although it will be based in conferences and some divisions can cross over like some of the eastern ones.
Eastern Conference
New England Division
Bridgeport
Hartford
Providence
Springfield
Empire Division
Utica
Binghamton
Syracuse
Rochester
Mid-Atlantic
Lehigh Valley
Hershey
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Charlotte
North
Manitoba
Toronto
Belleville
Laval
Western Conference
Central
Grand Rapids
Chicago
Iowa
Cleveland
Rockford
Southwest
Texas
Henderson
Colorado
Tucson
Pacific
Bakersfield
Ontario
San Diego
San Jose
Stockton
The divisions are quite uneven, but regardless, it is something the AHL should look into. And some divisions would play each other on the occasion, such as Mid-Atlantic and the other eastern american teams and Mountain and Pacific.
What does today’s news mean for the Sound Tigers?
The Sound Tigers may be able to contact season ticket holders so that games can have at least minimal attendance. Before November, the state of Connecticut had a 15% capacity at outdoor sporting events such as the Hartford Athletic Soccer team. The Sound Tigers could allow only season ticket holders into games for the first couple games, which is something the ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers did for the start of their season. Fans with the longest tenure of being season ticket holders will get first dibs at tickets. This all comes with the new Season Ticket Holder Membership, which allows fans to put a down payment on tickets and select wherever they want in the arena.
It’s going to be an interesting time for the AHL 2020-21 season.
A Native of Danbury, CT. Christian is one of the longest tenured Drive4Five writers, Christian Gardecki began writing for Drive4five In May of 2017. Christian covers Minor League Hockey and the Bridgeport Islanders for Drive4Five. Outside of Drive4Five, Christian was the captain of his High School Hockey team and currently attends Hofstra University with a major in journalism. Christian was the play by play broadcaster for the Danbury Westerners summer collegiate baseball team during their 2021 NECBL Championship. Christian also was the Public Address Announcer for the Danbury Hat Tricks Minor Pro Hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League and NAHL Junior team from 2019-21.
