Photo courtesy sarampage.com
The AHL released the 2016-17 schedule today and, as usual, there are story lines abound around the league and, specifically the San Antonio Rampage. The 76 game season will kick off with a four game home stand starting October 15th vs Milwaukee, the first game of a Saturday/Sunday back-to-back with the Admirals.
The Rampage (and Stars) will once again skate in the Pacific Division and play 8 more games than their west coast counterparts. Interestingly, they will only play San Diego, Stockton, and Bakersfield four times this season–two home, two away–the same as every other Central Division team.
For the second time in three years (2014-15), the Rampage will finish the season with a mini three-game series with the Rival Stars, playing twice in Cedar Park sandwiched around the final home game of the season on Friday, April 14th.
Interesting schedule notes:
- The Rampage only have three “3-in-3’s” this season, including an unprecedented Sun/Mon/Tue set in March and one on the annual Rodeo Road Trip.
- Speaking of Rodeo Trips, the Rampage will spend the entirety (9 games) of their annual trek in the Midwest, avoiding California altogether. Preceding the road trip, will be a season long ten game home stand and the Silver and Black will play eight of nine on home ice upon returning to Texas, travelling only to Cedar Park in that one road game.
- The Rampage will play 42 of their 76 games on Friday/Saturday nights, including 22 at home.
- The worst stretch runs from March 28th to April 7th. San Antonio plays in Tucson on a Tuesday, then home for two on Friday/Saturday, only to head all the way to Charlotte for two games the following Tuesday /Wednesday. To top it off, the Rampage then return home for two more games on Friday/Saturday. Tucson->San Antonio->Charlotte->San Antonio for seven games in 11 days.
- The Rampage will host the Barracuda for, from what I can recall, the team’s first ever MLK day matinee game on January 16th.
The dog days of summer, and hockey hibernation, are coming to an end. The AHL schedule release marks the official beginning of a new season. Before long, skates will be cutting through the Northwoods ice at training camp and the team will slowly start to take shape. Until then, be sure to tune in to our summer wrap-up show coming soon and the all new & improved Running With the Herd Live starting in October.