The American Hockey League schedule for the 2018-19 season won’t be out until this summer but already there are significant changes coming for the Belleville Senators. Local fans will see 2 new teams at the Yardmen Arena next season. The Cleveland Monsters and the Grand Rapids Griffins.
With the addition of a 31st team (Colorado) in the fall the AHL has restructured its divisions. The biggest change will see the Cleveland Monsters move from the Central Division of the Western Conference to the North Division of the Eastern Conference where they join Belleville, Toronto, Laval, Syracuse, Rochester, Utica and Binghamton. After not facing Cleveland in their inaugural season Belleville will see them a minimum of 6 times next year.
Yesterday the 2017 Calder Cup champion Grand Rapids Griffins announced they will play Belleville 4 times (2 home/2 away). The dates were not announced. The Griffins are the top affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. They also play out of the Central Division and did not meet the B-Sens in 17-18.
Earlier this week Belleville announced their home opener will be Wednesday October 17th although their opponent was not identified. That means the B-Sens will be on the road for the first two weeks of the new campaign.
