Marlies announce 2010-11 regular season schedule

Schedule Highlighted by 31 Weekend Home Dates; Marlies Open Season at Ricoh Coliseum Against Amerks

A proud member of the American Hockey League, the Toronto Marlies announced today their 80 game 2010-11 regular season schedule which begins on Saturday, October 9 versus the Rochester Americans, AHL affiliate of the Florida Panthers, at Ricoh Coliseum at 3:00 p.m.

Weekend games dominate the Marlies home schedule this season as the team will play 31 of their 40 home games on weekend dates. The home schedule predominantly features Saturday games, of which there are 16 dates at Ricoh Coliseum. The Marlies will also play 11 Sunday home games including five that will air live to a nationally televised audience on CBC. Remaining home games are comprised of five games on Wednesday, three on Friday, two games on both Monday and Tuesday, and one game on Thursday. All weekday games (including Fridays) begin at 7:00 p.m. with the lone exceptions being the Marlies school day games and their holiday games on February 21 (Family Day) versus the San Antonio Rampage and October 11 (Thanksgiving Day) against the Abbotsford Heat, which have 1 p.m. puck-drops. This season the Marlies will play four school day games, one more than last season. The Marlies school day games will be on November 24 vs. Grand Rapids, February 9 vs. Hartford, March 1 vs. Milwaukee, and March 30 vs. Syracuse, with each game starting at 11:00 a.m.

The Marlies longest road trip of the season will take place in November. The 10-game trip will see the club face four teams from the West Division and four teams from the East Division. The trip will conclude on Friday, November 19 when the Marlies travel to Cleveland to play the Lake Erie Monsters. The club plays their longest homestand from February 18 to March 4. The Marlies eight-game home stretch begins with a contest against their division rival, Hamilton.

In all, the Marlies take-on 20 of 29 potential opponents; the most of all the league’s teams, in the AHL’s 75th anniversary season. The Marlies will play the Hamilton Bulldogs, AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, a total of 10 times, the most of any 2010-11 opponents (five in each city). The Marlies face their other division opponents Rochester, Abbotsford, Manitoba and Lake Erie on eight occasions (four in each city) and play Grand Rapids a total of six times (three in each city). The AHL’s West Division welcomes the Oklahoma City Barons; while the Charlotte Checkers enters the East Division. Toronto hosts Oklahoma City, AHL affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers, on October 23 at Ricoh Coliseum.

The Marlies will close-out the 2010-11 regular season schedule by hosting Abbotsford on Sunday, April 10 at Ricoh Coliseum at 5:00 p.m.

For 2010-11 Marlies ticket information, including season ticket packages and group seats, visit www.torontomarlies.com or call the team’s ticket line at 416-597-PUCK.