As part of its realignment for the 2015-16 season, the American Hockey League announced Tuesday that the Checkers will remain in the Western Conference as part of the new Central Division.
One of four divisions in the new setup, down from six last season, the Central Division features seven other teams – the Chicago Wolves, Grand Rapids Griffins, Iowa Wild, Lake Erie Monsters, Manitoba Moose, Milwaukee Admirals and Rockford IceHogs. Along with the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division, it is one of two divisions to include eight teams, while the other two, the North Division in the East and the Pacific Division in the West, include seven.
According to the AHL, its Board of Governors will finalize further details regarding the schedule and playoff format at its Annual Meeting scheduled to take place July 6-9.
In terms of competition, the Central Division will more closely resemble the Midwest group that the Checkers occupied in 2011-12, their first season in the Western Conference. Charlotte is now reunited with three of its divisional opponents from that season – Chicago, Milwaukee and Rockford.
Aside from Charlotte, the only other team from the 2014-15 West Division heading over to the Central is the Iowa Wild. The San Antonio Rampage and Texas Stars are moving to the Pacific, a division dominated by new California teams that helped spark the need for realignment, while the Oklahoma City Barons have ceased operations.
The Central will be the fifth division the Checkers have called home in six seasons since joining the AHL prior to the 2010-11 campaign. They have also played in the Eastern Conference as a member of the East Division (2010-11) and in the Western Conference as members of the Midwest (2011-12), South (2012-13) and West (2013-15) Divisions.
