Before I head out to the ballpark and let these guys basically take over my Twitter feed till Labor Day (you’ve been warned), a couple of AHL related notes, just to get caught up:
-Remember when I said it wouldn’t surprise me if the Crunch would be hoisting the Calder Cup Friday evening? Well, yeah, about that…I kind of underestimated what Grand Rapids could do. After taking the first two at the War Memorial (with Game 2 slightly aided by a few referee, shall we say, mishaps?), the Griffins took Game 3 on home ice Wednesday evening, setting up what could become an improbable sweep. But the Crunch aren’t done just yet, taking Games 4 and 5 over the weekend to send the Finals back to the War Memorial for Game 6 tomorrow evening and a possible Game 7 on Thursday. There has already been a 0-3 to 4-3 comeback in these playoffs (Wilkes-Barre over Providence in the conference semifinals), what are the chances it could happen again?
-Friday the newest member of the AHL made its debut, the Utica Comets. After months of speculation, the Vancouver Canucks made it official, moving the former Peoria Rivermen and signing a 6 year lease (according to one source) to play at the 3800 seat Utica Memorial Auditorium, or The Aud. The website is in the works, but they are on Twitter (follow them at @UticaComets) and already at least 500 season tickets have been sold. With the new team just 83 miles west of Albany, I’m expecting to make a few trips out there during the season. No word on any realignment of divisions with this move, but one would think it would have to happen with a Western Conference team moving this far east.
-The only Devils note? Per the New Jersey PR Twitter, this year’s prospect camp is scheduled for July 15-19th at the AmeriHealth Pavilion. Once the list becomes available I’ll post it here.
Thoughts Inside The Box 