Pros:
North Division Rivalries- The Crunch's schedule is mainly made up of games with division opponents. This includes ten games with Utica, Rochester, and Binghamton, three of the team's main rivals. They also faces off with Albany, St. John's, and Toronto several times. This will keep the race for the playoffs heated throughout the entire season. The North Division will not be easy to win, but it also may prove to be the strongest division in the entire league.
Eastern Conference Matches- The Crunch will face off with only teams in the Eastern Conference this season. This includes games with Hershey, Wilkes Barre-Scranton, Bridgeport, Springfield, and Hartford, some being former divisional opponents from past seasons. This means the Crunch will have to truly earn a playoff spot within the Eastern Conference. Every game will factor into the conference standings.
Cons:
Lack of Variety- The Crunch only play Eastern Conference teams this season. This is great because of cheap travel expenses, keeping close to affiliates, and building rivalries. However, there is no variety in the schedule. Instead of having match-ups with more teams, like Chicago, Grand Rapids, Lake Erie, and Rockford, the Crunch face the same opponents over and over again. This takes some excitement away from the games, allowing the Crunch and their opponents to learn each others' plays and game-play styles with ease over the season. Guess we will have to wait for the All-Star Game to see new opponents and players.
Lost Rivalries- Even with rivalries bound to grow stronger in the North Division, the Crunch are going to lose their rivalries with some very strong teams. Grand Rapids has major beef with the Crunch since 2012, but they don't face each other this year. Lake Erie used to be a division opponent to the Crunch, but not a match this year between the two. Even worse, Manitoba is back in the AHL. One of the biggest rivals to the Crunch with several historic match-ups between the them in the past but not one game to reignite the rivalry this year? Sad. I guess if you want variety, you'll just have to go to all the Crunch games or ship out to see other teams play.
What do you think of the Crunch's schedule? Can it be improved? Should it just stay the way it is? What can be done in the future? I want to hear from you the reader. So check out the schedule at the Crunch's website and comment below.
Thanks/Credit:
syracusecrunch.com
theahl.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hockey_League