Published: May 01, 2008 11:44 pm      

Chiefs release 2008-09 schedule

The Johnstown Chiefs’ 2008-09 schedule includes a heavy holiday slate and multiple games against teams Johnstown hadn’t faced in 20 previous ECHL seasons.

“The positive is that we have fewer weeknight games and one more Saturday night game than last season,” said Chiefs Vice President of Business Operations Kevin McGeehan. “That’s a big plus.

“Around the holidays it’s a very good schedule to have with three games surrounding Thanksgiving. We’d like to reincarnate the youth hockey tournaments that had been here in the past. We’re going to plan for that. Around Christmas we have the Saturday after the holiday, and we haven’t had that the last several years.

“We have a few less Sunday games,” he added. “It is our intention to move the starting time on Sunday back to the early afternoon. We haven’t set the time yet. But the 5 o’clock start was a bad move by (former primary owner) Jim Weber.”

The 72-game regular season will begin on Oct. 17 at Trenton’s Sovereign Bank Arena. The next night, the rival Wheeling Nailers will visit Cambria County War Memorial Arena for the home opener.

Trenton will visit on the traditional New Year’s Eve date.

Thanksgiving week will include home games against Trenton on Nov. 28 and Cincinnati on Nov. 29.

The Elmira Jackals travel to Johns-town on Dec. 27.

The Chiefs will play 64 games against North Division opponents, and eight against South Division foes.

Six of the eight games against the South will be played against the Florida Everblades and Mississippi Sea Wolves, two opponents who haven’t played the Chiefs yet.

Florida makes its first War Memorial appearance on Nov. 30. The Chiefs travel to Germain Arena in Estero, Fla., for three road games against the Everblades on Feb. 25, 27 and 28.

“The Florida trip is a little grueling,” McGeehan said. “It’s in the cards to put together another fan trip. It’s a good time of year to be in Florida at the end of February. Spring training for baseball is down there at the same time.”

Mississippi visits Johnstown for the first time on Jan. 28 and again on Jan. 30. The Chiefs host South Carolina on Feb. 20 and visit Pensacola on Feb. 24 to round out the South Division slate.