On this edition of the Plus/Minus Arena we will look over the pro hockey landscape in North America and give arena roaming fans a look at some alternative venues where they can some games this season, and we will also look at the arenas where their teams have moved on. As always check the official schedules before you head to a game but we hope this report will get you up to speed on the arena and franchise changes for this upcoming season. Outdoor games will be covered in a future report.
NHL - The world of big time hockey will once again have 31 teams playing this upcoming season, with expansion to Seattle on the horizon. Although all 31 clubs will see action in the same arenas as last season there is one interesting transition which sees any old building coming back into play.
Plus - NYCB Live Home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, NY In one of the most awkward sponsorship-led renamings of a building in history, the bottom line is that the Islanders will actually play on Long Island again, with 21 of their games being played at the renovated Nassau Coliseum, the place where they claimed 4 Stanley Cups decades ago. The move is likely temporary as there are plans for an arena at Belmont Park, but for now the Isles will be back where they belong. Brooklyn fans will still get some Islanders games, as 20 of the games will be played at Barclays Center, their home for the last few seasons.
AHL - Even The AAA league is increasingly becoming solely about developing prospects and not about winning. All 31 AHL clubs will stay in their same cities and arenas for this upcoming season. A less than user friendly website has no venue listings of games on the schedule, but we did dig up at least one alternate venue that will see action this season.
Bonus Plus - Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON The home of the Maple Leafs will see the farm club take the ice one Go train stop down the line 4 times this season, with the Marlies playing games on 11/30, 12/26, 2/17, and 3/17. It appears as though teams are getting away from having their affiliate play at the big club's arena as neither Hershey, Buffalo, or Belleville have games in the NHL city this season.
ECHL - Minus SNHU Arena, Manchester, NH The most boring league in North American hockey loses one team and drops to 26 clubs this season with the demise of the Manchester Monarchs. Fan support dwindled when management tried to pawn off the ECHL club as the same as the AHL club, (which won a Calder Cup before being shipped to the West Coast), and the knowledgeable New England fans were not buying it.
SNHU Arena in Manchester, NH will be without pro hockey this season as the ECHL's Manchester Monarchs folded