American Hockey League Cuts Four Games Off Schedule To Help Player Wellness

The American Hockey League will shorten its season from 80 to 76 games for the '11-12 season in an attempt to lessen wear and tear on its players. The AHL BOG approved the schedule, which will eliminate two home and two away games for each of the league’s 30 teams. The new schedule also lengthens the playing calendar by one week, thus eliminating sequences in which teams play four games in five nights. Additionally, the AHL will shorten the first round of its playoffs from a best-of-seven to a best-of-five series. “As our league has grown and our game has become faster and more physical, the wear and tear on our players has begun to affect player development and at times the quality of competition,” said AHL President & CEO David Andrews in a release. “These steps are intended to provide a safer environment for our players through increased rest and recovery time, and also to provide our fans with an even higher caliber of play as a result of reduced player fatigue.”