News release
22 May 2007
The Jackals 8th Season, their first in the ECHL, will begin at home on October 19, 2007 against the Wheeling Nailers.
Elmira Will Play 72 Games In 2007-08, Their 8th Season
Elmira, NY The Elmira Jackals announced today their full game schedule for the 2007-2008 season, their inaugural campaign in the ECHL.
Opening Day for the 20th Anniversary Season will be Oct. 18 when the Johnstown Chiefs host the Wheeling Nailers at Cambria County War Memorial in a rematch of Game 7 from the first-ever ECHL Finals.
The Jackals will initiate their first ECHL season on Friday, October 19th at 7:35 pm as they will host the Wheeling Nailers for the Season & Home Opener at First Arena. Elmiras first ECHL road game will come on Saturday, October 20th in New Jersey as they battle with the Trenton Devils.
The Jackals will maintain the same starting times they had from last season, with Monday-thru-Thursday games beginning at 7:05 pm, Friday & Saturday games starting at 7:35 pm, and Sunday contests will commence at 4:05 pm. Please note that at this time game dates and times are subject to change.
Some of the highlights of the Jackals schedule include the Holiday games. Elmira will host the Cincinnati Cyclones on a Wednesday night, October 31st, 2007 Halloween game and Bakersfield is in town for part of a 3-game home stand on Veterans Day weekend in mid November. While they do not play on Thanksgiving Day, Elmira is home for three games on the Thanksgiving weekend. Friday November 23rd they face the Trenton Devils, Saturday the 24th Reading is at First Arena and Sunday November 25th the Columbia Inferno cap off the weekend. This year the Jackals are on the road for a majority of the Christmas and New Years holidays, although they do play one home game during that stretch on Saturday, December 29th against Cincinnati. On Valentines Day, Thursday, February 14th, 2008 fans will have the opportunity to see the Texas Wildcatters at First Arena and Elmira will host their second consecutive St. Patricks Day game, with a Monday March 17th, 2008 match up with Wheeling.
Of the 72-game regular season, Elmira will play the bulk of their games against division rivals. Playing in the North Division, the Jackals will play their division opponents 61 times (84.7%), comprising a majority of their ECHL schedule. Elmira will face the American Conferences South Division for 9 games (12.5%), including an early season match up with the South Carolina Stingrays on October 28th at First Arena. Jackals fans will also get to see the Columbia Inferno, the Gwinnett Gladiators and the Texas Wildcatters all come to Elmira this year. The Jackals have only two games on the calendar against teams from the National Conference (2.7%), as the Bakersfield Condors will play a two-game weekend series at First Arena on Veterans Day weekend in November.
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier AA Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that will have 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08.
The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5. The conference and division alignments and the format for the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be determined and approved at a later date by the ECHL Board of Governors.
Just two teams remain in the ECHLs Playoffs, the Dayton Bombers and the Idaho Steelheads, both looking to hoist the Kelly Cup. The Finals begin on Wednesday, May 23rd at Qwest Arena in Boise, as Idaho will host Game One of the best-of-seven series. For more on the Kelly Cup Playoffs, log on to www.