The Calgary Flames new American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat, will play a shortened schedule next season, Dave Andrews, Commissioner of the AHL announced yesterday. The top minor league announced earlier this summer, their plans to expand more to the west coast, specifically to California where there will be five new teams next season.
Along with Stockton, the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers), San Diego Gulls (Anaheim Ducks), Ontario Reign (Los Angeles Kings) and San Jose Barracudas (San Jose Sharks) will form the Californian division. Each of these five teams will play just 68 games next season, while the rest of the AHL will play 76.