This past season, the American Hockey League saw a distinct shift in a westward direction with the establishment of the Pacific Division.
To create that division, five existing AHL clubs moved west:
- The Adirondack Flames became the Stockton Heat
- The Norfolk Admirals became the San Diego Gulls
- The Worcester Sharks became the San Jose Barracuda
- The Oklahoma City Barons became the Bakersfield Condors
- The Manchester Monarchs became the Ontario Reign
In an effort to minimize travel and maximize development time, the five new California teams played 68 games - eight fewer than everyone else in the league.