June 20-21

Earlier in the week the ECHL released the schedule for the 2013-14 season. The Royals' home opener is on October 19, it marks only the third time the club has played its season opener at home. The final home game is on April 5, the season ends one week after that. Last season the schedule started on October 12 and ended on March 30, the upcoming season starts one week later and runs a extra week longer. There are twelve opponents on the schedule, all from the Eastern Conference (any thought of a Royals-Stockton Kelly Cup rematch will have to wait until the playoffs). Elmira and Wheeling will be the most frequent visitors (nine and eight respectively), Kalamazoo and Evansville will each visit four times. South Carolina will be in three times (including the home opener), we'll see Toledo twice. The remaining six East clubs (Cincinnati, Fort Wayne, Florida, Gwinnett, Greenville and Orlando) will each make a single appearance at the Sovereign Center. It was recently announced that the Trenton franchise will not operate in '13-14, their absence from the league will be felt. On Thursday morning Jenny and I had our usual lunch date, in the evening we finished the Midwest semifinals at Reservior Park. Both series went the full three games, in both series the team sitting on the visitors bench won every game and in each instance the lower seed advanced. The Amvets eliminated the Killbots and Yorgo's beat the Dek Dawgs setting up the unlikely Finals matchup beginning on Monday the 24th, the West final begins that same night. Friday was very uneventful save for an afternoon haircut appointment but it's just as well since Saturday will be busy. Take care, thanks for reading.