PrairieThunderWednesday, July 11, 2007 1:24 AM CDT

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Season starts Oct. 20

By Pantagraph staff

BLOOMINGTON — The Bloomington PrairieThunder will play its first game in the cozy six-team International Hockey League on Saturday, Oct. 20, on the road against the Flint Generals.

The Thunder will return to the U.S. Cellular Coliseum for its home opener on Friday, Oct. 26, against Fort Wayne, according to the schedule released Tuesday by the 3-week-old league.

All home games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m. starts, except Sundays, which will begin at 4:05 p.m.

The 76-game schedule runs over a 26-week period, with the regular season concluding April 12, an expansion of one week compared to last season. The league’s top four teams qualify for the playoffs.

But while 82 percent of the league’s games will be played on weekends (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays), the Thunder’s schedule has just one fewer weeknight games than last season. During Bloomington’s inaugural season in the now-folded United Hockey League, the PrairieThunder had 15 weeknight home dates. There are 14 weeknights on the upcoming schedule.

The PrairieThunder, which missed the playoffs last season, will play seven of its final 11 games on the road. But Bloomington will enjoy eight of its 12 games in January at home.

Kalamazoo and Flint are on the Thunder’s schedule 16 times, with Fort Wayne and Port Huron providing the opposition 15 times and Muskegon 14.

In what could lead to some intense and feisty hockey, Bloomington plays the same opponent on back-to-back nights 16 times.

Bloomington will play both exhibition games on the road — Oct. 10 at Fort Wayne and Oct. 13 at Muskegon.

Season tickets can be purchased by contacting the Thunder at (309) 434-2664.

2007-08 PrairieThunder schedule

Sat., Oct. 20 – at Flint

Fri., Oct. 26 – Fort Wayne

Sat., Oct. 27 – at Fort Wayne

Sun., Oct. 28 – at Port Huron

Fri., Nov. 2 – Muskegon

Sat., Nov. 3 – at Flint

Sun., Nov. 4 – Port Huron

Fri., Nov. 9 – at Kalamazoo

Sat., Nov. 10 – Fort Wayne

Fri., Nov. 16 – Flint

Sat., Nov. 17 – at Flint

Wed., Nov. 21 – Kalamazoo

Fri., Nov. 23 – Port Huron

Sat., Nov. 24 – Port Huron

Sun., Nov. 25 – at Kalamazoo

Fri., Nov. 30 – at Muskegon

Sat., Dec. 1 – at Fort Wayne

Fri., Dec. 7 – at Flint

Sat., Dec. 8 – Muskegon

Wed., Dec. 12 – Kalamazoo

Fri., Dec. 14 – Flint

Sat., Dec. 15 – at Port Huron

Sun., Dec. 16 – at Fort Wayne

Fri., Dec. 21 – at Port Huron

Sat., Dec. 22 – Flint

Sun., Dec. 23 – at Kalamazoo

Thur., Dec. 27 – at Fort Wayne

Fri., Dec. 28 – Kalamazoo

Sat., Dec. 29 – at Kalamazoo

Mon., Dec. 31 – at Fort Wayne

Fri., Jan. 4 – Kalamazoo

Sat., Jan. 5 – at Port Huron

Sun., Jan. 6 – at Port Huron

Wed., Jan. 9 – Fort Wayne

Fri., Jan. 11 – at Kalamazoo

Sat., Jan. 12 – Port Huron

Fri., Jan. 18 – Flint

Sat., Jan. 19 – Flint

Fri., Jan. 25 – at Muskegon

Sat., Jan. 26 – Port Huron

Sun., Jan. 27 – Port Huron

Wed., Jan. 30 – Fort Wayne

Fri., Feb. 1 – at Muskegon

Sat., Feb. 2 – at Muskegon

Sun., Feb. 10 – at Fort Wayne

Wed., Feb. 13 – at Fort Wayne

Fri., Feb. 15 – Muskegon

Sat., Feb. 16 – at Muskegon

Sun., Feb. 17 – Fort Wayne

Tues., Feb. 19 – Flint

Wed., Feb. 20 – Flint

Fri., Feb. 22 – at Kalamazoo

Sat., Feb. 23 – Fort Wayne

Wed., Feb. 27 – Muskegon

Fri., Feb. 29 – at Fort Wayne

Sat., March 1 – Fort Wayne

Sun., March 2 – Kalamazoo

Wed., March 5 – Kalamazoo

Fri., March 7 – at Flint

Sat., March 8 – at Flint

Sun., March 9 – at Kalamazoo

Fri., March 14 – Port Huron

Sat., March 15 – Port Huron

Thur., March 20 – Muskegon

Fri., March 21 – Muskegon

Sat., March 22 – at Kalamazoo

Wed., March 26 – at Port Huron

Fri., March 28 – at Muskegon

Sat., March 29 – Kalamazoo

Sun., March 30 – at Flint

Wed., April 2 – at Port Huron

Fri., April 4 – Fort Wayne

Sat., April 5 – at Flint

Sun., April 6 – Kalamazoo

Fri., April 11 – at Muskegon

Sat., April 12 - Muskegon

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Take a look

PrairieThunder goaltender Kris Tebbs, left, guards the net as teammate Tyler Rennette, middle, tries to steer the puck away and Flint Generals player Jordan Fox skates past April 7, 2007, at U.S. Cellular Coliseum in Bloomington. (Pantagraph/B Mosher)

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Reader comments on this story - 4 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

NUMBER FAN HERE wrote on Aug 13, 2007 7:16 PM:

" Thank God! It is almost here. Yeaa hawwww Hockey. GO THUNDER!!!!! Sure wish we had more names on the roster to see who all is coiming back. Go Thunder. Rozanne c "

blues fan wrote on Jul 16, 2007 11:20 AM:

" 6 teams in the league ought to be pretty interesting i think....... "

Thunderchic wrote on Jul 13, 2007 11:07 AM:

" YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH Oct is comin!! "

dana.w wrote on Jul 10, 2007 9:26 PM:

" CANT WAIT TILL THE SEASON TO START! GO THUNDER "

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