’Hounds open with long trip

The CHL team’s home opener will be Nov. 23.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown SteelHounds will open their third season by being away from home for five weeks.

After opening on Oct. 19 in Oklahoma City, the SteelHounds’ home opener will be Nov. 23 at 7:05 p.m. when they host the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs.

The Central Hockey League season has 64 regular-season games and ends March 22.

In all, the SteelHounds will play 14 straight games away from home.

“This is truly an exciting schedule for us.” General Manager Joe Gregory said Thursday. “We couldn’t have asked for a better situation than what we have been given by the league.

“This schedule puts us in the best position to be a success both on and off the ice this season.”

Road warriors

SteelHounds Head Coach Kevin Kaminski also is pleased “because it allows us to get through most of our road games right away.

“I feel that we can take advantage of being home for most of the second half of the season,” Kaminski said.

The SteelHounds again are members of the Northeast Division and will play divisional rivals Bossier-Shreveport, Mississippi (formerly Memphis) and the returning Texas (formerly Fort Worth) Brahmas a total of 29 times this season.

Because of the extensive road trip, the SteelHounds will be home for 23 of their final 31 games.

This stint includes nine home games in February and a six- game homestand to finish the season against President’s Cup finalists Colorado and Laredo.

 Last season, the Hounds finished 34-20-10 overall with an 18-9-5 record at the Chevrolet Centre. They qualified for the CHL playoffs for the first time, losing to eventual-champion Colorado in six games.

For information about tickets, call (330) 747-PUCK.