The 2008-09 American Hockey League schedule will not be released until later this summer, but fans can mark their calendars now for the return of professional hockey to Cleveland this fall. The Lake Erie Monsters announced today they will begin their second season at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday, October 11th, 2008.

The Monsters, the top affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, played their inaugural season in Cleveland in 2007-08. A total of 11 Monsters players were called up to play with the Avs, including four who made their NHL debut. Fans came out to support their new hometown team, as the Monsters recorded four of the top seven highest-attended games in the AHL last season. The Monsters averaged just under 6,000 fans per game over the course of the season, with an average of more than 7,300 people turning out for weekend games. Several weekend dates saw between 11,000 – 15,000 fans pack The Q. The team also made an immediate impact out in the local community, conducting numerous school, hospital and youth hockey team visits throughout the year, as well as raising money for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

"The entire organization - both the hockey and business teams - have been working hard towards an even bigger and better second season at The Q," said Monsters president Kerry Bubolz. "Our fans have been great and we had some of the largest and loudest crowds in the AHL during our first season, so we're going to make sure our fans have even more reasons to come back for our second season and experience Monsters hockey live at The Q."

Fans can expect the same fun, affordable family entertainment at Monsters games in the coming season that they enjoyed during the team’s first at The Q. Throughout the inaugural 40-game home schedule, fans were treated to free postgame open skates and autograph sessions with the full team, as well as celebrity appearances by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns, and Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dollar Dog Fridays were also popular with fans, when hot dogs and sodas were just one dollar each, at all Friday night games.

While the complete 2008-09 Monsters schedule will not be released until later this summer, the AHL has announced that Lake Erie will face 20 different opponents during the upcoming season. The 80-game schedule will be split equally between home and away, with 68 of the games coming within the team’s own Western Conference. The majority (42) of the games will be played against Lake Erie’s six North Division rivals, as well as facing all eight West Division opponents a total of 26 times. Lake Erie will also face Hartford, Manchester, Norfolk and Milwaukee for the first time ever in the coming year.

2008-09 Monsters season tickets, starting at just $10 per seat per game, are on sale now by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com or by calling (216) 420-0000.

The 2008-09 American Hockey League schedule will not be released until later this summer, but fans can mark their calendars now for the return of professional hockey to Cleveland this fall. The Lake Erie Monsters announced today they will begin their second season at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday, October 11th, 2008.

The Monsters, the top affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, played their inaugural season in Cleveland in 2007-08. A total of 11 Monsters players were called up to play with the Avs, including four who made their NHL debut. Fans came out to support their new hometown team, as the Monsters recorded four of the top seven highest-attended games in the AHL last season. The Monsters averaged just under 6,000 fans per game over the course of the season, with an average of more than 7,300 people turning out for weekend games. Several weekend dates saw between 11,000 – 15,000 fans pack The Q. The team also made an immediate impact out in the local community, conducting numerous school, hospital and youth hockey team visits throughout the year, as well as raising money for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

"The entire organization - both the hockey and business teams - have been working hard towards an even bigger and better second season at The Q," said Monsters president Kerry Bubolz. "Our fans have been great and we had some of the largest and loudest crowds in the AHL during our first season, so we're going to make sure our fans have even more reasons to come back for our second season and experience Monsters hockey live at The Q."

Fans can expect the same fun, affordable family entertainment at Monsters games in the coming season that they enjoyed during the team’s first at The Q. Throughout the inaugural 40-game home schedule, fans were treated to free postgame open skates and autograph sessions with the full team, as well as celebrity appearances by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Josh Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns, and Anderson Varejao of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dollar Dog Fridays were also popular with fans, when hot dogs and sodas were just one dollar each, at all Friday night games.

While the complete 2008-09 Monsters schedule will not be released until later this summer, the AHL has announced that Lake Erie will face 20 different opponents during the upcoming season. The 80-game schedule will be split equally between home and away, with 68 of the games coming within the team’s own Western Conference. The majority (42) of the games will be played against Lake Erie’s six North Division rivals, as well as facing all eight West Division opponents a total of 26 times. Lake Erie will also face Hartford, Manchester, Norfolk and Milwaukee for the first time ever in the coming year.

2008-09 Monsters season tickets, starting at just $10 per seat per game, are on sale now by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com or by calling (216) 420-0000.