The 2010-11 American Hockey League schedule will not be released until later this summer, but Northern Ohio fans can start preparing now to drop the puck this fall. The Lake Erie Monsters announced today that they will begin their fourth season at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday, October 8th, 2010.

The team will host the Syracuse Crunch, and then travel to Syracuse the following night to complete a home-and-home series that will kick off the AHL’s 75th Anniversary season. Cleveland (Barons) and Syracuse were two of the league’s charter cities in 1936 and are among six of the senior-most cities that will begin the 75th season with a special set of home-and-homes.

In just their third season in the AHL in 2009-10, the Monsters posted the sixth-best attendance average in the AHL, up from 9th the previous year and 11th in their inaugural season of 2007-08. Lake Erie recorded two of the league’s top 10 highest-attended games this past season. The crowd of 18,626 for Shaq Bobblehead Night was the second-highest in the league for the season and ranked sixth in the AHL’s all-time single-game attendance records, as well as being the highest ever for the franchise. Lake Erie’s crowd of 14,103 on Fan Appreciation Night was the 10th largest of the past regular season in the AHL.

The Monsters continued to build their success on the ice in 2009-10. For the second consecutive year, the team improved on the previous season’s marks, as their 77-point total in 2009-10 was a franchise record. Lake Erie’s 34 wins tied a single-season high and their 15 road wins on the season was also a franchise best. The Monsters, the top affiliate of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, saw 14 players get called up to the Avs last season.

Fans can look forward to the same fun, affordable family entertainment at Monsters games in the coming season that they have come to expect during the team’s first three years at The Q. The ever-popular Dollar Dog Fridays will continue this year, with hot dogs and sodas being sold for just one dollar each at all Friday night games, courtesy of Sugardale and FOX Sports Ohio. Throughout the previous 40-game home schedules, fans have also been treated to free postgame open skates and autograph sessions with the team, free premium item giveaways and special celebrity appearances.

20010-11 Monsters season tickets, as well as group tickets, starting at just $10 per seat per game, are on sale now by visiting LakeErieMonsters.com or by calling (216) 420-0000.