The 2014-2015 Evansville IceMen season didn't go as well as the team had hoped, despite making the change to Coach Al Sims on New Year's Day. But the past is the past, and all the team and its fans can do is look forward to a bigger and better future, which took one step closer with the announcement of the 2015-2016 schedule.

This year's schedule will look a little different thanks to the announcement mid-season that the team will move to the ECHL's Western Conference. However, they will still see a few familiar foes at home and on the road including the Indy Fuel, the Cincinnati Cyclones, the Quad City Mallards, and the Fort Wayne Komets. Perhaps the most notable difference because of the Conference move will be a Thanksgiving weekend trip to Anchorage, Alaska to face the Alaska Aces November 27th through 29th.

Of their 72 regular season games, 33 will be played inside the Ford Center including the annual Education Day Game at 9:30 a.m. on November 4th, as well as the always popular New Year's Eve matchup on December 31st at 7:15 p.m.

Just as in previous years, the puck will drop at 7:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights when the team is home, with Sunday games staying put with a 5:15 p.m. start time.

Another difference that isn't a result of their move to the Western Conference is an earlier start to weekday games. Those will now begin an hour earlier at 6:15 p.m.

I expect we'll see a much improved team when the IceMen take to the ice this season. Regardless of how much experience a coach has (such as Coach Sims), to take over a team midway through the season and make them successful is extremely tough. Knowing Coach's success record, and giving him an entire offseason to acquire and work with players he needs, I have no doubt the future will be much brighter for the franchise.

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