IceCaps to play in new division, will include Marlies, Senators

The St. John's IceCaps will go head-to-head against their arch-rivals next season in the American Hockey League.

The IceCaps now affiliated with the Montreal Canadiens will play in a new division in the coming season.Newfoundland and Labrador's only AHL hockey club made the announcement on Tuesday.

The news means the IceCaps will be up against the Toronto Marlies and the Binghampton Senators.

Those teams are affiliated with the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators, respectively historic rivals of the Canadiens.

IceCaps COO Glenn Stanford says the team is thrilled with itsnew division and expects fans will be in for some exciting hockey.

"The IceCaps rivalries with the Marlies and Senators will become some of the most heated in the league, as they currently are with the respective parent clubs," he saidin a statement.

"I'm sure rivalries with our other new division-mates will develop once the season gets underway. St. John's fans will also get their first-ever glimpse of teams like Rochester and Utica next season. Overall, a great day to be an IceCaps fan."