Falcons announce home opener

Date: 7/16/2014

SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Falcons announced they will play their 2014-15 Home Opener on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. at the MassMutual Center. The opponent will be determined at a later date.

The American Hockey League will release the complete 2014-15 schedule and opponents later this summer.

The Falcons also named Toby Petersen an assistant coach, club Director of Hockey Operations Bruce Landon announced recently.

Petersen, 35, recently retired as a player after spending 14 years in the National and American Hockey Leagues. A forward, Petersen recorded 33 goals, 48 assists, 81 points and 50 penalty minutes in 398 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers and Dallas Stars as well as 149-226-374, 157 PIM in 550 career AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Edmonton Road Runners and Iowa/Texas Stars. He was named to the AHL’s All-Rookie Team in 2001, competed in the league’s All-Star Game in 2008 and captured a Calder Cup championship with Texas this year.

A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Petersen represented the United States at the 2007 IIHF World Championships, tallying 2-1-3 in seven tournament appearances.

He was also a member of Team USA at the IIHF World Junior Championships in both 1997 (silver) and 1998.