Barons open home schedule Oct. 15 vs. Texas

Oklahoma City will play 76 regular season games. The regular season lasts through April 15. Playoffs will begin shortly afterward.

If the NBA lockout ends and the Thunder plays a full regular season schedule, basketball and hockey in downtown Oklahoma City will go head-to-head on the same day 13 times.

Highlights on the Barons schedule include a home game on New Year's Eve vs. San Antonio; across the street at the Chesapeake Center, the Thunder is scheduled to play the Phoenix Suns. The Barons will also host the Rochester (N.Y.) Americans, one of the AHL's long-standing franchises, Tuesday, Dec. 27 and Wednesday, Dec. 28.

Defending AHL champion Binghamton (N.Y.) is not on Oklahoma City's schedule.

The Barons finished with a 40-29-2-9 record and qualified for the playoffs. Oklahoma City lost to Hamilton (Ontario) in the first round.

Season tickets and mini-packs are on sale. Call 232-4625 for more information.

A complete Barons schedule is on page 7C.

OU, OSU SOCCER OPEN SEASON

The Oklahoma and Oklahoma State soccer teams begin the regular season at 7 p.m. Friday — OU hosting Alabama-Birmingham at John Crain Field in Norman and OSU playing at home against Texas Christian at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. The Bedlam rivals will have an early season meeting, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, in Stillwater.