Impact’s 2013 schedule released, but starting times still up in the air

It

should come as no surprise that the starting time for most of the Impact’s home games is to be determined.

The Major League Soccer schedule, which was released Wednesday, has the Impact playing 15 of its 17 games on Saturday night and the NHL lockout and a late start to the Canadiens’ regular season means there are a number of potential conflicts with Hockey Night in Canada.

The NHL regular season is expected to carry over into May and the Impact has two Saturday home dates in March, two in April and one on May 1, which could go up against Canadiens games if they are played in the evening. There are also two games in October that could produce a conflict, and there might be more dates affected if the Canadiens return to the playoffs, which could run through the end of June.

The one home game with a definite starting time is the team’s home opener against Toronto FC on March 16. That game will be the first of two played at Olympic Stadium and will have a 4 p.m. start.

The Impact played five home games at the Big O last season because the renovations at Saputo Stadium weren’t completed. This time around, concerns over the weather will keep the team indoors for the opener and a March 23 game against Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls.

Last season, the Impact drew large crowds for the season opener and for a regular-season game against the L.A. Galaxy featuring David Beckham. The Galaxy doesn’t visit Montreal this season and Beckham has left the MLS, but the two games at the stadium should draw reasonable crowds.

The team moves to Saputo Stadium for the first time April 13 when the Columbus Crew is in town.

Impact vice-president Richard Legendre said he was pleased the Impact was able to work with the league to provide a “more balanced schedule.”

Said Legendre: “The season is spread out over the length of the schedule to avoid playing too many games in short stretches or to have too many games bunched together.” The Impact doesn’t play more than two consecutive games at home or on the road.

One of the team’s objectives in the coming season is to play better on the road, and it will face an early test when it opens the season in Seattle on March 2 and then stays on the U.S. West Coast to play the Portland Timbers on March 9.

In addition to the 34 MLS games, the Impact will play two games against Toronto FC in the Canadian Championship series. Those games will be played April 24 in Toronto and May 1 at Saputo Stadium.

The regular season runs through Oct. 26 when the Impact visits Toronto FC.