Jackets open season with trip to Europe

By Bud L. Ellis

It wasn’t the most enjoyable of journeys for the Columbus Blue Jackets a season ago. At least this year’s campaign will start with a memorable trip.

Columbus opens the season with a long road trip to Europe. The Jackets will face the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 8 and 9 in Stockholm, Sweden.

From there, the Jackets can only hope things go better than last season. Columbus finished next to last in the Western Conference during a 79-point season during which Ken Hitchcock was fired as head coach.

New coach Scott Arniel is tasked with turning things around. Arniel, the 2009 AHL coach of the year, will lean on captain Rick Nash, coming off a 33-goal season.

After the trip to Europe to begin the season, the Jackets play five of their next seven at home.

—30—

Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at 4:10 am by bud

Tags: Columbus Blue Jackets news, Columbus Blue Jackets schedule, Columbus Blue Jackets tickets, Ken Hitchcock, National Hockey League, Rick Nash, Scott Arniel