American_Hockey_League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia American Hockey League American Hockey League See also: American (1926–1942) Hockey Association AHL affiliate for the 2009–10 season when the Texas Stars begin play. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Until the early 1990s, the headquarters were located in West Springfield, Massachusetts, along with charter member franchise, the Springfield Indians. The AHL’s current president is David Andrews. The annual playoff champion is awarded the Calder Cup, named for Frank Calder, the first President (1917–1943) of the NHL. The current champions are the Chicago Wolves. American Hockey League Current season or competition: 2008–09 AHL season Sport Founded No. of teams Country(ies) Most recent champion(s) Most championships Official website Ice hockey 1936 29 United States Canada Chicago Wolves (tie) Cleveland Barons & Hershey Bears (9) www.theahl.com Formation and growth of the AHL Predecessor leagues (1926–1936) The AHL traces its origins directly to two predecessor professional leagues: the Canadian-American Hockey League (aka "Can-Am" League) founded in 1926, and the first International Hockey League established in 1929. Although the Can-Am League never operated with more than six teams, for the first time in its history it dropped after the 1935–36 season to just four member cities: Springfield, Philadelphia, Providence and New Haven. At the same time the then rival International Hockey League lost half of its eight members after the 1935–36 season leaving it as well with just four clubs located in Buffalo, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. The alternate logo of the AHL. The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League (NHL). 29 of the 30 NHL teams have exclusive affiliation agreements with one of the AHL’s 29 active clubs. The lone exception, the Dallas Stars, will have their own A "circuit of mutual convenience" (1936–38) With both leagues down to the barest minimum in membership needed to operate, the governors of each recognized the necessity to take proactive steps to assure the long-term survival of their member clubs. To that end they all decided the logical solution to their common problem was for the two leagues to play an interlocking schedule with each other. Styled as the International-American 1 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Hockey League, the two older leagues’ eight surviving clubs thus began joint play in November 1936, as a new two division "circuit of mutual convenience" with the four Can-Am teams constituting the I-AHL East Division and the IHL’s quartet playing as the West Division. In addition, the IHL also contributed its former championship silver, the F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy, which would go to the regular season winners of the West Division in the new I-AHL until 1952. (The Oke Trophy is now awarded to the regular season winners of the AHL’s current seven-team East Division.) A little more than a month into that first season, however, the balance and symmetry of the new combined circuit suffered an early setback when its membership unexpectedly fell to seven as the West’s Buffalo Bisons were forced to cease operations on December 6, 1936, after playing just eleven games because of what proved to be insurmountable financial problems and lack of access to a suitable arena. The makeshift new I-AHL thus played out the rest of its first season (as well as all of the next) with just seven teams. A modified three-round play-off format was devised and a new championship trophy, the Calder Cup, was established which was awarded for the first time at the end of the 1936–37 season play-offs to the Syracuse Stars who defeated the Philadelphia Ramblers in the finals, three-games-to-one. Now second only to the Stanley Cup in both age and prestige among North American hockey’s championship awards, the Calder Cup continues on today as the AHL’s play-off trophy. American Hockey League Excerpt from news account in The Philadelphia RECORD, June 29, 1938 years earlier with the admission of the then two-time defending EAHL champion Hershey Bears.[1] (Almost seven decades later, Hershey remains the only one of these eight original I-AHL/AHL cities to have been represented in the league without interruption since the 1938–39 season.) Beginning with the 1938–39 season, the newly merged circuit also increased its regular season schedule for each team by six games from 48 to 54. Contraction, resurrection, and expansion (1967–2001) The AHL (as it was renamed after the 1939–40 season) generally enjoyed both consistent success on the ice and relative financial stability over its first three decades of operation. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, however, the cost of doing business in pro hockey began to rise precipitously with the frequent expansions of the NHL in 1967, 1970, 1972, and 1974, and especially the advent in 1972 of the twelve-team World Hockey Association (WHA), increased the number of major league teams competing for players from six to thirty in just seven years. Player salaries at all levels shot up dramatically with the increased demand and competition for their services. To help compensate for this increased expense many NHL clubs cut way back on the number of players they kept under contract for development, and players under AHL contracts could now also Formal consolidation of the IAHL (June 28, 1938) After two seasons of interlocking play, the governors of the two leagues’ seven active teams met in New York City on June 28, 1938, and agreed that it was time to formally consolidate. Maurice Podoloff of New Haven, the former head of the C-AHL which had also been operating as the combined league’s Eastern Division, was elected the I-AHL’s first president. Former IHL president John Chick of Windsor, Ontario, and head of the IAHL’s Western Division, became vice-president in charge of officials. The new I-AHL also added an eighth franchise at the 1938 meeting to fill the void in its membership left by the loss of Buffalo two 2 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia demand much higher paychecks to remain with their clubs. As a result within a period of just three years from 1974 to 1977 half of the AHL’s teams folded dropping the league from twelve clubs to just six. Making the AHL’s situation even bleaker as the 1977–78 season approached was the news that the Providence Reds—the last surviving uninterrupted franchise from 1936–37—had decided to cease operations. The AHL appeared in serious danger of folding altogether in another year or two if this dangerous downward trend were not reversed. As these clouds appeared their darkest, however, two events in the Fall of 1977 helped reverse the trend and began the league back to the great health it enjoys today. The first of these was the decision of the Philadelphia Flyers to return to the league as a team owner. The second was the unexpected collapse of the North American Hockey League just weeks before the start of the 1977–78 season. The Flyers’ new AHL franchise became the immediately successful Maine Mariners which brought the new AHL city of Portland, Maine both the regular season and Calder Cup play-off titles in each of that club’s first two seasons of operation. The folding of the NAHL meanwhile left two of its member cities which wanted to continue to operate teams—Philadelphia and Binghamton—suddenly without a league to play in. Binghamton solved its problem by acquiring and moving the Reds’ franchise from Providence and joined the league as the Binghamton Dusters (aka Broome Dusters). The Philadelphia Firebirds acquired an expansion franchise as did the new Hampton (VA) Gulls, to boost the AHL to nine member clubs as the 1977–78 season opened. (Hampton folded on February 10, 1978, but was replaced the next year by the New Brunswick Hawks.) The league continued to grow steadily over the years reaching 20 clubs by the 2000–01 season. American Hockey League circuit folded after fifty-six seasons of operation (1945–2001). The Utah Grizzlies suspended operations after the 2004–05 season (the franchise was sold in 2006 and returned to the ice in Cleveland in 2007 as the Lake Erie Monsters). The Chicago Wolves (2002, 2008), Houston Aeros (2003), and Milwaukee Admirals (2004) have each already won a Calder Cup playoff title since joining the AHL from the IHL. Chicago and Milwaukee have made multiple trips to the playoff finals since their inception into the league. One oddity caused by this expansion is that the league now has two teams with the same nickname: the Milwaukee Admirals and the Norfolk Admirals. Teams Current AHL team locations(2008-2009 Season) 2008–09 Teams Dormant teams • Edmonton Road Runners – (since 2004–05) Edmonton Oilers’ farm team. Future teams • Abbotsford Heat – (begin play in 2009-10) Quad City Flames relocation. • Texas Stars – (begin play in 2009-10) interim one year expansion team operated by the Dallas Stars. Further operation is dependent on acquiring an existing AHL franchise. • Adirondack Phantoms - (begin play in 2009-10) Philadelphia Phantoms relocation. [2] Major expansion through absorption of the IHL (2001–02) In 2001–02 its membership jumped dramatically to 27 in 2001–02 mostly by absorbing six cities -- Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston, Salt Lake City (as Utah), Winnipeg (as Manitoba), and Grand Rapids -- from the International Hockey League when that long time rival 3 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Eastern Conference Division Team Atlantic Hartford Wolf Pack Arena XL Center City/Area American Hockey League NHL Affili- ECHL/CHL Affiliate Team(s) ate Team(s) Charlotte Checkers/Mississippi RiverKings Trenton Devils Ontario Reign Hudson Valley Bears (EPHL) Danbury Mad Hatters (EPHL) Stockton Thunder Phoenix RoadRunners Florida Everblades Elmira Jackals Hartford, CT New York Rangers Lowell, MA New Jersey Devils Lowell Devils Paul E. Tsongas Arena Manchester Monarchs Portland Pirates Providence Bruins Springfield Falcons Worcester Sharks East Verizon Wireless Manchester, Los Angeles Arena NH Kings Cumberland County Civic Center Dunkin’ Donuts Center MassMutual Center DCU Center Portland, ME Providence, RI Springfield, MA Worcester, MA Albany, NY Buffalo Sabres Boston Bruins Edmonton Oilers San Jose Sharks Carolina Hurricanes Albany River Times Union Center Rats Binghamton Senators Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena Binghamton, Ottawa NY Senators Bridgeport, CT New York Islanders Arena at Harbor Bridgeport Sound Tigers Yard Hershey Bears Norfolk Admirals Philadelphia Phantoms WilkesBarre/ Scranton Penguins Western Conference Division Team Arena GIANT Center Norfolk Scope Wachovia Spectrum Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza Utah Grizzlies/Odessa Jackalopes South Carolina Stingrays Augusta Lynx Mississippi Sea Wolves Wheeling Nailers Hershey, PA Washington Capitals Norfolk, VA Tampa Bay Lightning Philadelphia, Philadelphia PA Flyers WilkesBarre, PA Pittsburgh Penguins City/Area NHL Affili- ECHL/CHL Affiliate Team(s) ate Team(s) 4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia North Grand Rapids Van Andel Arena Grand Rapids, MI Griffins Hamilton Bulldogs Lake Erie Monsters Manitoba Moose Rochester Americans Syracuse Crunch Toronto Marlies West Chicago Wolves Houston Aeros Iowa Chops Milwaukee Admirals Peoria Rivermen Quad City Flames Rockford IceHogs San Antonio Rampage Copps Coliseum Quicken Loans Arena MTS Centre Hamilton, ON Cleveland, OH Winnipeg, MB American Hockey League Detroit Red Wings Montreal Canadiens Colorado Avalanche Vancouver Canucks, Dallas Stars Florida Panthers Columbus Blue Jackets Dayton Bombers Cincinnati Cyclones Johnstown Chiefs Victoria Salmon Kings Florida Everblades Blue Cross Arena Rochester, at the War NY Memorial War Memorial at Syracuse, Oncenter NY Ricoh Coliseum Allstate Arena Toyota Center Wells Fargo Arena Bradley Center Carver Arena Johnstown Chiefs Reading Royals Gwinnett Gladiators Corpus Christi IceRays Bakersfield Condors Cincinnati Cyclones Alaska Aces Las Vegas Wranglers Gwinnett Gladiators Arizona Sundogs, Laredo Bucks Toronto, ON Toronto Maple Leafs Rosemont, IL Atlanta Thrashers Houston, TX Minnesota Wild Des Moines, Anaheim IA Ducks Milwaukee, WI Peoria, IL Nashville Predators St. Louis Blues Calgary Flames i wireless Center Moline, IL Rockford MetroCentre AT&T Center Rockford, IL Chicago Blackhawks San Antonio, Phoenix TX Coyotes Timeline of teams • Buffalo Bisons (1936; folded) • Cleveland Falcons (1936–1937; renamed the Cleveland Barons) • New Haven Eagles (1936–1943; folded during WWII resurrected 1945) • Philadelphia Ramblers (1936–1941, renamed Philadelphia Rockets) • Pittsburgh Hornets (1936–1956; became Rochester Americans) • Providence Reds (1936–1976; renamed Rhode Island Reds) • Springfield Indians (1936–1942; suspended during WWII; returned 1946) • Syracuse Stars (1936–1940; became Buffalo Bisons) • Cleveland Barons (1937–1973; became Jacksonville Barons) • (1938-Present) • Indianapolis Capitals (1939–1952; folded) • Buffalo Bisons (1940–1970; folded) • Philadelphia Rockets (1941–1942) folded • Washington Lions (1941–1943; folded) • St. Louis Flyers (1944–1953; folded) • New Haven Eagles (1945–1946, renamed New Haven Ramblers) • Springfield Indians (1946–1951; became Syracuse Warriors) • Philadelphia Rockets (1946–1949; folded) • New Haven Ramblers (1946–1950, renamed New Haven Eagles) • Washington Lions (1947–1949; became Cincinnati Mohawks) 5 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Cincinnati Mohawks (1949–1952; transferred to IHL) • New Haven Eagles (1950–1951, folded) • Syracuse Warriors (1951–1954; became Springfield Indians) • Springfield Indians (1954–1967; renamed Springfield Kings) • (1956-Present) • Quebec Aces (1959–1971; became Richmond Robins) • Pittsburgh Hornets (1961–1967; folded) • Baltimore Clippers (1962–1976; folded) • Springfield Kings (1967–1974; renamed Springfield Indians) • Montreal Voyageurs (1969–1971; became Nova Scotia Voyageurs) • Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1971–1984; became Sherbrooke Canadiens) • Boston Braves (1971–1974; suspended, became Moncton Hawks) • Cincinnati Swords (1971–1974; folded) • Richmond Robins (1971–1976; folded) • Tidewater Wings (1971–1972; played in Norfolk; renamed Virginia Wings) • Virginia Wings (1972–1975; played in Norfolk; became Adirondack Red Wings) • Jacksonville Barons (1973–1974; folded) • New Haven Nighthawks (1972–1992; became New Haven Senators) • Springfield Indians (1974–1994; became Worcester Ice Cats) • Syracuse Eagles (1974–1975; folded) • Rhode Island Reds (1976–1977) became Binghamton Dusters) • Hampton Gulls (1977–1978; folded) • Binghamton Dusters (1977–1980; renamed Binghamton Whalers) • Maine Mariners (1977–1992; became Providence Bruins) • Philadelphia Firebirds (1977–1979; became Syracuse Firebirds) • New Brunswick Hawks (1978–1982; became Moncton Alpines) • Adirondack Red Wings (1979–1999; became San Antonio Rampage) • Syracuse Firebirds (1979–1980; folded) • Binghamton Whalers (1980–1990; renamed Binghamton Rangers) • Erie Blades (1981–1982; merged into Baltimore Skipjacks) • Fredericton Express (1981–1988; became Halifax Citadels) • Baltimore Skipjacks (1982–1993; became Portland Pirates) • Moncton Alpines (1982–1984; renamed Moncton Golden Flames) American Hockey League • Sherbrooke Jets (1982–1984; folded) • St. Catharines Saints (1982–1986; became Newmarket Saints) • Nova Scotia Oilers (1984–1988; became Cape Breton Oilers) • Sherbrooke Canadiens (1984–1990; became Fredericton Canadiens) • Moncton Golden Flames (1984–1987; became Moncton Hawks) • Newmarket Saints (1986–1991; became St. John’s Maple Leafs) • Moncton Hawks (1987–1994; became Louisville Panthers) • Utica Devils (1987–1993; became Saint John Flames) • Cape Breton Oilers (1988–1996; became Hamilton Bulldogs) • Halifax Citadels (1988–1993; became Cornwall Aces) • Binghamton Rangers (1990–1997; became Hartford Wolf Pack) • Capital District Islanders (1990–1993; played in Troy, NY; became Albany River Rats) • Fredericton Canadiens (1990–1999; became Quebec Citadelles) • St. John’s Maple Leafs (1991–2005; became Toronto Marlies) • (1992-Present) • Hamilton Canucks (1992–1994; became Syracuse Crunch) • New Haven Senators (1992–1993; became Prince Edward Island Senators) • (1993-Present) • (1993-Present) • Prince Edward Island Senators (1993–1996; became Binghamton Senators) • Saint John Flames (1993–2003; became Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights) • Cornwall Aces (1993–1996; became Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins) • (1994-Present) • (1994-Present) • Worcester IceCats (1994–2005; became Peoria Rivermen) • Baltimore Bandits (1995–1997; became Cincinnati Mighty Ducks) • Carolina Monarchs (1995–1997; became Beast of New Haven) • Philadelphia Phantoms (1996-2009; became Adirondack Phantoms) • (1996-Present; merged with Quebec Citadelles 2002–03, demerged creating Toronto Roadrunners 2003–04) 6 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • Kentucky Thoroughblades (1996–2001; became Cleveland Barons) • Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (1997–2005; became Rockford IceHogs) • Beast of New Haven (1997–1999; folded) • (1997-Present) • Lowell Lock Monsters (1998–2006; became Lowell Devils) • (1999-Present) • Louisville Panthers (1999–2001; became Iowa Stars) • Quebec Citadelles (1999–2002; merged with Hamilton Bulldogs) • (2000-Present) • (2001-Present) • (2001-Present) • (2001-Present) • (2001-Present) • (2001-Present) • (2001-Present) • (2001-Present) • Cleveland Barons (2001–2006; became Worcester Sharks) • Utah Grizzlies (2001–2005; became Lake Erie Monsters) • (2002-Present) • (2002-Present) • Toronto Roadrunners (2003–2004; became Edmonton Road Runners) • Edmonton Road Runners (2004–2005; dormant) • Iowa Stars (2005-2008; became Iowa Chops) • Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (2005–2007; became Quad City Flames) • (2005-Present) • (2005-Present) • (2006-Present) • (2006-Present) • (2007-Present) • Quad City Flames (2007-2009; became Abbotsford Heat) • (2007-Present) • (2008-Present) • (Begins 2009-2010) • (Begins 2009-2010) • (Begins 2009-2010) American Hockey League played every season since. The skills competition was first introduced for the 1995–96 season. The PlanetUSA team is made up of players born outside of Canada and the Canada team is made up of players born within Canada. AHL Hall of Fame On January 6, 2006, the league announced the first inductees into the AHL’s new Hall of Fame: Johnny Bower, Jack Butterfield, Jody Gage, Fred Glover, Willie Marshall, Frank Mathers and Eddie Shore. The founding members were formally inducted, on February 1, 2006. Trophies and awards The following is a list of awards of the American Hockey League. • AHL Hall of Fame • hockeydb.com Individual awards • Les Cunningham Award - Most valuable player (1947–48) • John B. Sollenberger Trophy - Top point scorer (1947–48) • Willie Marshall Award - Top goal scorer (2003–04) • Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year (1947–48) • Eddie Shore Award - Defenceman of the year (1958–59) • Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award Best Goaltender (1983–84) • Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest Goals against average (1947–48) • Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award - Coach of the year (1967–68) • Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award Sportsmanship / Perseverance (1977–78) • Yanick Dupre Memorial Award Community Service Award (1997–98) • Jack A. Butterfield Trophy - MVP of the playoffs (1983–84) AHL All-Star Game The American Hockey League first held an All-Star Game in the 1941–42 season. The event was not played again until the 1954–55 season, and was then held annually until the 1959–60 season. In the 1994–95 season, the AHL revived the events again, and has been Team awards • Calder Cup - Playoffs champions (1936–37) • Richard F. Canning Trophy - Eastern Conference playoff champions (1989–90) • Robert W. Clarke Trophy - Western Conference playoff champions (1989–90) 7 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Date Arena City Worcester, MA Winners American Hockey League Score Losers Canada PlanetUSA Canada PlanetUSA Canada PlanetUSA PlanetUSA PlanetUSA PlanetUSA PlanetUSA Canada Score January 26, DCU Center 2009 January 28, Broome County Veterans 2008 Memorial Arena January 29, Ricoh Coliseum 2007 February 1, MTS Centre 2006 February 14, 2005 Verizon Wireless Arena PlanetUSA 14 9 7 9 5 9 10 13 11 8 5 11 8 (SO) 6 4 4 (SO) 5 7 11 10 3 4 (OT/ SO) 10 2 (OT/ SO) 5 4 3 2 2 0 4 3 Binghamton, Canada NY Toronto, ON Winnipeg, MB PlanetUSA Canada Manchester, PlanetUSA NH Grand Rapids, MI Canada February 9, Van Andel Arena 2004 February 3, Cumberland County Civic 2003 Center February 14, 2002 Mile One Stadium Portland, ME Canada St. John’s, NF WilkesBarre, PA Rochester, NY Canada Canada Canada January 15, First Union Arena at Ca2001 sey Plaza January 17, Blue Cross Arena 2000 January 25, First Union Center 1999 February 11, 1998 Onondaga War Memorial Philadelphia, PlanetUSA PA Syracuse, NY Canada Saint John, NB Hershey, PA Providence, RI World 11 3 PlanetUSA Canada January 16, Harbour Station 1997 January 16, Hersheypark Arena 1996 January 17, Providence Civic Center 1995 December 10, 1959 Eastern States Coliseum USA Canada 6 6 Canada USA AHL AllStars AHL AllStars Cleveland Barons AHL AllStars Pittsburgh Hornets Cleveland Barons West Spring- Springfield 8 field, MA Indians Hershey, PA Rochester, NY Providence, RI Pittsburgh, PA Hershey, PA Hershey Bears AHL AllStars 5 5 January 15, Hershey Sports Arena 1959 October 6, 1957 Rochester Community War Memorial October 23, Rhode Island Auditorium 1956 January 10, Duquesne Gardens 1956 October 27, Hershey Sports Arena 1954 Providence 4 Reds AHL AllStars AHL AllStars 4 7 8 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia February 3, Cleveland Arena 1942 Year 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2007 2007 2008 Name Cleveland, OH East AllStars American Hockey League 5 West AllStars 4 Position Bower, G JohnnyJohnny Bower Butterfield, JackJack Butterfield Gage, JodyJody Gage RW Glover, FredFred Glover Marshall, WillieWillie Marshall C C Mathers, D FrankFrank Mathers Shore, EddieEddie Shore Cook, BunBun Cook Gamble, DickDick Gamble Mayer, GillesGilles Mayer Nykoluk, MikeMike Nykoluk Kraftcheck, SteveSteve Kraftcheck Price, NoelNoel Price Tookey, TimTim Tookey Anderson (ice hockey), JimJim Anderson (ice hockey) Boudreau, BruceBruce Boudreau D LW LW G C D 2008 2008 2009 D C F 2009 F 2009 2009 Cunningham, LesLes F Cunningham Pieri, LouisLouis Pieri • Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy - Regular Season champions, Western Conference (2001–02) • Emile Francis Trophy - Regular Season champions, Atlantic Division (2001–02) • Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy - Regular season champions, League (1997–98) • Frank Mathers Trophy - Regular Season champions, Eastern Conference (1995–96) 9 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia • F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy - Regular Season champions, East Division (1936–37)† • Sam Pollock Trophy - Regular Season champions, North Division (1995–96) • John D. Chick Trophy - Regular Season champions, West Division (1961–62) † Trophy predates American Hockey League, established 1926–27 in the Canadian Professional Hockey League. American Hockey League • James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage (1964–65) • Ken McKenzie Award - Marketing Executive of the Year (1978–79) • Michael Condon Memorial Award Outstanding service, On-ice official (2001–02) See also • List of AHL seasons • Sports league attendances Other awards • James C. Hendy Memorial Award Executive of the Year (1961–62) • Thomas Ebright Memorial Award Outstanding career contributions (1997–98) External links • Official AHL website • Historic standings and statistics - at Internet Hockey Database Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Hockey_League" Categories: American Hockey League, Minor league hockey This page was last modified on 20 May 2009, at 00:16 (UTC). All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) taxdeductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers 10