American Hockey League
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| American Hockey League | |
|---|---|
| Image:AHLlogo.gif | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Founded | 1936 |
| No. of teams | 27 |
| Country | Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada |
| Current champions | Hershey Bears |
| Official website | www.theahl.com |
The American Hockey League (AHL) is regarded as the top professional hockey league in North America outside the National Hockey League (NHL) for which it serves as the primary developmental circuit. All 30 NHL teams have either exclusive or joint affiliation agreements with one or more of the AHL's 27 active clubs.
Contents |
[edit] History
[edit] Prehistory (1926-1936)
The American Hockey League traces it roots to two earlier minor professional leagues: the Canadian-American Hockey League (aka "Can-Am" League) founded in 1926, and the first International Hockey League established in 1929. When the Boston Cubs dropped out of the Can-Am League after the 1935-36 season the circuit was left with just four member cities: Springfield, Philadelphia, Providence and New Haven. At the same time the then rival International Hockey League lost half of its members after the 1935-36 season falling from eight to just four clubs thus leaving it with teams in only Buffalo, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland.
[edit] "A Circuit of Mutual Convenience" (1936-38)
With both of these leagues literally down to the bare minimum in membership, each recognized the necessity to do something quickly to assure the survival of its member clubs. To stave off such potential extinction, the governors of the two circuits soon decided that the best solution for all would be for the leagues to play an interlocking schedule with each other. Styled as the "International-American Hockey League," the clubs of the two loops' began joint play in early November, 1936, as an eight-team, two division "circuit of mutual convenience" with the four Can-Am clubs constituting the I-AHL East Division and the IHL's quartet playing as the West Division. A little more than a month into that first season, however, the new combined loop's overall membership dropped down to seven when the West's Buffalo Bisons were unexpectedly forced to cease operations after playing just eleven games because of serious financial and arena problems which the Bisons proved to be unable to overcome. Thus the makeshift new I-AHL 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 Philadelphia, three-games-to-one, in the Finals. Now second only in both age and prestige among such pro hockey awards to the Stanley Cup, the Calder Cup continues on today as the AHL's play-off championship trophy.
[edit] Formal Consolidation of the I-AHL (June 28, 1938)
After the 1937-38 season, the governors of the seven teams agreed at a meeting held in New York City on June 28, 1938, to formally merge their two loops as a fully consolidated I-AHL. With that done the new league elected the former C-AHL's Maurice Podoloff of New Haven as I-AHL's first President, and former IHL President John Chick of Windsor, Ont., as Vice President in charge of officials. At the 1938 meeting the circuit also added a new eighth franchise, the then two-time defending EAHL champion Hershey Bears, to fill the void in its membership left by the loss of Buffalo two years earlier.[1] Ironically 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.
In 1940, the circuit renamed itself the American Hockey League. It had operated without a Canadian-based team since 1936 in the Can-Am league.
[edit] Crisis and Resurrection
Over its first three decades of operation the AHL in general enjoyed considerable success and relative financial stability. In the late 1960's and early 1970's, however, the cost of doing business for AHL clubs (and in all of pro hockey) began to rise precipitously which, by 1976, placed the health (and potentially even the ultimate survival) of the league in danger. 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 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, NY – 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.)
[edit] Absorbs the IHL
The league continued to grow steadily over the years reaching 20 clubs by the 2000-01 season. In 2001-02 its membership jumped dramatically to 27 when it absorbed six cities -- Milwaukee, Chicago, Houston, Salt Lake City (Utah), Winnipeg (Manitoba), and Grand Rapids -- from the International Hockey League when that long time rival circuit folded after fifty-six seasons of operation (1945-2001). Although the Utah Grizzlies suspended operations after the 2004-05 season, the Chicago Wolves (2002), Houston Aeros (2003), and Milwaukee Admirals (2004) have each already won a Calder Cup play-off title since joining the AHL from the IHL. (Chicago and Milwaukee have also made second trips to the play-off finals before losing to the Philadelphia Phantoms (2005) and Hershey Bears (2006) respectively.)
The League offices are in Springfield, Massachusetts, to which they were moved from West Springfield in the early 1990's. The AHL's current president is David Andrews.
The AHL's annual playoff champion is awarded the Calder Cup, named for Frank Calder, the first President (1917-1943) of the National Hockey League. The defending (2006) champion Hershey Bears are now tied with the defunct original Cleveland Barons (1937-1972) for most career Calder Cup titles with nine.
[edit] Teams
(affiliated teams in brackets)
[edit] Eastern Conference
[edit] Atlantic Division
- Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers)
- Lowell Devils (New Jersey Devils)
- Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings)
- Portland Pirates (Anaheim Ducks)
- Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins)
- Springfield Falcons (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Worcester Sharks (San Jose Sharks)
[edit] East Division
- Albany River Rats (Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche)
- Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators)
- Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders)
- Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals)
- Norfolk Admirals (Chicago Blackhawks)
- Philadelphia Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers)
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins, Edmonton Oilers)
[edit] Western Conference
[edit] North Division
- Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings, Edmonton Oilers)
- Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers)
- Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks)
- Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers)
- Syracuse Crunch (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)
[edit] West Division
- Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers)
- Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild)
- Iowa Stars (Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers)
- Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers)
- Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (Calgary Flames)
- Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues)
- San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes)
[edit] Future Teams
- Cleveland, OH – (2007-08) relocation of dormant Utah Grizzlies
- Windsor, ON – (2008-09) planned relocation of dormant Cincinnati Mighty Ducks [2]
[edit] Dormant Teams
- Edmonton Road Runners – (since 2004-05) Edmonton Oilers farm team.
[edit] 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; folded during WWII resurrected 1946)
- Syracuse Stars (1936-1940; became Buffalo Bisons)
- Cleveland Barons (1937-1972; became Jacksonville Barons)
- Hershey Bears (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; became Cincinnati Mohawks)
- New Haven Ramblers (1946-1950, renamed New Haven Eagles)
- Washington Lions (1947-1949; became Cincinnati Mohawks)
- 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)
- Rochester Americans (1956-Present)
- Quebec Aces (1959-1971; folded)
- 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; folded)
- Cincinnati Swords (1971-1974; transferred to WHA)
- Richmond Robins (1971-1976; folded)
- Tidewater Wings (1971-1972; played in Norfolk, VA; renamed Virginia Wings)
- Virginia Wings (1972-1975; played in Norfolk; folded)
- Jacksonville Barons (1972-1974; 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; folded)
- Syracuse Firebirds (1979-1980; folded)
- Binghamton Whalers (1980-1990; renamed Binghamton Rangers)
- Erie Blades (1981-1982; folded)
- Fredericton Express (1981-1988; became Halifax Citadels)
- Baltimore Skipjacks (1982-1993; became Portland Pirates)
- Moncton Alpines (1982-1984; renamed Moncton Golden Flames)
- 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; renamed Moncton Hawks)
- Newmarket Saints (1986-1991; became St. John's Maple Leafs)
- Moncton Hawks (1987-1994; folded)
- Utica Devils (1987-1993; folded)
- Cape Breton Oilers (1988-1996; became Hamilton Bulldogs)
- Halifax Citadels (1988-1993; became Cornwall Aces)
- Binghamton Rangers (1990-97); 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)
- Providence Bruins (1992-Present)
- Hamilton Canucks (1992-1994; became Syracuse Crunch)
- New Haven Senators (1992-1993; became Prince Edward Island Senators)
- Albany River Rats (1993-Present)
- Portland Pirates (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)
- Springfield Falcons (1994-Present)
- Syracuse Crunch (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-Present)
- Hamilton Bulldogs (1996-2002; became Toronto Roadrunners)
- Kentucky Thoroughblades (1996-2001; became the Cleveland Barons)
- Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (1997-2005; dormant)
- Beast of New Haven (1997-1999; folded)
- Hartford Wolf Pack (1997-Present)
- Lowell Lock Monsters (1998-2006; became Lowell Devils)
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (1999-Present)
- Louisville Panthers (1999-2001; became Iowa Stars)
- Quebec Citadelles (1999-2002; became Hamilton Bulldogs)
- Norfolk Admirals (2000-Present)
- Bridgeport Sound Tigers (2001-Present)
- Chicago Wolves (2001-Present)
- Grand Rapids Griffins (2001-Present)
- Houston Aeros (2001-Present)
- Manchester Monarchs (2001-Present)
- Manitoba Moose (2001-Present)
- Milwaukee Admirals (2001-Present)
- Cleveland Barons (2001-2006; became Worcester Sharks)
- Utah Grizzlies (2001-2005; dormant)
- Binghamton Senators (2002-Present)
- Hamilton Bulldogs (2002-Present)
- San Antonio Rampage (2002-Present)
- Toronto Roadrunners (2003-2004; became Edmonton Road Runners)
- Edmonton Road Runners (2004-2005; dormant)
- Iowa Stars (2005-Present)
- Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (2005-Present)
- Peoria Rivermen (2005-Present)
- Toronto Marlies (2005-Present)
- Lowell Devils (2006-Present)
- Worcester Sharks (2006-Present)
[edit] AHL All Star Classic
| Year | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Team World 3 | Canada 2 |
| 1998 | Canada 11 | Planet USA 10 |
| 1999 | Planet USA 5 | Canada 4 |
| 2000 | Planet USA 17 | Canada 12 |
| 2001 | Canada 10 | Planet USA 10 |
| 2002 | Canada 13 | Planet USA 11 |
| 2003 | Canada 10 | Planet USA 7 |
| 2004 | Canada 9 | Planet USA 5 |
| 2005 | Planet USA 5 | Canada 4 SO |
| 2006 | Canada 9 | Planet USA 4 |
| 2007 | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
[edit] 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.
[edit] Trophies and Awards
- Calder Cup
- Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award
- Eddie Shore Award
- Hap Holmes Memorial Award
- Jack A. Butterfield Trophy
- John B. Sollenberger Trophy
- Les Cunningham Award
- Willie Marshall Award
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official AHL website
- Historic standings and statistics - at Internet Hockey Database
| American Hockey League | |
|---|---|
| 2006-07 teams: Albany River Rats | Binghamton Senators | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | Chicago Wolves | Grand Rapids Griffins | Hamilton Bulldogs | Hartford Wolf Pack | Hershey Bears | Houston Aeros | Iowa Stars | Lowell Devils | Manchester Monarchs | Manitoba Moose | Milwaukee Admirals | Norfolk Admirals | Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights | Peoria Rivermen | Philadelphia Phantoms | Portland Pirates | Providence Bruins | Rochester Americans | San Antonio Rampage | Springfield Falcons | Syracuse Crunch | Toronto Marlies | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | Worcester Sharks | |
| Trophies and Awards: Calder Cup Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award | Eddie Shore Award | Hap Holmes Memorial Award | Jack A. Butterfield Trophy | John B. Sollenberger Trophy | Les Cunningham Award | Willie Marshall Award | |
| Related Articles: NHL | ECHL | UHL | CHL | SPHL | |
| Current arenas in the American Hockey League | ||
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference | |
| Arena at Harbor Yard | Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena | Cumberland County Civic Center | DCU Center | Dunkin' Donuts Center | GIANT Center | Hartford Civic Center | MassMutual Center | Norfolk Scope | Pepsi Arena | Tsongas Arena | Verizon Wireless Arena | Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza | Wachovia Spectrum | Allstate Arena | AT&T Center | Blue Cross Arena | Bradley Center | Carver Arena | Copps Coliseum | MTS Centre | Omaha Civic Auditorium | Ricoh Coliseum | Toyota Center | Van Andel Arena | War Memorial at Oncenter | Wells Fargo Arena | |
| North American Professional Hockey | |
|---|---|
| National Hockey League | |
| Minor League Hockey | |
| High Level: American Hockey League Mid Level: Central Hockey League | ECHL | |
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