AHL 2014/15

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American Hockey League - AHL.svg American Hockey League
◄ previous 2014/15 season next ►
Master: Manchester monarchs
↑ NHL   | AHL • |  ECHL ↓   |  SPHL ↓↓   |  FHL ↓↓   |  LNAH ↓↓

The 2014/15 season was the 79th season of the American Hockey League (AHL). During the regular season, which ran from October 10, 2014 to April 19, 2015, the 30 teams in the league each played 76 matches. At the end of it, the Manchester Monarchs won the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the team with the highest points. In the subsequent playoffs from April 22nd to June 13th 2015, the Manchester Monarchs also prevailed and thus won their first Calder Cup in franchise history.

Team changes

The following changes were made before the start of the season:

mode

The 30 teams are divided into two conferences, each with three divisions, and each play 76 games. During the regular season, if there is a tie after three thirds of the time, the winner will be determined by overtime and a subsequent shootout . For the first time, the duration of overtime is seven minutes. If no goal has been scored after three minutes, the team of referees interrupts the game and each team is reduced by one field player; the game continues with three field players per team. In a possible subsequent shootout, only three players per team will compete compared to previous years. Eight teams from both conferences qualify for the playoffs, made up of the respective division winners and the other punk bests.

In the first two rounds, each division plays its own winner, before the conference semifinals play out the winners of the conferences that meet in the Calder Cup final. The team that is highest on the seeding list always meets the lowest seeded team. The first play-off round is played in best-of-five mode , all other series are played in best-of-seven mode , which means that a team needs four wins to reach the next round. The higher ranked team has the first two games at home, the next two the opposing team. If no winner has emerged from the round by then, home rights will change from game to game. The higher-ranked team has a home advantage in games 1, 2, 5 and 7, i.e. in four of the maximum seven games.

For games that remain tied after the regular playing time of 60 minutes, overtime follows , which, in contrast to the regular season, is played with five field players. The thirds continue to last 20 minutes and play continues until one team scores the next goal (continuous overtime).

Regular season

Closing tables

Abbreviations: GP = games, W = wins, L = defeats, OTL = defeat after overtime , SOL = defeat after shootout , GF = goals scored, GA = goals conceded, Pts = points
Explanations: The position within the conference is in brackets; Playoff qualifier , conference winner , Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winner

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division GP W. L. OTL SOL GF GA Pts
Manchester Monarchs (1) 76 50 17th 6th 3 241 176 109
Providence Bruins (6) 76 41 26th 7th 2 209 185 91
Worcester Sharks (7) 76 41 29 4th 2 224 198 88
Portland Pirates (8) 76 39 28 7th 2 203 190 87
St. John's IceCaps (12) 76 32 33 9 2 183 235 75
Northeast Division GP W. L. OTL SOL GF GA Pts
Hartford Wolf Pack (3) 76 43 24 5 4th 221 214 95
Syracuse Crunch (5) 76 41 25th 10 0 218 219 92
Springfield Falcons (9) 76 38 28 8th 2 192 209 86
Albany Devils (10) 76 37 28 5 6th 199 201 85
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (15) 76 28 40 7th 1 213 264 64
East Division GP W. L. OTL SOL GF GA Pts
Hershey Bears (2) 76 46 22nd 5 3 218 181 100
Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins (4) 76 45 24 3 4th 212 163 97
Binghamton Senators (11) 76 34 34 7th 1 242 258 76
Lehigh Valley Phantoms (13) 76 33 35 7th 1 194 237 74
Norfolk Admirals (14) 76 27 39 6th 4th 168 219 64

Western Conference

North Division GP W. L. OTL SOL GF GA Pts
Utica Comets (1) 76 47 20th 7th 2 219 182 103
Toronto Marlies (7) 76 40 27 9 0 207 203 89
Hamilton Bulldogs (9) 76 34 29 12 1 201 208 81
Adirondack Flames (12) 76 35 33 6th 2 233 240 78
Rochester Americans (14) 76 29 41 5 1 209 251 64
Midwest Division GP W. L. OTL SOL GF GA Pts
Grand Rapids Griffins (2) 76 46 22nd 6th 2 249 185 100
Rockford IceHogs (4) 76 46 23 5 2 222 180 99
Chicago Wolves (8) 76 40 29 6th 1 210 198 87
Lake Erie Monsters (10) 76 35 29 8th 4th 211 240 82
Milwaukee Admirals (11) 76 33 28 8th 7th 206 218 81
West Division GP W. L. OTL SOL GF GA Pts
San Antonio Rampage (3) 76 45 23 7th 1 248 222 98
Texas Stars (5) 76 40 22nd 13 1 242 216 94
Oklahoma City Barons (6) 76 41 27 5 3 224 212 90
Charlotte Checkers (13) 76 31 38 6th 1 172 231 69
Iowa Wild (15) 76 23 49 2 2 172 245 50

Best scorer

With 80 points Brian O'Neill led the scorer list of the AHL, whose 58 assists were also season best. The top scorer was Teemu Pulkkinen with 34 goals, although he had only played 46 of 76 games this season.

Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, +/- = plus / minus , PIM = penalty minutes; Bold: Season best

player team GP G A. Pts PIM
Brian O'Neill Manchester monarchs 71 22nd 58 80 55
Jordan Weal Manchester monarchs 73 20th 49 69 56
Andy Miele Grand Rapids Griffins 70 25th 43 68 42
Jonathan Marchessault Syracuse crunch 68 24 43 67 38
Chris Bourque Hartford Wolf Pack 73 29 37 66 68
Shane Prince Binghamton Senators 71 27 36 63 31
Dustin Jeffrey Utica Comets
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
67 24 39 63 22nd
Travis Morin Texas Stars 63 22nd 41 63 40
Chris Wideman Binghamton Senators 74 19th 43 62 112
Teemu Pulkkinen Grand Rapids Griffins 46 34 27 61 30th

Best goalkeeper

Abbreviations: GP = games; TOI = ice age (in minutes); W = victories; L = defeats; OTL = overtime / shootout defeats; GA = goals conceded; SO = shutouts ; Sv% = saved shots (in%); GAA = conceded goal; Bold: Best
value for the season Sorted according to the best goal average.

player team GP TOI W. L. OTL GA SO Sv% ATM
Matt Murray Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins 40 2320: 49 25th 10 3 61 12 94.1 1.58
Jacob Markström Utica Comets 32 1879: 36 22nd 7th 2 59 5 93.4 1.88
Anton Forsberg Springfield Falcons 30th 1763: 51 20th 8th 1 59 3 92.7 2.01
Jeremy Smith Providence Bruins 39 2277: 53 22nd 11 5 78 3 93.3 2.05
Aaron Dell Worcester Sharks 26th 1544: 08 15th 8th 2 53 4th 92.7 2.06

Only goalkeepers who have played at least 1500 minutes of play are recorded.

Calder Cup playoffs

Playoff tree

  Conference quarterfinals Conference semifinals Conference finals Calder Cup Final
                                   
1  Manchester monarchs 3   1  Manchester monarchs 4th      
8th  Portland Pirates 2 4th  Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins 1  
2  Hershey Bears 3 Eastern Conference
7th  Worcester Sharks 1
1  Manchester monarchs 4th
  3  Hartford Wolf Pack 0  
3  Hartford Wolf Pack 3
6th  Providence Bruins 2
4th  Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins 3 2  Hershey Bears 2
5  Syracuse crunch 0 3  Hartford Wolf Pack 4th  
  1  Manchester monarchs 4th
(The teams are reset after the first round.)
  1  Utica Comets 1
1  Utica Comets 3   1  Utica Comets 4th
8th  Chicago Wolves 2 6th  Oklahoma City Barons 3  
2  Grand Rapids Griffins 3
7th  Toronto Marlies 2
1  Utica Comets 4th
  2  Grand Rapids Griffins 2  
3  San Antonio Rampage 0
6th  Oklahoma City Barons 3 Western Conference
4th  Rockford IceHogs 3 2  Grand Rapids Griffins 4th
5  Texas Stars 0 4th  Rockford IceHogs 1  

Calder Cup winner

Calder Cup winners

Manchester Monarchs

Goalkeepers: Patrik Bartošák , Jean-François Bérubé

Defenders: Andrew Bodnarchuk , Nick Ebert , Derek Forbort , Kevin Gravel , Vincent LoVerde , Colin Miller , Kevin Raine , Jeff Schultz

Attackers: Justin Auger , Sean Backman , Paul Bissonnette , Andrew Crescenzi , Nic Dowd , Josh Gratton , Ryan Horvat , Adrian Kempe , Michael Mersch , Zach O'Brien , Brian O'Neill , Scott Sabourin , Nick Shore , David Van der Gulik , Jordan Weal

Head Coach: Mike Stothers    General Manager: Rob Blake

Best scorer

Abbreviations: GP = games, G = goals, A = assists , Pts = points, +/- = plus / minus , PIM = penalty minutes; Bold: Season best

player team GP G A. Pts PIM
Michael Mersch Manchester monarchs 18th 13 9 22nd 8th
Jordan Weal Manchester monarchs 19th 10 12 22nd 16
Brian O'Neill Manchester monarchs 19th 10 10 20th 12
Cal O'Reilly Utica Comets 23 2 17th 19th 4th
Teemu Pulkkinen Grand Rapids Griffins 16 14th 4th 18th 22nd
Nick Shore Manchester monarchs 19th 4th 14th 18th 2
Sean Backman Manchester monarchs 19th 5 12 17th 8th
Chris Bourque Hartford Wolf Pack 15th 4th 13 17th 12
Oscar Lindberg Hartford Wolf Pack 15th 3 13 16 6th
Sven Bärtschi Utica Comets 21st 8th 7th 15th 6th

Best goalkeeper

Abbreviations: GP = games; TOI = ice age (in minutes); W = victories; L = defeats; OTL = overtime / shootout defeats; GA = goals conceded; SO = shutouts ; Sv% = saved shots (in%); GAA = conceded goal; Bold: Best
value for the season Sorted according to the best goal average.

player team GP TOI W. L. GA SO Sv% ATM
Malcolm Subban Providence Bruins 2 160: 16 1 1 3 0 95.3 1.12
Richard Bachman Oklahoma City Barons 9 580: 35 5 4th 15th 0 95.3 1.55
Pheonix Copley Hershey Bears 5 229: 08 3 1 7th 0 94.6 1.83
Jeremy Smith Providence Bruins 3 183: 19 1 2 6th 0 93.1 1.96
Jacob Markström Utica Comets 23 1449: 40 12 11 51 2 92.5 2.11

Only goalkeepers who have played at least 60 minutes of play are recorded.

Awarded trophies

Team trophies

Award team
Calder Cup
winners of the AHL playoffs
Manchester monarchs
Richard F. Canning Trophy
winner of the Eastern Conference Finals
Manchester monarchs
Robert W. Clarke Trophy
Winner of the Western Conference Finals
Utica Comets
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy
Best Regular Season Team
Manchester monarchs
Frank S. Mathers Trophy
Best Team of the Eastern Conference
Hershey Bears
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy
Best Team of the Western Conference
Grand Rapids Griffins
Emile Francis Trophy
Best Team in the Atlantic Division
Manchester monarchs
FG "Teddy" Oke Trophy
Best team in the Northeast Division
Hartford Wolf Pack
Sam Pollock Trophy
Best Team in the North Division
Utica Comets
John D. Chick Trophy
Best Team in the West Division
San Antonio Rampage

Individual trophies

Award player team
Les Cunningham Award
MVP of the regular season
Brian O'Neill Manchester monarchs
John B. Sollenberger Trophy
Best Scorer
Brian O'Neill Manchester monarchs
Willie Marshall Award
Best Goalscorer
Teemu Pulkkinen Grand Rapids Griffins
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award
Best Rookie
Matt Murray Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Eddie Shore Award
Best Defender
Chris Wideman Binghamton Senators
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award
Best Goalkeeper
Matt Murray Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award
Goalkeeper with the fewest goals conceded
Matt Murray
Jeff Zatkoff
Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins
Louis AR Pieri Memorial Award
Best Trainer
Mike Stothers Manchester monarchs
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award
For the player who excels through fairness, commitment and dedication
Jeff Hoggan Grand Rapids Griffins
Yanick Dupré Memorial Award
For the player who distinguishes himself through special commitment in society
Kyle Hagel Charlotte Checkers
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy
MVP of the Calder Cup Playoffs
Jordan Weal Manchester monarchs

All-star teams

First All-Star Team
Attack: Chris Bourque - Andy Miele - Teemu Pulkkinen
Defense: Oklahoma City Barons Logo.svg Brad Hunt - Chris Wideman
Goal: Matt Murray
Second all-star team
Attack: Shane Prince - Jordan Weal - Brian O'Neill
Defense: Colin Miller - Bobby Sanguinetti
Goal: Jacob Markström
All-rookie team
Attack: Charles Hudon - Viktor Arvidsson - Connor BrownToronto Marlies Logo.svg
Defense: Ville Pokka - Ryan Pulock
Goal: Matt Murray

Web links