American Hockey League

American Hockey League

Current season	AHL 2019/20
sport	ice Hockey
abbreviation	AHL
League foundation	1936
Teams	31
Country countries	Canada United States
Title holder	Charlotte Checkers
Record champions	Hershey Bears (11)
Website	theahl.com
^ National Hockey League ↓ ECHL

The American Hockey League ( AHL ) was founded in 1936 and is one of the oldest professional ice hockey leagues in North America. It is the second highest North American league after the NHL . In the course of the merger with the International Hockey League in 2001, it was affiliated with the National Hockey League . It belongs to the so-called minor leagues and has an AAA classification, which corresponds to the highest possible standard. There are 31 ice hockey franchises in the league, most of them from eastern Canada and the USA and all of them cooperate with an NHL franchise . Mostly, players who will probably not be used for a long time due to the squad restrictions or young talents who were signed in the NHL Entry Draft are sent to the respective AHL club for a certain period of time in order to get match practice. For this reason, the AHL teams are also known as farm teams (in the figurative sense: talent factory).

Due to the complete failure of the 2004/05 NHL season , the AHL benefited from the many NHL stars who played for the respective AHL club all season, as well as from increased public interest and television presence.

It is played in the Eastern and Western Conference, each conference has been divided into two divisions since the restructuring for the 2015/16 season.

Franchises for the 2019/20 season

The distribution of the franchises in the 2019/20 season .
The same colors symbolize belonging to a division.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Surname	Location	Stadion	NHL partner	ECHL partner
Bridgeport Sound Tigers	Bridgeport , Connecticut	Webster Bank Arena	New York Islanders	Worcester Railers
Charlotte Checkers	Charlotte , North Carolina	Bojangles' Coliseum	Carolina Hurricanes	Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Hartford Wolf Pack	Hartford , Connecticut	XL Center	New York Rangers	Maine Mariners
Hershey Bears	Hershey , Pennsylvania	Giant Center	Washington Capitals	South Carolina Stingrays
Lehigh Valley Phantoms	Allentown , Pennsylvania	PPL Center	Philadelphia Flyers	Reading Royals
Providence Bruins	Providence , Rhode Island	Dunkin 'Donuts Center	Boston Bruins	Atlanta Gladiators
Springfield Thunderbirds	Springfield , Massachusetts	MassMutual Center	Florida panthers	-
Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins	Wilkes-Barre , Pennsylvania	Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza	Pittsburgh Penguins	Wheeling Nailers

North Division

Surname	Location	Stadion	NHL partner	ECHL partner
Belleville Senators	Belleville , Ontario	CAA arena	Ottawa Senators	Brampton Beast
Binghamton Devils	Binghamton , New York	Veterans Memorial Arena	New Jersey Devils	Adirondack Thunder
Cleveland Monsters	Cleveland , Ohio	Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse	Columbus Blue Jackets	-
Laval Rocket	Laval , Quebec	Place Bell	Canadiens de Montréal	-
Rochester Americans	Rochester , New York	Blue Cross Arena	Buffalo Sabers	Cincinnati Cyclones
Syracuse crunch	Syracuse , New York	Oncenter War Memorial Arena	Tampa Bay Lightning	Orlando Solar Bears
Toronto Marlies	Toronto , Ontario	Coca-Cola Coliseum	Toronto Maple Leafs	Newfoundland Growlers
Utica Comets	Utica , New York	Adirondack Bank Center	Vancouver Canucks	Kalamazoo Wings

Western Conference

Central Division

Surname	Location	Stadion	NHL partner	ECHL partner
Chicago Wolves	Chicago , Illinois	Allstate Arena	Vegas Golden Knights	Fort Wayne Comet
Grand Rapids Griffins	Grand Rapids , Michigan	Van Andel Arena	Detroit Red Wings	Toledo Walleye
Iowa Wild	Des Moines , Iowa	Wells Fargo Arena	Minnesota Wild	All Americans
Manitoba mosses	Winnipeg , Manitoba	Bell MTS Place	Winnipeg Jets	Jacksonville Icemen
Milwaukee Admirals	Milwaukee , Wisconsin	UW – Milwaukee Panther Arena	Nashville Predators	Florida Everblades
Rockford IceHogs	Rockford , Illinois	BMO Harris Bank Center	Chicago Blackhawks	Indy Fuel
San Antonio Rampage	San Antonio , Texas	AT&T Center	St. Louis Blues	Tulsa Oilers
Texas Stars	Cedar Park , Texas	HEB Center at Cedar Park	Dallas Stars	Idaho steelheads

Pacific Division

Surname	Location	Stadion	NHL partner	ECHL partner
Bakersfield Condors	Bakersfield , California	Rabobank Arena	Edmonton Oilers	Wichita Thunder
Colorado Eagles	Loveland , Colorado	Budweiser Events Center	Colorado Avalanche	Utah grizzlies
Ontario Reign	Ontario , California	Citizens Business Bank Arena	Los Angeles Kings	-
San Diego Gulls	San Diego , California	Pechanga Arena San Diego	Anaheim Ducks	-
San Jose Barracuda	San Jose , California	SAP Center	San Jose Sharks	-
Stockton Heat	Stockton , California	Stockton Arena	Calgary Flames	Kansas City Mavericks
Tucson Roadrunners	Tucson , Arizona	Tucson Convention Center	Arizona Coyotes	Rapid City Rush

No longer existing AHL teams

Abbotsford Heat (2009-2014) Adirondack Flames (2014-2015; became Stockton Heat ) Adirondack Phantoms (2009-2014) Adirondack Red Wings (1979-1999) Albany Devils (2010-2017; became Binghamton Devils ) Albany River Rats (1993-2010; became Charlotte Checkers ) Baltimore Bandits (1995–1997; became Cincinnati Mighty Ducks ) Baltimore Clippers (1962–1976; moved to the SHL ) Baltimore Skipjacks (1982-1993; were Portland Pirates ) Binghamton Dusters (1977–1980; became the Binghamton Whalers ) Binghamton Rangers (1990-1997; were Hartford Wolf Pack ) Binghamton Senators (2002-2017; became Belleville Senators ) Binghamton Whalers (1980–1990; became Binghamton Rangers ) Boston Braves (1971–1974; became Moncton Hawks ) Buffalo bison (1936) Buffalo bison (1940-1970) Cape Breton Oilers (1988–1996; became Hamilton Bulldogs ) Capital District Islanders (1990–1993; became Albany River Rats ) Carolina Monarchs (1995–1997; became Beast of New Haven ) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (1997-2005; became Rockford IceHogs ) Cincinnati Mohawks (1949–1952; moved to the IHL ) Cincinnati Swords (1971–1974) Cleveland Barons (1937–1973; became Jacksonville Barons ) Cleveland Barons (2001-2006; became Worcester Sharks ) Cleveland Falcons (1936–1937; renamed Cleveland Barons) Connecticut Whale (2010-2013; became Hartford Wolf Pack ) Cornwall Aces (1993–1996; were Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins ) Edmonton Road Runners (2004-2005; Oklahoma City Barons ) Erie Blades (1981–1982; became Baltimore Skipjacks ) Fredericton Canadiens (1990–1999; became Citadelles de Québec ) Fredericton Express (1981–1988; became Halifax Citadels ) Halifax Citadels (1988-1993; became Cornwall Aces ) Hamilton Bulldogs (1996-2015; became St. John's IceCaps ) Hamilton Canucks (1992–1994; became Syracuse Crunch ) Hampton Gulls (1977-1978) Houston Eros (2001-2013; became Iowa Wild ) Indianapolis Capitals (1939–1952) Iowa Chops (2008-2009; became Texas Stars ) Iowa Stars (2005-2008; became Iowa Chops ) Jacksonville Barons (1973–1974) Kentucky Thoroughblades (1996-2001; Cleveland Barons ) Lowell Devils (2006-2010; became Albany Devils ) Lowell Lock Monsters (1998-2006; became Lowell Devils ) Louisville Panthers (1999-2001; became Iowa Stars ) Maine Mariners (1977–1992; became Providence Bruins ) Manchester Monarchs (2001-2015; became Ontario Reign ) Moncton Alpines (1982–1984; became Moncton Golden Flames ) Moncton Golden Flames (1984–1987; became Moncton Hawks ) Moncton Hawks (1987-1994) Voyageurs de Montréal (1969–1971; became Nova Scotia Voyageurs ) New Brunswick Hawks (1978–1982; became Moncton Alpines ) Beast of New Haven (1997-1999) New Haven Eagles (1936-1943)

New Haven Eagles (1945-1946) New Haven Eagles (1950–1951) New Haven Nighthawks (1972–1992; became New Haven Senators ) New Haven Ramblers (1946–1950; became New Haven Eagles ) New Haven Senators (1992-1993; became Prince Edward Island Senators ) Newmarket Saints (1986–1991; became St. John's Maple Leafs ) Norfolk Admirals (2000-2015; became San Diego Gulls ) Nova Scotia Oilers (1984–1988; became Cape Breton Oilers ) Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1971–1984; became Canadiens de Sherbrooke ) Oklahoma City Barons (2010-2015; became Bakersfield Condors ) Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (2005-2007; became Quad City Flames ) Peoria Rivermen (2005-2013; became Utica Comets ) Philadelphia Firebirds (1977–1979; became Syracuse Firebirds ) Philadelphia Phantoms (1996-2009; became Adirondack Phantoms ) Philadelphia Ramblers (1936–1941; became Philadelphia Rockets ) Philadelphia Rockets (1941-1942) Philadelphia Rockets (1946-1949) Pittsburgh Hornets (1936–1956; became Rochester Americans ) Pittsburgh Hornets (1961-1967) Portland Pirates (1993-2016; became Springfield Thunderbirds ) Prince Edward Island Senators (1993–1996; became Binghamton Senators ) Providence Reds (1936–1976; became Rhode Island Reds ) Quad City Flames (2007-2009; became Abbotsford Heat ) As de Québec (1959–1971; were Richmond Robins ) Citadelles de Québec (1999–2002; merged with Hamilton Bulldogs ) Rhode Island Reds (1976–1977; became Binghamton Dusters ) Richmond Robins (1971-1976) Saint John Flames (1993-2003; became Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights ) Canadiens de Sherbrooke (1984–1990; were Fredericton Canadiens ) Jets de Sherbrooke (1982-1984) Springfield Falcons (1994-2016; became Tucson Roadrunners ) Springfield Indians (1936-1942) Springfield Indians (1946–1951; became Syracuse Warriors ) Springfield Indians (1954–1967; became Springfield Kings ) Springfield Indians (1974–1994; became Worcester IceCats ) Springfield Kings (1967–1974; became Springfield Indians ) St. Catharines Saints (1982–1986; became Newmarket Saints ) St. John's IceCaps (2011-2015; were Manitoba Mosses ) St. John's IceCaps (2015-2017; became Rocket de Laval ) St. John's Maple Leafs (1991-2005; became Toronto Marlies ) St. Louis Flyers (1944-1953) Syracuse Eagles (1974-1975) Syracuse Firebirds (1979-1980) Syracuse Stars (1936–1940; became Buffalo bison ) Syracuse Warriors (1951–1954; became Springfield Indians ) Tidewater Wings (1971–1972; were Virginia Wings ) Toronto Roadrunners (2003-2004; became Edmonton Road Runners ) Utah Grizzlies (2001-2005; became Lake Erie Monsters , Cleveland Monsters since 2016 ) Utica Devils (1987-1993; became Saint John Flames ) Virginia Wings (1972–1975; became Adirondack Red Wings ) Washington Lions (1941-1943; 1947-1949) Worcester IceCats (1994-2005; became Peoria Rivermen ) Worcester Sharks (2006–2015; became San Jose Barracuda )

Awards and trophies

Team trophies
Surname	Reason for award	Namesake	Award	Record winner comments
Calder Cup	Calder Cup Playoff Winner	Frank Calder	since 1936	Hershey Bears (11) Cleveland Barons (9) Springfield Indians (7)
Richard F. Canning Trophy	Best playoff team in the Eastern Conference Eastern Conference Final Winner	Richard Canning	since 1990	Hershey Bears (4) Springfield Indians (3) Wilkes-Barre / Scranton Penguins (2) Hamilton Bulldogs (2) Saint John Flames (2) Portland Pirates (2)
Robert W. Clarke Trophy	Best playoff team in the Western Conference Winner of the Western Conference Final	Robert W. Clarke	since 1990	Rochester Americans (7) Chicago Wolves (3) Cornwall Aces (2) Milwaukee Admirals (2) Houston Eros (2)
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy	Best points team in the regular season	Macgregor Kilpatrick	since 1998	Providence Bruins (3) Hershey Bears (2)
Frank S. Mathers Trophy	Best points team in the regular season of the Eastern Conference	Frank Mathers	since 1995	Philadelphia Phantoms (3) Hershey Bears (3) Norfolk Admirals (3) Awarded to division winners between 1995 and 2003
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy	Best points team in the regular season of the Western Conference	Bud poile	since 2001	Grand Rapids Griffins (3) Chicago Wolves (3) Milwaukee Admirals Awarded to division winners between 2001 and 2003
Emile Francis Trophy	Best points team in the regular season of the Atlantic Division	Emile Francis	since 2001	Manchester Monarchs (3) Providence Bruins (3) Hartford Wolf Pack (2) Portland Pirates (2)
FG "Teddy" Oke Trophy	Best points team of the regular season of the East Division	Teddy Oke	since 1936	has existed since 1924
Sam Pollock Trophy	Best points team in the regular season of the North Division	Sam Pollock	since 1995	Hamilton Bulldogs (4) Toronto Marlies (4)
John D. Chick Trophy	Best points team in the regular season of the West Division	John D. Chick	since 1961	Rochester Americans (11) Hershey Bears (5) Milwaukee Admirals (4)
Player and coach trophies
Surname	Reason for award	Namesake	Award	Record winner comments
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award	Best goalkeeper of the regular season	Aldege Bastien	since 1984	Jason LaBarbera (2) Mark LaForest (2)
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award	Best rookie of the regular season	Dudley Garrett	since 1948	The trophy can only be won once in a career
Eddie Shore Award	Best Regular Season Defender	Eddie Shore	since 1959	Noel Price (3) David Fenyves (2) Bob McCord (2) Curtis Murphy (2) Terry Murray (2) John Slaney (2)
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award	Fairness, commitment and dedication in and for ice hockey	Fred T. Hunt	since 1978	Murray Eaves (2) Ken Gernander (2) Glenn Merkosky (2)
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award	Fewest goals conceded in the regular season	Hap Holmes	since 1948	Gil Mayer (5) Dave Elenbaas (4) Johnny Bower (3) Ed Walsh (3) Robbie Moore (3)
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy	Most valuable player in the playoffs	Jack Butterfield	since 1984	no multiple winners
John B. Sollenberger Trophy	Best scorer of the regular season	John B. Sollenberger	since 1948	Peter White (3) Bill Sweeney (3) Eddie Olson (2) Fred Glover (2) Paul Gardner (2)
Les Cunningham Award	Most valuable regular season player	Les Cunningham	since 1948	Johnny Bower (3) Fred Glover (3) Doug Gibson (2) Paul Gardner (2) Carl Liscombe (2) Art Stratton (2) Gilles Villemure (2)
Louis AR Pieri Memorial Award	Best coach of the season	Louis AR Pieri	since 1968	Bill Dineen (2) Robbie Ftorek (2) Al MacNeil (2) Bob McCammon (2)
Willie Marshall Award	Regular season top scorer	Willie Marshall	since 2004	Alexandre Giroux (2)
Yanick Dupré Memorial Award	Special commitment in society	Yanick Dupré	since 1998	Mike Minard (2)
Other trophies
Surname	Reason for award	Namesake	Award	Record winner comments
James C. Hendy Memorial Award	Special merit from an official	Jim Hendy	since 1961
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards	Extraordinary coverage by a journalist	James Ellery	since 1964
Ken McKenzie Award	Best marketing of a franchise by a single person	Ken McKenzie	since 1978
Michael Condon Memorial Award	Best referee of the season	Michael Condon	since 2001	no multiple winners
Thomas Ebright Award	Special merits in the course of a career	Thomas Ebright	since 1997

AHL All-Star Game

• Main article: AHL All-Star Classic

The first All-Star Game of the American Hockey League took place in the 1941/42 season. Initially a one-time event, the game was held annually from 1954 to 1960. It then took a little more than 35 years until the 1994/95 season - and since then regularly in the middle of the current season - an AHL All-Star Game was played. The mode has changed several times over the years. Sometimes AHL teams played against an All-Star team, sometimes the conferences against each other and sometimes Canadians against Americans. Since the 1996/97 season, a world selection (including US-Americans) has been competing against a selection of the best Canadians. Since it was held in the 1995/96 season, a skills competition has been held , similar to the NHL All-Star Game .

Hall of Fame

year Surname function 2006 Johnny Bower player Jack Butterfield AHL president functionary coach Jody Gage player Fred Glover player Willie Marshall player Frank Mathers Player coach functionary Eddie Shore players functionary 2007 Bun Cook Player coach Dick Gamble player Gil Mayer player Mike Nykoluk player 2008 Steve Kraftcheck player Noel Price player Tim Tookey player

year Surname function 2009 Jimmy Anderson player Bruce Boudreau Player coach Les Cunningham player Louis AR Pieri official 2010 Macgregor Kilpatrick official John Paddock Player coach Marcel Paillé player Bill Sweeney player 2011 Mitch Lamoureux player Harry Pidhirny Player coach Maurice Podoloff official Larry Wilson Player coach 2012 Joe Crozier Player coach Jack Gordon Player coach John Stevens Player coach Zellio Toppazzini player

year Surname function 2013 Harvey Bennett player Ken Gernander Player coach Jim Morrison players functionary Peter White player 2014 Bill Dineen Player coach Al MacNeil Player coach Bob Perreault player John Slaney player 2015 Frédéric Cassivi player Jim Hendy official Bronco Horvath player Kind of Stratton Player coach 2016 Bruce Cline player Ralph Keller player Jean-François Labbé player Bruce Landon players functionary

year Surname function 2017 Billy Dea player Bryan Helmer player Rob Murray player Doug Yingst player 2018 Jim Bartlett player Don Biggs player Brian Kilrea player Glenn Merkosky player 2019 John Anderson Trainer Don Cherry player Murray Eaves player Brad Smyth player 2020 Robbie Ftorek Trainer Denis Hamel player Darren Haydar player Fred Thurier player

In January 2006, the league leadership announced the first personalities to be ceremonially inducted into the new AHL Hall of Fame on February 1, 2006: Johnny Bower , Jack Butterfield , Jody Gage , Fred Glover , Willie Marshall , Frank Mathers and Eddie Shore .

The AHL Hall of Fame now has a total of 62 members who have made an outstanding contribution to ice hockey in the league. The ceremonial admission of the new members takes place at the beginning of each year as part of the AHL All-Star Classic .

AHL logos

• 

  Logo from 1950 to 1959

• 

  Logo from 1984 to 1987

• 

  Logo from 1971 to 1984
  Current logo since 1987

• 

  Alternative logo of the AHL

• 

  Logo for the 50th anniversary of the AHL

• 

  Logo for the 60th anniversary of the AHL

• 

  Logo for the 75th anniversary of the AHL

Web links

Commons : American Hockey League  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• The American Hockey League Official Website (English)
• Historical Statistics (English)
• AHL Hall of Fame (English)