The 2009–10 AHL season was the 74th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 regular-season games each from October 2 to April 11. This season featured the addition of one new team, the relocation of two others, and the involuntary suspension of another.
| 2009–10 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 2, 2009 - April 11, 2010 |
| Regular season | |
| Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy | Hershey Bears |
| Season MVP | Keith Aucoin |
| Top scorer | Keith Aucoin |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs MVP | Chris Bourque |
| Calder Cup | |
| Champions | Hershey Bears |
| Runners-up | Texas Stars |
League business
editEuropean pre-season openers
editOn June 11, 2009, both the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Toronto Marlies were invited to participate in a four-team preseason tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland, to celebrate Scotland's contribution to the game of ice hockey.
The Edinburgh Capitals, Scotland's only Elite Ice Hockey team, hosted the tournament from September 24–27. The Bulldogs and Marlies played the Capitals and the Belfast Giants in order to win the Gardiner Cup. Hamilton defeated Toronto in the final.[1]
Playoff format
editThe top four teams from each division played for the Calder Cup. The league's rules included one exception: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic Division finishes better than the fourth-place team in the East Division, they assume the fourth playoff spot in the East Division. The Atlantic Division's Bridgeport Sound Tigers qualified for the playoffs under this provision.[2]
Team and NHL affiliation changes
editTeam changes
editOn April 28, 2009, it was announced that two teams would be relocated for the 2009–10 season and one expansion team would join:
- Quad City Flames would move to Abbotsford, BC due to poor ticket sales. They became the Abbotsford Heat.
- Philadelphia Phantoms would relocate to Glens Falls, NY due to the Wachovia Spectrum being demolished fall of 2009. They became the Adirondack Phantoms.[3]
- Texas Stars joined the league with a limited membership and will be operated by the Dallas Stars. The limited membership is conditioned on the completed purchase of an existing AHL franchise within one year.[4][5]
- Iowa Chops involuntarily suspended operations on July 7, 2009, by the AHL Board of Governors for the 2009-10 season for being "unable to remedy certain violations of the provisions of the league's Constitution and By-Laws" .[6][7]
Affiliation changes
edit| AHL team | new affiliate | old affiliate |
|---|---|---|
| Texas Stars | DAL | None |
Final standings
edit- y– indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
- x– indicates team clinched a playoff spot
- e– indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Eastern Conference
edit| Atlantic Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Worcester Sharks (SJS) | 80 | 49 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 104 | 275 | 239 |
| x–Portland Pirates (BUF) | 80 | 45 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 101 | 244 | 214 |
| x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK) | 80 | 43 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 95 | 213 | 200 |
| x–Lowell Devils (NJD) | 80 | 39 | 31 | 4 | 6 | 88 | 239 | 232 |
| x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) | 80 | 38 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 86 | 201 | 220 |
| e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) | 80 | 36 | 33 | 6 | 5 | 83 | 231 | 251 |
| e–Providence Bruins (BOS) | 80 | 36 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 78 | 207 | 226 |
| e–Springfield Falcons (EDM) | 80 | 25 | 39 | 12 | 4 | 66 | 207 | 296 |
| East Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Hershey Bears (WSH) | 80 | 60 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 123 | 342 | 198 |
| x–Albany River Rats (CAR) | 80 | 43 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 94 | 244 | 231 |
| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) | 80 | 41 | 34 | 2 | 3 | 87 | 239 | 229 |
| e–Norfolk Admirals (TBL) | 80 | 39 | 35 | 3 | 3 | 84 | 208 | 214 |
| e–Binghamton Senators (OTT) | 80 | 36 | 35 | 6 | 3 | 81 | 251 | 260 |
| e–Syracuse Crunch (CBJ) | 80 | 34 | 39 | 4 | 3 | 75 | 227 | 272 |
| e–Adirondack Phantoms (PHI) | 80 | 32 | 41 | 3 | 4 | 71 | 199 | 251 |
Western Conference
edit| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) | 80 | 52 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 115 | 271 | 182 |
| x–Rochester Americans (FLA) | 80 | 44 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 91 | 253 | 247 |
| x–Abbotsford Heat (CGY) | 80 | 39 | 29 | 5 | 7 | 90 | 217 | 231 |
| x–Manitoba Moose (VAN) | 80 | 40 | 33 | 5 | 2 | 87 | 204 | 232 |
| e–Toronto Marlies (TOR) | 80 | 33 | 35 | 6 | 6 | 78 | 193 | 261 |
| e–Lake Erie Monsters (COL) | 80 | 34 | 37 | 1 | 8 | 77 | 234 | 257 |
| e–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) | 80 | 34 | 39 | 3 | 4 | 75 | 244 | 265 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Chicago Wolves (ATL) | 80 | 49 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 105 | 264 | 214 |
| x–Texas Stars (DAL) | 80 | 46 | 27 | 3 | 4 | 99 | 238 | 198 |
| x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) | 80 | 44 | 30 | 3 | 3 | 94 | 226 | 226 |
| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 80 | 41 | 30 | 2 | 7 | 91 | 237 | 220 |
| e–Peoria Rivermen (STL) | 80 | 38 | 33 | 2 | 7 | 85 | 233 | 248 |
| e–San Antonio Rampage (PHX) | 80 | 36 | 32 | 5 | 7 | 84 | 235 | 244 |
| e–Houston Aeros (MIN) | 80 | 34 | 34 | 7 | 5 | 80 | 206 | 224 |
Statistical leaders
editLeading skaters
editThe following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the regular season.[8]
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | +/– | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keith Aucoin | Hershey Bears | 72 | 35 | 71 | 106 | +27 | 49 |
| Alexandre Giroux | Hershey Bears | 69 | 50 | 53 | 103 | +32 | 34 |
| Corey Locke | Hartford Wolf Pack | 76 | 31 | 54 | 85 | -5 | 44 |
| Jerome Samson | Albany River Rats | 74 | 37 | 41 | 78 | +8 | 66 |
| David Desharnais | Hamilton Bulldogs | 60 | 27 | 51 | 78 | +30 | 34 |
| Brock Trotter | Hamilton Bulldogs | 75 | 36 | 41 | 77 | +33 | 56 |
| Jason Krog | Chicago Wolves | 78 | 14 | 61 | 75 | +17 | 34 |
| Mark Mancari | Portland Pirates | 74 | 28 | 46 | 74 | +16 | 55 |
| Charles Linglet† | Springfield Falcons | 75 | 19 | 55 | 74 | 0 | 36 |
| Martin St. Pierre | Binghamton Senators | 77 | 24 | 48 | 72 | -24 | 50 |
^† = No longer with listed team
Leading goaltenders
editThe following goaltenders with a minimum 1560 minutes played led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season.[9]
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss
| Player | Team | GP | TOI | SA | GA | SO | GAA | SV% | W | L | OT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedrick Desjardins | Hamilton Bulldogs | 47 | 2576 | 1067 | 86 | 6 | 2.00 | 0.919 | 29 | 9 | 4 |
| Jonathan Bernier | Manchester Monarchs | 58 | 3424 | 1823 | 116 | 9 | 2.03 | 0.936 | 30 | 21 | 6 |
| Curtis Sanford | Hamilton Bulldogs | 41 | 2230 | 935 | 79 | 4 | 2.13 | 0.916 | 23 | 11 | 3 |
| Braden Holtby | Hershey Bears | 37 | 2146 | 1000 | 83 | 2 | 2.32 | 0.917 | 25 | 8 | 2 |
| Mark Dekanich | Milwaukee Admirals | 49 | 2804 | 1266 | 109 | 4 | 2.33 | 0.914 | 27 | 16 | 4 |
Calder Cup playoffs
editBracket
edit| Division Semifinals | Division Finals | Conference Finals | Calder Cup Final | ||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Hershey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| A5 | Bridgeport | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Hershey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| East Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Albany | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E2 | Albany | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E3 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Hershey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| A3 | Manchester | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Worcester | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| A4 | Lowell | 1 | |||||||||||||||||
| A1 | Worcester | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Atlantic Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| A3 | Manchester | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| A2 | Portland | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| A3 | Manchester | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| E1 | Hershey | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Texas | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Hamilton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| N4 | Manitoba | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Hamilton | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| North Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Abbotsford | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| N2 | Rochester | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| N3 | Abbotsford | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| N1 | Hamilton | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Western Conference | |||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Texas | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Chicago | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W4 | Milwaukee | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| W1 | Chicago | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| West Division | |||||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Texas | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W2 | Texas | 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| W3 | Rockford | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
AHL awards
editMilestones
editThis section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010) |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Bulldogs, Marlies going overseas this preseason". theahl.com. June 11, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2009. [dead link]
- ^ "Calder Cup Playoffs Qualification Rules". theahl.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
- ^ "Austin, Abbotsford, Glens Falls joining AHL in 2009-10". theahl.com. April 28, 2009. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
- ^ Barnes, Dan (April 28, 2009). "Austin, Abbotsford, Glens Falls joining AHL in 2009-10". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
- ^ Heika, Mike (April 29, 2009). "Texas Stars to play in Cedar Park next season". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
- ^ "League suspends Iowa Chops from playing in 2009-10 season"[permanent dead link] The Des Moines Register, July 7, 2009
- ^ "Chops franchise in suspension for 2009-10 season" Archived 2009-07-11 at the Wayback Machine AHL Press Release July 7, 2009
- ^ "Top Scorers - 2009-10 Regular Season - All Players". AHL. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
- ^ "Top Goalies - 2009-10 Regular Season - Goals Against Average". AHL. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.