AHL FAQ
Droopy
I figured I'd compile an FAQ file similar to that on rec.sport.hockey.
Thanks to all who suggested ideas. Questions and comments to me at
below address...
Everything typed in and compiled by Brian Farenell
WHAT IS THE AHL?
The American Hockey League is the top professional hockey league in North
America short of the NHL. 17 NHL teams have their top affiliate in the AHL.
It is typically the last stop before the NHL for most players, coaches and
officials.
WHAT IS THE SETUP OF THE LEAGUE?
There are three divisions with 5 or 6 teams each. The Atlantic Division consists
solely of teams in the Canadian maritimes: Fredericton, Cape Breton, St John's,
Saint John, Prince Edward Island and Moncton. The Southern Divison contains:
Binghamton, Rochester, Hershey, Cornwall and Hamilton. The Northern Division
has: Adirondack, Albany, Springfield, Portland and Providence. All teams are
affiliated with an NHL club except for Moncton which is affiliated with both
Dallas and Winnipeg. Each team plays an 80 game schedule; most teams play
every other team except a few teams don't play St John's. Most of the NHL
rules also apply to the AHL.
WHAT IS THE PLAYOFF SETUP?
The top four teams in all divisions make the playoffs. The divisional
semifinals pit the first place team in the division versus the fourht
place team and number 2 vs 3. The two winners play each other in the
divisional finals. Both are best of 7. This leaves us with 3 divisional
playoff champs. The team with the best regular season record automatically
advances to the Calder Cup Finals. The other two play in a best of 3 semifinal.
Game 1 is at the team with the lesser record while Game 2 (and 3, if nec) is
at the other's home. The semifinal winner plays the other in the best of
7 Calder Cup Finals. The Finals are a 2-2-1-1-1 setup unless a Maritime
team is involved, then it's usually 2-3-2. Oddly enough, the team getting
the bye into the Finals, has lost both times since the system was adopted.
FILL ME IN ON THE FRANCHISE MOVES THAT OCCURRED SINCE LAST YEAR
The New Haven Senators moved to Charlottetown, PEI
The Baltimore Skipjacks moved to Portland, ME and become the Pirates
The Saint John (NB) Blue Flames joins the AHL as a Calgary affiliate
The Capital District Islanders moved from Troy, NY to Albany's Knicker-
bocker Arena (only about 10 miles away). They will also be renamed
the Albany Riverrats. They will also be affiliated with the NJ
Devils.
The Utica Devils club folded as New Jersey moved its affiliation to Albany.
The Halifax Citadels will move to Cornwall, Ontario and become the Aces
HOW OLD IS THE AHL?
This will the 57th year of operations for the AHL. The league's first
season was 1937-38.
WHO PLAYED IN THE AHL?
Countless famous NHL'ers started in the AHL. Adam Oates, Terry Sawchuk,
Ron Hextall, Patrick Roy, Brett Hull, Al Arbour, Gerry Cheevers and many others.
WHAT IS THE LEAGUE'S OLDEST TEAMS?
Springfield and Hershey have all been around for over 50 years. Rochester
was born in the 1950's. Other than that, the oldest teams are the Adirondack
Red Wings and Binghamton Rangers (formerly Broome Dusters and Bing Whalers)
who were formed in 1979-80.
WHAT TROPHIES DOES THE LEAGUE AWARD?
Les Cunningham Plaque for MVP
Eddie Shore Plaque for top defenseman
Baz Bastien Trophy for top goalie
Red Garrett Trophy for rookie of the year
Hap Holmes Trophy for tandem allowing fewest goals
Louis Pieri Trophy for Coach of the year
Fred Hunt Trophy for sportsmanship, perserverance and dedication
Jack Butterfield Trophy for playoff MVP and, of course,
Calder Cup for league playoff champion
WHAT TEAM HAS WON THE MOST CALDER CUPS?
The defunct Cleveland team won 9 Calder Cups. The Springfield Indians, with
their 7 Cups, have won the most of any current team.
HAS ANY CURRENT FRANCHISE MADE THE PLAYOFFS EVERY YEAR OF THEIR EXISTENCE?
The St John's Maple Leafs have... but they've only been around two years.
Other than that, the Adirondack Red Wings (free plug here) have made the
playoffs 13 times in their 14 year history, and every year since 1985-86.
SPEAKING OF THE MAPLE LEAFS...
The 1992-93 Leafs were probably the only team in history to play
almost 60 games on the road. In January, there was a public workers strike
in the Newfoundland capital. The team tried to cross the picket line but
were greated very rudely by the workers. The Leafs bus was almost tipped over
and several windows in teh Memorial Stadium were smashed. Management decided
that the Leafs would play the rest of their home season in other places. They
played in places like Cornwall, Montreal and Charlottetown before returning
to St John's for the Atlantic Division finals.
WHY DOES THE AHL ALLOW THE NHL TEAMS TO CALL UP THEIR BEST PLAYERS THUS
DIMINISHING THE QUALITY OF THE LEAGUE?
Mainly because that's the point. The AHL's goal is to develop players into
NHL caliber. It's also a stop on the learning-ladder for everyone else involved
including refs, linesmen, coaches and GM's. This is probably the most
frustrating thing in being a minor-league fan; you want your players to do
well, but not too well lest they be promoted. All current AHL teams have working
agreements with NHL teams. This means that AHL franchises are contracted with
NHL franchises to develop players for that franchise and only that franchise
(except for Moncton which has a dual affiliation). Thus AHL clubs are forced
to respect the wishes of their NHL club in terms of player personnel moves.
WHAT DOES THE AHL GET AS COMPENSATION?
NHL clubs provide players, coaches and salaries for both. AHL clubs are
required to provide an acceptable arena and playing conditions. I'm not sure
how the monetary compensation works between the NHL and AHL team. The AHL
team is responsible for all local things such as public relations, marketing
and the like. However, some NHL teams also run their AHL affiliate. For example,
the Detroit Red Wings' front office is also in charge of the Adirondack club.
Detroit assistant GM Doug MacLean is also Adirondack's GM. The other personnel
(broadcasters, PR, etc) live and work in Glens Falls but are hired by Detroit.
Other clubs, like Albany, have private ownership. Albany owner Al Lawrence
signed a working agreement with the New Jersey Devils. New Jersey provides
players and the coaches. Lawrence, himself, had to negotiate with the city
of Albany for use of the Knickerbocker Arena and all specifics pertaining to
it. Consequently, it is Lawrence himself who keeps all profits or pays all
debts incurred by the franchise.
ARE THERE ANY INTERESTING ARENAS AROUND THE AHL?
Arenas are one of the most unique things about minor league hockey. While
some arenas truly are minor league, others have an incredible atmosphere
for watching hockey; many are compared to NHL arenas in style and ambiance.
The Rochester War Memorial has often been compared to Chicago Stadium. The
faithful are loud, obnoxious, loud, rude and loud. The War Memorial also has
a blaring fog horn like Chicago. Needless to say, the Amerks have a very
substantial home ice advantage.
The Hersheypark Arena reminds many of the Montreal Forum. Ken Dryden referred
to the Forum as being not necesarily flashy or spectacular but it just felt
like the right place to hold a hockey game. Hersheypark Arena has been described
in much the same way. The town, which is small, revolves mainly around the
Bears and the adjoining Hersheypark amusment facility. They have very loyal
and knowledgable fans there.
The Springfield Civic Center is a rather drab place. It's old but lacks
the atmosphere of the other arenas. It's been described as "all right"
by most who've been there.
The other unique arena in the league is the St John's Memorial Stadium. It's
now the smallest arena in the league, seating about 3000 and holding 3910
total. However, the fans in the Newfoundland city are rabid about their Leafs
but also knowledgable about the game and appreciative of quality hockey, no
matter who plays it.
A few years ago, the Glens Falls Civic Center was called the best AHL arena
to play in by the players in a Hockey News poll. It is very well lit and
the ice is groomed nicely. It is a very family oriented place. One of the
criticisms of it by former coach Barry Melrose, yours truly and others is
that it's too nice and too polite. However, they're one of only two teams
to draw 150,000 fans each year since 1979-80 (Hershey's the other).
WHY DO SOME GUYS HAVE GREAT AHL CAREERS BUT NEVER GET MUCH OF AN NHL SHOT?
There are many theories on this but the most prevailing one is this. Many
of the players in this category are smaller forwards who have good offensive
ability and good speed. Murray Eaves, Glenn Merkosky, Don Biggs, Jody Gage come
to mind as recent players. However, they do not play the "big man's game."
Good finesse players are a dime a dozen. If you are not willing to go into
the corners and dig and forecheck and hit people, you will likely not make it
to the NHL. Only finesse players with exceptional talent like a Pavel Bure or
Wayne Gretzky can get away with this.
HOW LONG DO MOST PLAYERS TAKE BEFORE THEY MAKE THE PROS?
Well, one thing that all minor leaguers (of all sports) hate is when people
ask them when they'll get to the pros. They will be quick to tell you
that they are in the pros. They get paid for playing hockey, thus they
are professionals. Most players don't spend more than 2 or 3 years in the
AHL without getting an NHL shot. Some clubs will hold onto veterans for
longer so that they can teach younger players. But if you're around more
than 2 or 3 years, your time is likely up.
THUS...
This brings up a good point about the difference between the AHL (and
other minor leagues) with the junior leagues. The juniors, such as the
Canadian Hockey League, are amateur leagues. The players are generally 16
to 20 and undrafted by an NHL squad until after their junior tenure is done.
AHL players are professionals and under contract with an NHL team.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE AHL
The AHL was formed in 1937-38. It was always a minor league compared
to the NHL. However, since the NHL had only 6 squads until 1967, a spot in the
NHL was precious and few and the quality of play in the AHL was very high too.
One of the legends has to do with Boston Bruins' legend Eddie Shore who was
also the owner, GM or coach (i forget which) of the Springfield Indians.
Apparently, Shore traveled to and from Boston and Springfield and whichever
cities they were in so he could play with both. Another legend has to do with
the frugality of fans in Hershey and the adjoining Penn. Dutch area as recounted
by Bears' GM Frank Mathers. Apparently, one game the club handed out free soap
to customers. This was a big thing since soap was in short supply at the time.
Anyways, the officiating must not have been to the pleasure of the Pennsylv-
anians so they hurled their bars of soap onto the ice. Mathers noted that if
the frugal Hershians were so mad as to throw away their soap, the ref must have
been really bad.
In the early 1970's, the AHL added the first professional hockey team in
the Canadian Maritimes, the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.
Up until the 1960's, AHL teams had been unaffiliated and signed their own
players and paid them out of their own pocket. The AHL was nearly bled dry by
the rapid expansion and the formation of the WHA. Previously, there were about
70 jobs in major league pro hockey; now that number had ballooned to over
300. Many AHL teams collapsed. Thus affiliations with NHL teams became more
common. Even then, most franchises were affiliated with two or more NHL
teams. Split affiliations were the norm rather than the exception until
the mid 1980s saw a reversal of that. NHL teams liked single affiliations
because they provided the coach and made sure their particular style of
hockey would be taught. For example, imagine a dual affiliation of the
early 1980's Edmonton Oilers and Philly Flyers. However, some predict that
dual affiliations may make a resurgence in the monetarily-strapped economy.
One thing that HAS made a resurgence is partial affiliations. Cash strapped
teams have become unable (or unwilling), to support a full minor league system.
A full minor league lineup consists of around 18 to 20 players. However,
some cash strapped teams are signing partial affiliations with AHL teams.
The NHL team provides around 10-12 minor leaguers (and coaches) but the AHL
franchise must provide the remainder and pay for them out of their own
pocket. Hershey and Albany will have partial affiliations. Possibly
Portland and maybe others will too.
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+ Bri Farenell fare...@craft.camp.clarkson.edu +
+ Glens Falls High '91 Clarkson University '95 +
+ AHL, ECAC and Boston Bruins contact for rec.sport.hockey +
+ Adirondack Red Wings, Calder Cup Champs: '81 '86 '89 '92 +
+ Email me for info on the AHL mailing list GO ERIN WHITTEN! +
+ ARIZONA FOOTBALL: DESERT SWARM DEFENSE, #1 IN NATION. GO 'CATS!!! +
+ Clarkson hockey: 1993 ECAC Champs-----Clarkson soccer 1993 EAA Champs+
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