1971-72 AHL season
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The 1971-72 AHL season was the 36th season of the American Hockey League. Major changes occurred in the off-season. The league welcomed four expansion teams, and lost both Quebec-based teams. Eleven teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Boston Braves finished first overall in the regular season. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs won their first Calder Cup championship.
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[edit] Team changes
- The Quebec Aces cease operations.
- The Montreal Voyageurs move to Halifax, Nova Scotia becoming the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.
- The Rochester Americans switch divisions from west to east.
- The Boston Braves join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the east division.
- The Cincinnati Swords join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, playing in the west division.
- The Richmond Robins join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Richmond, Virginia, playing in the west division.
- The Tidewater Wings join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Norfolk, Virginia, playing in the west division.
[edit] Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals For; GA = Goals Against; PTS = Points;
| East | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Braves † | 76 | 41 | 21 | 14 | 96 | 260 | 191 |
| Nova Scotia Voyageurs | 76 | 41 | 21 | 14 | 96 | 274 | 202 |
| Springfield Kings | 76 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 77 | 273 | 266 |
| Providence Reds | 76 | 28 | 37 | 11 | 67 | 250 | 274 |
| Rochester Americans | 76 | 28 | 38 | 10 | 66 | 242 | 311 |
| West | GP | W | L | T | PTS | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Clippers | 76 | 34 | 31 | 11 | 79 | 266 | 253 |
| Hershey Bears | 76 | 33 | 30 | 13 | 79 | 238 | 212 |
| Cincinnati Swords | 76 | 30 | 28 | 18 | 78 | 252 | 258 |
| Cleveland Barons | 76 | 32 | 34 | 10 | 74 | 269 | 263 |
| Richmond Robins | 76 | 29 | 34 | 13 | 71 | 237 | 218 |
| Tidewater Wings | 76 | 22 | 45 | 9 | 53 | 197 | 275 |
† First place tiebreaker determined by head-to-head competition during regular season.
[edit] Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Blackburn | Providence Reds | 76 | 34 | 65 | 99 | 12 |
| Fred Harvey | Cleveland Barons | 73 | 41 | 54 | 95 | 72 |
| Terry Caffery | Cleveland Barons | 65 | 29 | 59 | 88 | 18 |
| Gord Labossiere | Cleveland Barons | 66 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 71 |
| Ed Hoekstra | Springfield Kings | 74 | 16 | 69 | 85 | 32 |
| Pete Laframboise | Baltimore Clippers | 72 | 37 | 44 | 81 | 95 |
| Wayne Rivers | Springfield Kings | 68 | 48 | 33 | 81 | 67 |
| Germain Gagnon | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | 70 | 25 | 56 | 81 | 34 |
| Joe Szura | Baltimore Clippers | 72 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 20 |
| Doug Roberts | Boston Braves | 74 | 35 | 40 | 75 | 107 |
[edit] Calder Cup playoffs
- First round
- Boston Braves defeated Providence Reds 4 games to 1.
- Nova Scotia Voyageurs defeated Springfield Kings 4 games to 1.
- Baltimore Clippers defeated Cleveland Barons 4 games to 2.
- Cincinnati Swords defeated Hershey Bears 4 games to 0.
- Second round
- Nova Scotia Voyageurs defeated Boston Braves 4 games to 0.
- Baltimore Clippers defeated Cincinnati Swords 4 games to 2.
- Finals
- Nova Scotia Voyageurs defeated Baltimore Clippers 4 games to 2, to win the Calder Cup.
[edit] Trophy and Award winners
- Team Awards
| Calder Cup Playoff champions: |
Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| F.G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division: |
Boston Braves |
| John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division: |
Baltimore Clippers |
- Individual Awards
| Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player: |
Garry Peters - Boston Braves |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer: |
Don Blackburn - Providence Reds |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year: |
Terry Caffery - Cleveland Barons |
| Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year: |
Noel Price - Springfield Kings / Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Goaltender of the year: |
Dan Bouchard & Ross Brooks - Boston Braves |
| Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year: |
Al MacNeil - Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
| Preceded by: 1970-71 AHL season |
AHL seasons | Succeeded by: 1972-73 AHL season |
