The 2001 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 10, 2001.2001 Calder Cup Playoffs caldercup.com. Retrieved on April 28, 2008. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-five series for division semifinals and best-of-seven series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 28, 2001, with the Saint John Flames defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins four games to two to win the first, and only, Calder Cup in team history.Flames win first Calder Cup, CBC Sports, May 21, 2001. Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
Saint John's Steve Begin won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.Jack A. Butterfield Trophy ahlhalloffame.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008 Wilkes-Barre Scranton defenseman Chris Kelleher set an AHL playoff record for points scored by a defenseman in one playoff with 25 (7 goals, 18 assists).Calder Cup record book: Players caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008. This record was broken in 2008 by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton defenseman Alex Goligoski. Scoring correction gives Goligoski league record caldercup.com. Retrieved on June 2, 2008.
Playoff seeds After the 2000–01 AHL regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. However, due to the uneven number of teams in each division, it was possible for teams to crossover to another division for the playoffs. The fifth-placed team in the New England Division could qualify for the fourth playoff spot in the Canadian Division if they earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the Canadian Division. The fifth-placed team in the Mid-Atlantic Division could qualify for the fourth playoff spot in the South Division if they earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the South Division. The Worcester IceCats were the Eastern Conference regular season champions as well as the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners with the best overall regular season record. The Rochester Americans were the Western Conference regular season champions.2000-01 AHL Standings The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on April 28, 2008.
Eastern Conference
Canadian Division Saint John Flames – 100 points Quebec Citadelles – 89 points St. John's Maple Leafs – 80 points
New England Division Worcester IceCats – Eastern Conference regular season champions; Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners, 108 points Hartford Wolf Pack – 94 points Providence Bruins – 84 points Lowell Lock Monsters – 80 points Portland Pirates – 74 points (Played in the Canadian Division bracket by virtue of earning more points than the fourth-placed team in that division)
Western Conference
Mid-Atlantic Division Rochester Americans – Western Conference regular season champions, 104 points Syracuse Crunch – 83 points Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins – 83 points Philadelphia Phantoms – 82 points Hershey Bears – 75 points (Played in the South Division bracket by virtue of earning more points than the fourth-placed team in that division)
Southern Division Kentucky Thoroughblades – 97 points Cincinnati Mighty Ducks – 95 points Norfolk Admirals – 90 points
Bracket
In each round the team that earned more points during the regular season receives home ice advantage, meaning they receive the "extra" game on home-ice if the series reaches the maximum number of games. There is no set series format due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.Frequently asked questions theahl.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
Division Semifinals Note 1: All times are in Eastern Time (UTC−4). Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary. Note 3: Home team is listed first.
Eastern Conference
Canadian Division
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (N5) Portland Pirates
(C2) Quebec Citadelles vs. (C3) St. John's Maple Leafs
New England Division
(N1) Worcester IceCats vs. (N4) Lowell Lock Monsters
(N2) Hartford Wolf Pack vs. (N3) Providence Bruins
Western Conference
Mid-Atlantic Division
(M1) Rochester Americans vs. (M4) Philadelphia Phantoms
(M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (M3) Syracuse Crunch
Southern Division
(S1) Kentucky Thoroughblades vs. (M5) Hershey Bears
(S2) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks vs. (S3) Norfolk Admirals
1 – at Cincinnati Gardens 2 – at Norfolk, Virginia
Division Finals
Eastern Conference
Canadian Division
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (C2) Quebec Citadelles
New England Division
(N1) Worcester IceCats vs. (N3) Providence Bruins
Western Conference
Mid-Atlantic Division
(M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (M4) Philadelphia Phantoms
Southern Division
(S3) Norfolk Admirals vs. (M5) Hershey Bears
Conference finals
Eastern Conference
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (N3) Providence Bruins
Western Conference
(M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. (M5) Hershey Bears
Calder Cup Final
(C1) Saint John Flames vs. (M2) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
See also 2000–01 AHL season List of AHL seasons
References