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.

League business

European pre-season openers On 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.

Playoff format The 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.

Team and NHL affiliation changes

Team changes On 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. 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. 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" ."League suspends Iowa Chops from playing in 2009-10 season" The Des Moines Register, July 7, 2009"Chops franchise in suspension for 2009-10 season" AHL Press Release July 7, 2009

Affiliation changes

AHL team new affiliate old affiliate Texas Stars DAL None

Final standings

indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division 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 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 North Division 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 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

Leading skaters

The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the regular season.

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts +/– PIM Hershey Bears 72 35 71 106 +27 49 Hershey Bears 69 50 53 103 +32 34 Hartford Wolf Pack 76 31 54 85 -5 44 Albany River Rats 74 37 41 78 +8 66 Hamilton Bulldogs 60 27 51 78 +30 34 Hamilton Bulldogs 75 36 41 77 +33 56 Chicago Wolves 78 14 61 75 +17 34 Portland Pirates 74 28 46 74 +16 55 Springfield Falcons 75 19 55 74 0 36 Binghamton Senators 77 24 48 72 -24 50

= No longer with listed team

Leading goaltenders

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1560 minutes played led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season.

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 Hamilton Bulldogs 47 2576 1067 86 6 2.00 0.919 29 9 4 Manchester Monarchs 58 3424 1823 116 9 2.03 0.936 30 21 6 Hamilton Bulldogs 41 2230 935 79 4 2.13 0.916 23 11 3 Hershey Bears 37 2146 1000 83 2 2.32 0.917 25 8 2 Milwaukee Admirals 49 2804 1266 109 4 2.33 0.914 27 16 4

Calder Cup playoffs

Bracket

AHL awards Calder Cup : Hershey Bears Les Cunningham Award : Keith Aucoin, Hershey John B. Sollenberger Trophy : Keith Aucoin, Hershey Willie Marshall Award : Alexandre Giroux, Hershey Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award : Tyler Ennis, Portland Eddie Shore Award : Danny Groulx, Worcester Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award : Jonathan Bernier, Manchester Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award : Cedrick Desjardins & Curtis Sanford, Hamilton Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award : Guy Boucher, Hamilton Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award : Casey Borer, Albany Yanick Dupre Memorial Award : Josh Tordjman, San Antonio Jack A. Butterfield Trophy : Chris Bourque, Hershey Richard F. Canning Trophy : Hershey Bears Robert W. Clarke Trophy : Texas Stars Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy: Hershey Bears Frank Mathers Trophy: Hershey Bears Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy: Hamilton Bulldogs Emile Francis Trophy : Worcester Sharks F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy: Hershey Bears Sam Pollock Trophy: Hamilton Bulldogs John D. Chick Trophy: Chicago Wolves James C. Hendy Memorial Award: Howard Dolgon, Syracuse Thomas Ebright Memorial Award: Tom Mitchell, Binghamton James H. Ellery Memorial Awards: Pete Dougherty, Albany Ken McKenzie Award: Jim Sarosy, Syracuse Michael Condon Memorial Award: David Butova

Milestones

See also List of AHL seasons 2009 in ice hockey 2010 in ice hockey

References

AHL official site