American Hockey League

The American Hockey League (AHL) became the major affiliation league for the National Hockey League upon its amalgamation with the International Hockey League in 2001. It is a professional hockey league playing at the minor triple-A level. All teams are required to have affiliation agreements with National Hockey League teams. As of the 2004-05 season, the league had 28 clubs, most of them based in eastern Canada and the United States. The league was created in 1936, and teams compete annually for the Calder Cup.

Contents

1 Teams

1.1 Eastern Conference

1.1.1 Atlantic Division
1.1.2 East Division

1.2 Western Conference

1.2.1 North Division
1.2.2 West Division

2 Future Teams

3 Defunct Teams

4 Rule changes for the 2004-2005 season

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Teams

(affiliated teams in brackets)

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Future Teams

Iowa Stars (Dallas Stars) (to begin play in 2005)
Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues) Worcester IceCats relocating in 2005
Toronto AHL Hockey (Toronto Maple Leafs) St. John's Maple Leafs relocating in 2005. Renaming of the team is in focus group testing with Buds, Baby Leafs, St. Pats, and Marlies among the more well received options.
Flames AHL Affiliate most likely in Omaha (Calgary Flames) dormant Saint John Flames to reactivate in 2005

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Defunct Teams

Adirondack Red Wings (1979-1999)
Baltimore Bandits (1995-1997)
Baltimore Clippers (1962-1975)
Baltimore Clippers (1975-1976)
Baltimore Skipjacks (1982-1993)
Binghamton Rangers (1990-1997; became Hartford Wolf Pack)
Binghamton Whalers (1980-1990; became Binghamton Rangers)
Boston Braves (1971-1974)
Buffalo Bisons (1936)
Buffalo Bisons (1940-1970)
Broome County Dusters (1977-1980; became Binghamton Whalers)
Cape Breton Oilers (1988-1996)
Capitol District Islanders (1990-1993)
Carolina Monarchs (1995-1997)
Cincinnati Mohawks (1949-1952)
Cincinnati Swords (1971-1974)
Cleveland Barons (1937-1972; became Jacksonville Barons)
Cleveland Falcons-Barons (1936-1937)
Cornwall Aces (1993-1996)
Erie Blades (1981-1982)
Fredericton Canadiens (1990-1999; became Quebec Citadelles)
Fredericton Express (1981-1988; became Halifax Citadels)
Halifax Citadels (1988-1993)
Hamilton Canucks (1992-1994)
Hampton Gulls (1977-1978)
Indianapolis Capitals (1939-1952)
Jacksonville Barons (1972-1974)

Kentucky Thoroughblades (1996-2001; became the present Cleveland Barons)
Louisville Panthers (1999-2001)
Maine Mariners (1977-1992; became Providence Bruins)
Moncton Alpines (1982-1984)
Moncton Golden Flames (1984-1987)
Moncton Hawks (1987-1994)
Montreal Voyageurs (1969-1971; became Nova Scotia Voyageurs)
New Brunswick Hawks (1978-1982; became Moncton Alpines)
New Haven Beast (1997-1999)
New Haven Eagles (1936-1943)
New Haven Eagles (1945-1946)
New Haven Nighthawks (1972-1992)
New Haven Ramblers (1946-1951)
Newmarket Saints (1986-1991; became St. John's Maple Leafs)
New Haven Senators (1992-1993; became Prince Edward Island Senators)
Nova Scotia Oilers (1984-1988; became Cape Breton Oilers)
Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1971-1984)
Philadelphia Firebirds (1977-1979; became Syracuse Firebirds)
Philadelphia Ramblers (1936-1940)
Philadelphia Rockets (1940-1942)
Philadelphia Rockets (1946-1949; became Cincinnati Mohawks)
Pittsburgh Hornets (1936-1956; became Rochester Americans)
Pittsburgh Hornets (1961-1967)
Prince Edward Island Senators (1993-1996; became Binghamton Senators)

Providence Reds (1936-1976; became Rhode Island Reds)
Quebec Aces (1959-1971)
Quebec Citadelles (1999-2002)
Rhode Island Reds (1976-1977; became Broome County Dusters)
Richmond Robins (1971-1976)
Saint John Flames (1993-2003)
Sherbrooke Canadiens (1984-1990; became Fredricton Canadiens)
Sherbrooke Jets (1982-1984)
Springfield Indians (1936-1942)
Springfield Indians (1946-1951; became Syracuse Warriors)
Springfield Indians (1954-1967)
Springfield Indians (1974-1994; became Springfield Falcons)
Springfield Kings (1967-1974)
St. Catharines Saints (1982-1986; became Newmarket Saints)
St. Louis Flyers (1944-1953)
Syracuse Eagles (1974-1975)
Syracuse Firebirds (1979-1980)
Syracuse Stars (1936-1940; became Buffalo Bisons)
Syracuse Warriors (1951-1954; became Springfield Indians)
Tidewater Wings (1971-1972; became Virginia Wings)
Toronto Roadrunners (2003-2004; became Edmonton Roadrunners)
Utica Devils (1987-1993)
Washington Lions (1941-1943)
Washington Lions (1947-1949; became Cincinnati Mohawks)
Virginia Wings (1972-1975)

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Rule changes for the 2004-2005 season

During the 2004-2005 season the AHL is trying out several rule changes; the National Hockey League is monitoring their success. These changes are:

allowing forward passes from behind the blue line across the red line
widening each blue line to 24 inches, thereby expanding all three zones without changing the dimensions of the rink
calling icing as soon as the puck crosses the goal line
allowing a player who has entered the attacking zone ahead of the puck to leave the zone without touching the puck, rather than ruling the player offside immediately (the so-called tag-up offside, used in the NHL from 1986 to 1996)
moving the goal line back to 11 feet from the end boards (versus 13 in the NHL)
penalizing goaltenders who play the puck outside a designated area behind each net; the area expands from 18 feet along the goal line – the net and six feet on each side – to 28 feet along the end boards.

External Links:

The American Hockey League Official Website (http://www.theahl.com)
Historic standings and statistics (http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/ahl1941.html) - at Internet Hockey Database

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