1995–96 AHL season

The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expands by two teams and realigns into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions. The Southern Conference include the South Division and the newly created Central Division.

The league introduces two new trophies for division champions of the regular season. The Frank Mathers Trophy is first awarded for the south division, and the Sam Pollock Trophy is first awarded for the atlantic Division. The John D. Chick Trophy becomes awarded to the central division.

The AHL revives awarding points for overtime losses, last awarded in the 1987–88 AHL season. Eighteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Albany River Rats finished first overall in the regular season. The Rochester Americans won their sixth Calder Cup championship.

Team changes

Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points;

Northern Conference

Atlantic GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
Prince Edward Island Senators (OTT)803833 6385303313
Saint John Flames (CGY)80353011485272264
St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR)80313114480248274
Fredericton Canadiens (MTL)80343511079307308
Cape Breton Oilers (EDM)803340 3473290323
North GP W L T OTL PTS GF GA
Springfield Falcons (HFD/WPG)80 42 22 11 5100 272 215
Worcester IceCats (STL)80 36 28 12 4 88 242 244
Portland Pirates (WAS)80 32 34 10 4 78 282 283
Providence Bruins (BOS)80 30 36 10 4 74 249 280

Southern Conference

Central GP W L T OTL PTS GF GA
Albany River Rats (NJ)805419 7 0115322218
Adirondack Red Wings (DET)803832 8 2 86271247
Rochester Americans (BUF)803734 5 4 83294297
Cornwall Aces (COL)803434 7 5 80249251
Syracuse Crunch (VAN)803137 5 7 74257307
South GP W L T OTL PTS GF GA
Binghamton Rangers (NYR)80 39 31 7 3 88 333 331
Hershey Bears (PHI)80 36 3011 3 86 301 287
Baltimore Bandits (ANA)80 33 36 9 2 77 279 299
Carolina Monarchs (FLA)80 28 3811 3 70 313 343

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Brad Smyth Carolina Monarchs 68 68 58126 80
Jim Montgomery Hershey Bears 78 34 71105 95
Mike Casselman Carolina Monarchs 70 34 68102 46
Gilbert Dionne Carolina Monarchs 55 43 58101 29
Peter Ferraro Binghamton Rangers 68 48 53101157
Chris Ferraro Binghamton Rangers 77 32 67 99208
Craig Charron Rochester Americans 72 43 52 95 79
Jean-Yves Roy Prince Edward Island Senators 67 40 55 95 64
Dixon Ward Rochester Americans 71 38 56 94 74
Brett Harkins Carolina Monarchs 55 23 71 94 44
Andrew Brunette Portland Pirates 69 28 66 94125

Calder Cup playoffs

Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Calder Cup Final
            
A1 P.E.I. 2
A4 Fredericton 3
A4 Fredericton 1
Atlantic Division
A2 Saint John 4
A2 Saint John 3
A3 St. John's 1
A2 Saint John 3
Northern Conference
N3 Portland 4
N1 Springfield 3
N4 Providence 1
N1 Springfield 2
North Division
N3 Portland 4
N2 Worcester 1
N3 Portland 3
N3 Portland 3
C3 Rochester 4
C1 Albany 1
C4 Cornwall 3
C4 Cornwall 0
Central Division
C3 Rochester 4
C2 Adirondack 0
C3 Rochester 3
C3 Rochester 4
Southern Conference
C5 Syracuse 1
S1 Binghamton 1
C5 Syracuse 3
C5 Syracuse 4
South Division
S3 Baltimore 3
S2 Hershey 2
S3 Baltimore 3

All Star Classic

The 9th AHL All-Star Game was played on January 16, 1996 at the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Team USA defeated Team Canada 6-5. In the inaugural AHL skills competition held the day before the All-Star Game, Team USA won 14-12 over Team Canada.[1]

Trophy and award winners

Team Awards

Calder Cup
Playoff champions:
Rochester Americans
Richard F. Canning Trophy
Northern Conference playoff champions:
Portland Pirates
Robert W. Clarke Trophy
Southern Conference playoff champions:
Rochester Americans
Frank Mathers Trophy
Regular Season champions, South Division:
Binghamton Rangers
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy
Regular Season champions, North Division:
Springfield Falcons
Sam Pollock Trophy
Regular Season champions, Atlantic Division:
Prince Edward Island Senators
John D. Chick Trophy
Regular Season champions, Central Division:
Albany River Rats

Individual awards

Les Cunningham Award
Most valuable player:
Brad Smyth - Carolina Monarchs
John B. Sollenberger Trophy
Top point scorer:
Brad Smyth - Carolina Monarchs
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award
Rookie of the year:
Darcy Tucker - Fredericton Canadiens
Eddie Shore Award
Defenceman of the year:
Barry Richter - Binghamton Rangers
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award
Best Goaltender:
Manny Legace - Springfield Falcons
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award
Lowest goals against average:
Manny Legace & Scott Langkow - Springfield Falcons
Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award
Coach of the year:
Robbie Ftorek - Albany River Rats
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award
Sportsmanship / Perseverance:
Ken Gernander - Binghamton Rangers
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy
MVP of the playoffs:
Dixon Ward - Rochester Americans

Other awards

James C. Hendy Memorial Award
Most outstanding executive:
Steve Donner, Rochester Americans
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards
Outstanding media coverage:
Kevin Oklobzija, Rochester, (newspaper)
Seth Everett, Syracuse, (radio)
Tom Caron, New England Sports Network, (television)
Ken McKenzie Award
Outstanding marketing executive:
Tim Kuhl, Syracuse Crunch

See also

References

Preceded by
1994–95 AHL season
AHL seasons Succeeded by
1996–97 AHL season
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