2001–02 AHL season

The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion teams.

The AHL realigns divisions again. The Eastern conference consists of the East, North and Canadian divisions. The Western conference consists of the Central, South and West divisions. The league also announces three additional trophies. Two of which are to be awarded for the regular season champions of the new divisions. The Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy goes to the West division, and the Emile Francis Trophy goes to the North division. The third trophy, the Michael Condon Memorial Award is first awarded for outstanding service by an on-ice official in the AHL.

Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers finished first overall in the regular season. The Chicago Wolves won their first Calder Cup championship, in their inaugural AHL season.

Team changes

Teams from the International Hockey League

Six teams transferred to the American Hockey League, when the International Hockey League ceased operations.

Final standings

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

Eastern Conference

Canadian GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
Quebec Citadelles (MTL) 80 35 2715 3 88 257 254
Hamilton Bulldogs (EDM) 80 37 3010 3 87 247 205
St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR)80 34 2717 2 87 256 240
Manitoba Moose (VAN) 80 39 33 4 4 86 270 260
Saint John Flames (CGY) 80 29 3413 4 75 182 202
North GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
Lowell Lock Monsters (CAR) 80 41 2511 3 96 229 209
Manchester Monarchs (LA) 80 38 2811 3 90 236 225
Worcester IceCats (STL) 80 39 33 7 1 86 245 218
Portland Pirates (WSH) 80 30 3115 4 79 220 225
Springfield Falcons (TB/PHX) 80 35 41 2 2 74 213 237
East GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) 80 43 25 8 4 98 240 192
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 80 41 2610 3 95 249 243
Providence Bruins (BOS) 80 35 33 8 4 82 190 223
Albany River Rats (NJ) 80 14 421212 52 172 271

Western Conference

Central GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
Syracuse Crunch (CBJ) 80392313 5 96 228 193
Rochester Americans (BUF) 80323015 3 82 206 211
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA/DET)80333311 3 80 216 211
Cleveland Barons (SJ) 802940 7 4 69 223 268
West GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
Grand Rapids Griffins (OTT)80422711095217178
Houston Aeros (MIN) 80392610593234232
Utah Grizzlies (DAL/FLA) 804029 6591240225
Chicago Wolves (ATL) 803731 7586250236
Milwaukee Admirals (NAS) 80303510575198207
South GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA
Norfolk Admirals (CHI) 80 38 26 12 4 92 222 205
Hershey Bears (COL) 80 36 27 11 6 89 200 193
Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI) 80 33 27 15 5 86 206 210
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)80 20 44 13 3 56 201 274

Scoring leaders

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

Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Donald MacLean St. John's Maple Leafs 75 33 54 87 49
Eric Boguniecki Worcester IceCats 45 38 46 84100
Rob Brown Chicago Wolves 80 29 54 83103
Brad Smyth Hartford Wolf Pack 79 34 48 82 90
Jason Chimera Hamilton Bulldogs 77 26 51 77158
Justin Papineau Worcester IceCats 75 38 38 76 86
Eric Landry Quebec Citadelles 73 26 36 62119
Brian Swanson Hamilton Bulldogs 65 34 39 73 26
Bob Wren St. John's Maple Leafs 69 24 49 73 83

Calder Cup Playoffs

Eastern Conference Qualifier
   
7 St. John's Maple Leafs 2
10 Providence Bruins 0
Eastern Conference Qualifier
   
8 Worcester IceCats 1
9 Manitoba Moose 2
Western Conference Qualifier
   
7 Chicago Wolves 2
10 Cincinnati Mighty Ducks 1
Western Conference Qualifier
   
8 Philadelphia Phantoms 2
9 Rochester Americans 0
  Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals Calder Cup Final
                                     
1  Bridgeport 3     1  Bridgeport 4  
8  Manitoba 2     7  St. John's 1  
2  Lowell 2 Eastern Conference
7  St. John's 3  
    1  Bridgeport 4  
  6  Hamilton 3  
3  Quebec 1  
6  Hamilton 3  
4  Hartford 3   4  Hartford 2
5  Manchester 2     6  Hamilton 4  
  E1  Bridgeport 1
(Pairings are re-seeded after the first round.)
  W7  Chicago 4
1  Syracuse 3     1  Syracuse 1
8  Philadelphia 2     7  Chicago 4  
2  Grand Rapids 2
7  Chicago 3  
  4  Houston 1
  7  Chicago 4  
3  Norfolk 1  
6  Hershey 3   Western Conference
4  Houston 3   4  Houston 4
5  Utah 2     6  Hershey 3  

All Star Classic

The 15th AHL All-Star Game was played on February 14, 2002 at the Mile One Stadium in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Team Canada defeated Team PlanetUSA 13-11. In the skills competition held the day before the All-Star Game, Team Canada won 21-9 over Team PlanetUSA.

Trophy and award winners

Team awards

Calder Cup
Playoff champions:
Chicago Wolves
Richard F. Canning Trophy
Eastern Conference playoff champions:
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Robert W. Clarke Trophy
Western Conference playoff champions:
Chicago Wolves
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy
Regular season champions, league:
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Frank Mathers Trophy
Regular season champions, South Division:
Norfolk Admirals
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy
Regular season champions, West Division:
Grand Rapids Griffins
Emile Francis Trophy
Regular season champions, North Division:
Lowell Lock Monsters
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy
Regular season champions, East Division:
Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Sam Pollock Trophy
Regular season champions, Canadian Division:
Quebec Citadelles
John D. Chick Trophy
Regular season champions, Central Division:
Syracuse Crunch

Individual Awards

Les Cunningham Award
Most valuable player:
Eric Boguniecki - Worcester IceCats
John B. Sollenberger Trophy
Top point scorer:
Donald MacLean - St. John's Maple Leafs
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award
Rookie of the year:
Tyler Arnason - Norfolk Admirals
Eddie Shore Award
Defenceman of the year:
John Slaney - Philadelphia Phantoms
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award
Best goaltender:
Martin Prusek - Grand Rapids Griffins
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award
Lowest goals against average:
Martin Prusek, Simon Lajeunesse & Mathieu Chouinard - Grand Rapids Griffins
Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award
Coach of the year:
Bruce Cassidy - Grand Rapids Griffins
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award
Sportsmanship / Perseverance:
Nathan Dempsey - St. John's Maple Leafs
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award
Community Service Award:
Travis Roche - Houston Aeros
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy
MVP of the playoffs:
Pasi Nurminen - Chicago Wolves

Other awards

James C. Hendy Memorial Award
Most outstanding executive:
Glenn Stanford, St. John's Maple Leafs
Thomas Ebright Memorial Award
Career contributions:
Bruce Landon
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards
Outstanding media coverage:
Garry McKay, Hamilton, (newspaper)
WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, (radio)
Tom Grace, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, (television)
Ken McKenzie Award
Outstanding marketing executive:
Jim Sarosy, Syracuse Crunch
Michael Condon Memorial Award
Outstanding service, on-ice official:
Jim Doyle

See also

References

Preceded by
2000–01 AHL season
AHL seasons Succeeded by
2002–03 AHL season
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