1970–71 AHL season explained

1970–71 AHL season
League:	American Hockey League
Sport:	Ice hockey
Season:	Regular season
Season Champ Name:	F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy
Season Champs:	Providence Reds
Mvp:	Fred Speck
Mvp Link:	Les Cunningham Award
Top Scorer:	Fred Speck
Top Scorer Link:	John B. Sollenberger Trophy
Finals:	Playoffs
Finals Link:	1971 Calder Cup playoffs
Finals Champ:	Springfield Kings
Seasonslistnames:	AHL

The 1970–71 AHL season was the 35th season of the American Hockey League. Eight teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Baltimore Clippers finished first overall in the regular season. The Springfield Kings won their first Calder Cup championship, since being renamed from the Indians.

Team changes

The Buffalo Bisons cease operations, when the Buffalo Sabres joined the National Hockey League as an expansion team.

Final standings

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

East	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
Providence Reds (independent)	72	28	31	13	69	257	270
Montreal Voyageurs (MTL)	72	27	31	14	68	215	239
Springfield Kings^† (LAK)	72	29	35	8	66	244	281
Quebec Aces ^† (PHI)	72	25	31	16	66	211	240

West	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
Baltimore Clippers (DET)	72	40	23	9	89	263	224
Cleveland Barons (independent)	72	39	26	7	85	272	208
Hershey Bears (BOS)	72	31	31	10	72	238	212
Rochester Americans (VAN)	72	25	36	11	61	222	248

^†The Springfield Kings defeated the Quebec Aces by a score of 4–3 in overtime in a one-game playoff to determine the last playoff spot in the East Division.

Scoring leaders

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

GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
72	31	61	92	40
69	31	51	82	15
59	27	48	75	39
65	38	37	75	66
72	27	47	74	142
70	21	53	74	39
72	33	36	69	26
62	25	44	69	22
69	42	26	68	52

complete list

Calder Cup playoffs

Tiebreaker

Springfield Kings defeated Quebec Aces 4–3 in overtime.

First round

Providence Reds defeated Baltimore Clippers 4 games to 2.
Springfield Kings defeated Montreal Voyageurs 3 games to 0.
Cleveland Barons defeated Hershey Bears 3 games to 1.

Second round

Providence Reds earned second round bye.
Springfield Kings defeated Cleveland Barons 3 games to 1.

Finals

Springfield Kings defeated Providence Reds 4 games to 0, to win the Calder Cup.
list of scores

Trophy and award winners

Team awards

Calder Cup Playoff champions:	Springfield Kings
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division:	Providence Reds
John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division:	Baltimore Clippers

Individual awards

Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player:	Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers
John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer:	Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year:	Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers
Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year:
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average:	Gary Kurt - Cleveland Barons
Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year:	Terry Reardon - Baltimore Clippers

Other awards

James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive:	Jack A. Butterfield
James H. Ellery Memorial Award Outstanding media coverage:	W.W. "Tiny" Parry, Hershey