1971–72 AHL season explained

1971–72 AHL season
League:	American Hockey League
Sport:	Ice hockey
Season:	Regular season
Season Champ Name:	F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy
Season Champs:	Boston Braves
Mvp:	Garry Peters
Mvp Link:	Les Cunningham Award
Top Scorer:	Don Blackburn
Top Scorer Link:	John B. Sollenberger Trophy
Finals:	Playoffs
Finals Link:	1972 Calder Cup playoffs
Finals Champ:	Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Seasonslistnames:	AHL

The 1971–72 AHL season was the 36th season of the American Hockey League. Major changes occurred in the off-season. The league welcomed four expansion teams, and lost both Quebec-based teams. Eleven teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Boston Braves finished first overall in the regular season. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs won their first Calder Cup championship.

Team changes

The Quebec Aces move to Richmond, Virginia becoming the Richmond Robins, playing in the West Division.
The Montreal Voyageurs move to Halifax, Nova Scotia becoming the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.
The Rochester Americans switch divisions from West to East.
The Boston Braves join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the East Division.
The Cincinnati Swords join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, playing in the West Division.
The Tidewater Wings join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Norfolk, Virginia, playing in the West Division.

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
Boston Braves^† (BOS)	76	41	21	14	96	260	191
Nova Scotia Voyageurs (MTL)	76	41	21	14	96	274	202
Springfield Kings (LAK)	76	31	30	15	77	273	266
Providence Reds (NYR)	76	28	37	11	67	250	274
Rochester Americans (VAN)	76	28	38	10	66	242	311

West	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA
Baltimore Clippers (CGS)	76	34	31	11	79	240	249
Hershey Bears (PIT)	76	33	30	13	79	266	253
Cincinnati Swords (BUF)	76	30	28	18	78	252	258
Cleveland Barons (independent)	76	32	34	10	74	269	263
Richmond Robins (PHI)	76	29	34	13	71	237	218
Tidewater Wings (DET)	76	22	45	9	53	197	275

^† First place tiebreaker determined by head-to-head competition during regular season.

Scoring leaders

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

GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
76	34	65	99	12
73	41	54	95	72
65	29	59	88	18
66	40	45	85	71
74	16	69	85	32
72	37	44	81	95
68	48	33	81	67
70	25	56	81	34
72	38	38	76	20
74	35	40	75	107

complete list

Calder Cup playoffs

See main article: 1972 Calder Cup playoffs.

Trophy and award winners

Team awards

Calder Cup Playoff champions:	Nova Scotia Voyageurs
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division:	Boston Braves
John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division:	Baltimore Clippers

Individual awards

Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player:	Garry Peters - Boston Braves
John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer:	Don Blackburn - Providence Reds
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year:	Terry Caffery - Cleveland Barons
Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year:
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average:	Dan Bouchard & Ross Brooks - Boston Braves
Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year:	Al MacNeil - Nova Scotia Voyageurs

Other awards

James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive:	Robert W. Clarke
James H. Ellery Memorial Award Outstanding media coverage:	Al Fischer, Baltimore