2001–02 AHL season explained

2001–02 AHL season
League:	American Hockey League
Sport:	Ice hockey
Season:	Regular season
Season Champ Name:	Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy
Season Champs:	Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Mvp:	Eric Boguniecki
Mvp Link:	Les Cunningham Award
Top Scorer:	Donald MacLean
Top Scorer Link:	John B. Sollenberger Trophy
Playoffs:	Playoffs
Playoffs Link:	2002 Calder Cup playoffs
Finals:	Calder Cup
Finals Champ:	Chicago Wolves
Finals Runner-Up:	Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Playoffs Mvp:	Pasi Nurminen
Playoffs Mvp Link:	Jack A. Butterfield Trophy
Seasonslistnames:	AHL

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 realigned divisions again. The Eastern conference consisted of the East, North and Canadian divisions. The Western conference consisted of the Central, South and West divisions. The league also announced three additional trophies, two of which were awarded for the regular season champions of the new divisions. The Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy went to the West division, and the Emile Francis Trophy went to the North division. The third trophy, the Michael Condon Memorial Award was 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

The Louisville Panthers suspend operations, becoming dormant.
The Kentucky Thoroughblades move to Cleveland, Ohio, becoming the second incarnation of the Cleveland Barons.
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
The Manchester Monarchs join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Teams from the International Hockey LeagueSix teams transferred to the American Hockey League, when the International Hockey League ceased operations.

The Chicago Wolves based in Rosemont, Illinois.
The Grand Rapids Griffins based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The Houston Aeros based in Houston, Texas.
The Manitoba Moose based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Milwaukee Admirals based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Utah Grizzlies based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Map of teams

Final standings

indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
indicates team clinched a playoff spot
indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

Eastern Conference

Canadian Division
y–Quebec Citadelles (MTL)	80	35	27	15	3	88	257	254
x–Hamilton Bulldogs (EDM)	80	37	30	10	3	87	247	205
x–St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR)	80	34	27	17	2	87	256	240
x–Manitoba Moose (VAN)	80	39	33	4	4	86	270	260
e–Saint John Flames (CGY)	80	29	34	13	4	75	182	202

North Division
y–Lowell Lock Monsters (CAR)	80	41	25	11	3	96	229	209
x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK)	80	38	28	11	3	90	236	225
x–Worcester IceCats (STL)	80	39	33	7	1	86	245	218
e–Portland Pirates (WSH)	80	30	31	15	4	79	220	225
e–Springfield Falcons (PHX/TBL)	80	35	41	2	2	74	213	237

East Division
y–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)	80	43	25	8	4	98	240	192
x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)	80	41	26	10	3	95	249	243
x–Providence Bruins (BOS)	80	35	33	8	4	82	190	223
e–Albany River Rats (NJD)	80	14	42	12	12	52	172	271

Western Conference

Central Division
y–Syracuse Crunch (CBJ)	80	39	23	13	5	96	228	193
x–Rochester Americans (BUF)	80	32	30	15	3	82	206	211
x–Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA/DET)	80	33	33	11	3	80	216	211
e–Cleveland Barons (SJS)	80	29	40	7	4	69	223	268

West Division
y–Grand Rapids Griffins (OTT)	80	42	27	11	0	95	217	178
x–Houston Aeros (MIN)	80	39	26	10	5	93	234	232
x–Utah Grizzlies (DAL/FLA)	80	40	29	6	5	91	240	225
x–Chicago Wolves (ATL)	80	37	31	7	5	86	250	236
e–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)	80	30	35	10	5	75	198	207

South Division
y–Norfolk Admirals (CHI)	80	38	26	12	4	92	222	205
x–Hershey Bears (COL)	80	36	27	11	6	89	200	193
x–Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI)	80	33	27	15	5	86	206	210
e–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

GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
75	33	54	87	49
45	38	46	84	100
80	29	54	83	103
79	34	48	82	90
77	26	51	77	158
75	38	38	76	86
73	26	36	62	119
65	34	39	73	26
69	24	49	73	83

complete list

Calder Cup Playoffs

See main article: 2002 Calder Cup playoffs. Note: Pairings are re-seeded after each of the first two rounds.

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. https://web.archive.org/web/20090819073132/http://www.theahl.com/allstar/events/

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:
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:
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