1997–98 AHL season

The 1997–98 AHL season was the 62nd season of the American Hockey League. The AHL shifts teams in their divisions, and the Canadian division reverts to being named Atlantic division. The Northern conference is renamed the Eastern conference, and the Southern conference renamed the Western conference.

1997–98 AHL season
LeagueAmerican Hockey League
SportIce hockey
Regular season
Macgregor Kilpatrick TrophyPhiladelphia Phantoms
Season MVPSteve Guolla
Top scorerPeter White
Playoffs
Playoffs MVPMike Maneluk
Calder Cup
ChampionsPhiladelphia Phantoms
  Runners-upSaint John Flames
AHL seasons

The league introduces three new trophies. The Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy first awarded for the team which finishes in first place in the league during the regular season. The Yanick Dupre Memorial Award is given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of community service. The Thomas Ebright Memorial Award honors an individual with outstanding career contributions to the AHL.

Eighteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Philadelphia Phantoms repeated finishing first overall in the regular season, and won their first Calder Cup championship.

Team changes edit

Final standings edit

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

Eastern Conference edit

AtlanticGPWLTOTLPtsGFGA
Saint John Flames (CGY)80432413099231201
Fredericton Canadiens (LAK/MTL)80333210581245244
Portland Pirates (WSH)80333312280241247
St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR)80253218573233254
New EnglandGPWLTOTLPtsGFGA
Springfield Falcons (PHX)8045267299278248
Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)80432412199272227
Beast of New Haven (CAR/FLA)8038337285256239
Worcester IceCats (OTT/STL)8034319683267268
Providence Bruins (BOS)8019497550211301

Western Conference edit

Empire StateGPWLTOTLPtsGFGA
Albany River Rats (NJD)804320116103290223
Hamilton Bulldogs (EDM)80362217594264242
Syracuse Crunch (PIT/VAN)80353211283272285
Adirondack Red Wings (DET/TBL)8031379374245275
Rochester Americans (BUF)80303812072238260
Mid-AtlanticGPWLTOTLPtsGFGA
Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI)804721102106314249
Hershey Bears (COL)8036317685238235
Kentucky Thoroughblades (NYI/SJS)8029399370241278
Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA)80233713766243303

Scoring leaders edit

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

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Peter WhitePhiladelphia Phantoms80277810528
Bob WrenCincinnati Mighty Ducks774258100151
Steve GuollaKentucky Thoroughblades69376310045
Stacy RoestAdirondack Red Wings8034589230
Danny BriereSpringfield Falcons6836569242
Craig DarbyPhiladelphia Phantoms7742458734
Craig ReichertCincinnati Mighty Ducks7828598728
Brendan MorrisonAlbany River Rats7235498444
Alexei YegorovKentucky Thoroughblades7932528456

Calder Cup playoffs edit

Division SemifinalsDivision FinalsConference FinalsCalder Cup Final
            
A1Saint John3
A4St. John's1
A1Saint John4
Atlantic Division
A3Portland2
A2Fredericton1
A3Portland3
A1Saint John4
Eastern Conference
N2Hartford1
N1Springfield1
N4Worcester3
N4Worcester3
New England Division
N2Hartford4
N2Hartford3
N3New Haven0
A1Saint John2
M1Philadelphia4
E1Albany3
E4Adirondack0
E1Albany4
Empire State Division
E2Hamilton0
E2Hamilton3
E3Syracuse2
E1Albany2
Western Conference
M1Philadelphia4
M1Philadelphia3
E5Rochester1
M1Philadelphia4
Mid-Atlantic Division
M2Hershey0
M2Hershey3
M3Kentucky0

All Star Classic edit

The 11th AHL All-Star Game was played on February 11, 1998, at the Onondaga War Memorial in Syracuse, New York. Team Canada defeated Team PlanetUSA 11-10. In the skills competition held the day before the All-Star Game, Team PlanetUSA won 13-8 over Team Canada. [1]

Trophy and award winners edit

Team awards edit

Calder Cup
Playoff champions:
Philadelphia Phantoms
Richard F. Canning Trophy
Eastern Conference playoff champions:
Saint John Flames
Robert W. Clarke Trophy
Western Conference playoff champions:
Philadelphia Phantoms
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy
Regular season champions, League:
Philadelphia Phantoms
Frank Mathers Trophy
Regular Season champions, Mid-Atlantic Division:
Philadelphia Phantoms
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy
Regular Season champions, New England Division:
Springfield Falcons
Sam Pollock Trophy
Regular Season champions, Atlantic Division:
Saint John Flames
John D. Chick Trophy
Regular Season champions, Empire State Division:
Albany River Rats

Individual awards edit

Les Cunningham Award
Most valuable player:
Steve GuollaKentucky Thoroughblades
John B. Sollenberger Trophy
Top point scorer:
Peter WhitePhiladelphia Phantoms
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award
Rookie of the year:
Danny BriereSpringfield Falcons
Eddie Shore Award
Defenceman of the year:
Jamie HewardPhiladelphia Phantoms
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award
Best Goaltender:
Scott LangkowSpringfield Falcons
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award
Lowest goals against average:
Jean-Sebastien Giguere & Tyler MossSaint John Flames
Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award
Coach of the year:
Bill StewartSaint John Flames
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award
Sportsmanship / Perseverance:
Craig CharronRochester Americans
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award
Community Service Award:
John JakopinBeast of New Haven
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy
MVP of the playoffs:
Mike ManelukPhiladelphia Phantoms

Other awards edit

James C. Hendy Memorial Award
Most outstanding executive:
Frank Miceli, Philadelphia Phantoms
Thomas Ebright Memorial Award
Career contributions:
Jack Butterfield
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards
Outstanding media coverage:
Brendan McCarthy, St. John's & Bill Ballou, Worcester, (newspaper)
Lance McAllister, Cincinnati, (radio)
Rich Coppola, Hartford / New Haven, (television)
Ken McKenzie Award
Outstanding marketing executive:
Chris Palin, Rochester Americans

See also edit

References edit

Preceded by AHL seasons Succeeded by