1996–97 AHL season

August 2023 March 2026 1996–97 AHL season American Hockey League Ice hockey Regular season F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Worcester IceCats Jean-Francois Labbe Les Cunningham Award Peter White John B. Sollenberger Trophy Playoffs 1997 Calder Cup playoffs Calder Cup Hershey Bears Hamilton Bulldogs Mike McHugh Jack A. Butterfield Trophy 1995–96 1997–98 List of AHL seasons AHL The 1996–97 AHL season was the 61st season of the American Hockey League. The league renames its divisions due to relocating teams. The Northern Conferences consists of the Atlantic Division becoming the Canadian Division, and the Central Division becoming the Empire State Division. The Southern Conferences consists of the North Division becoming the New England Division, and the South Division becoming the Mid-Atlantic Division. Eighteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Philadelphia Phantoms finished first overall in the regular season. The Hershey Bears won their eighth Calder Cup championship. Team changes The Prince Edward Island Senators suspend operations, becoming dormant. The Cornwall Aces suspend operations, becoming dormant. The Cape Breton Oilers move to Hamilton, Ontario, becoming the Hamilton Bulldogs, playing in the Canadian division. The Kentucky Thoroughblades join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Lexington, Kentucky, playing in the Mid-Atlantic division. The Philadelphia Phantoms join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, playing in the Mid-Atlantic division. The Binghamton Rangers switch from the South division to the Empire State division. Final standings #97DEFF y– darkgray indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot #bbffbb x– darkgray indicates team clinched a playoff spot #ffcccc e– darkgray indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention Northern Conference Canadian Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties OTL Overtime losses Pts Points GF Goals for GA Goals against y–St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR) 80 36 28 10 6 88 265 264 x–Saint John Flames (CGY) 80 28 36 13 3 72 237 269 x–Hamilton Bulldogs (EDM) 80 28 39 9 4 69 220 276 e–Fredericton Canadiens (MTL) 80 26 44 8 2 62 234 283 Empire State Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties OTL Overtime losses Pts Points GF Goals for GA Goals against y–Rochester Americans (BUF) 80 40 30 9 1 90 298 257 x–Adirondack Red Wings (DET/TBL) 80 38 28 12 2 90 258 249 x–Albany River Rats (NJD) 80 38 28 9 5 90 269 231 x–Syracuse Crunch (VAN) 80 32 38 10 0 74 241 265 x–Binghamton Rangers (NYR) 80 27 38 13 2 69 245 300 Southern Conference New England Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties OTL Overtime losses Pts Points GF Goals for GA Goals against y–Worcester IceCats (OTT/STL) 80 43 23 9 5 100 256 234 x–Springfield Falcons (HFD/PHX) 80 41 25 12 2 96 268 229 x–Portland Pirates (WSH) 80 37 26 10 7 91 279 264 x–Providence Bruins (BOS) 80 35 40 3 2 75 262 289 Mid-Atlantic Division GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties OTL Overtime losses Pts Points GF Goals for GA Goals against y–Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI) 80 49 18 10 3 111 325 230 x–Hershey Bears (COL) 80 43 22 10 5 101 273 220 x–Kentucky Thoroughblades (SJS) 80 36 35 9 0 81 278 284 x–Baltimore Bandits (ANA) 80 30 37 10 3 73 251 285 e–Carolina Monarchs (FLA) 80 28 43 4 5 65 273 303 Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Peter White Philadelphia Phantoms 80 44 61105 28 Terry Yake Rochester Americans 78 34 67101 77 Brian Wiseman St. John's Maple Leafs 71 33 62 95 83 Vaclav Prospal Philadelphia Phantoms 63 32 63 95 70 Patrik Juhlin Philadelphia Phantoms 78 31 60 91 24 Aleksey Lozhkin Fredericton Canadiens 79 33 56 89 41 Gilbert Dionne Carolina Monarchs 72 41 47 88 69 Blair Atcheynum Hershey Bears 77 42 45 87 57 Jan Caloun Kentucky Thoroughblades 66 43 43 86 68 Shawn McCosh Philadelphia Phantoms 79 30 51 81110 complete list Calder Cup playoffs 1997 Calder Cup playoffs Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Calder Cup Final Northern Conference Southern Conference Canadian Division Empire State Division New England Division Mid-Atlantic Division C1 St. John's E5 Binghamton 3 1 C2 Saint John C3 Hamilton 2 3 E1 Rochester E4 Syracuse 3 0 E2 Adirondack E3 Albany 1 3 N1 Worcester N4 Providence 2 3 N2 Springfield N3 Portland 3 2 M1 Philadelphia M4 Baltimore 3 0 M2 Hershey M3 Kentucky 3 1 C1 St. John's C3 Hamilton 3 4 E1 Rochester E3 Albany 3 4 N4 Providence N2 Springfield 1 4 M1 Philadelphia M2 Hershey 3 4 C3 Hamilton E3 Albany 4 1 N2 Springfield M2 Hershey 3 4 C3 Hamilton M2 Hershey 1 4 All Star Classic The 10th AHL All-Star Game was played on January 16, 1997, at the Harbour Station in Saint John, New Brunswick. Team World defeated Team Canada 3–2 in a shootout. In the skills competition held the day before the All-Star Game, Team World won 18–9 over Team Canada. Trophy and award winners Team awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Hershey Bears Richard F. Canning TrophyNorthern Conference playoff champions: Hamilton Bulldogs Robert W. Clarke TrophySouthern Conference playoff champions: Hershey Bears Frank Mathers TrophyRegular season champions, Mid-Atlantic Division: Philadelphia Phantoms F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular season champions, New England Division: Worcester IceCats Sam Pollock TrophyRegular season champions, Canadian Division: St. John's Maple Leafs John D. Chick TrophyRegular season champions, Empire State Division: Rochester Americans Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Jean-Francois Labbe – Hershey Bears John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Peter White – Philadelphia Phantoms Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Jaroslav Svejkovsky – Portland Pirates Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Darren Rumble – Philadelphia Phantoms Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial AwardBest goaltender: Jean-Francois Labbe – Hershey Bears Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Jean-Francois Labbe – Hershey Bears Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Greg Gilbert – Worcester IceCats Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Steve Passmore – Hamilton Bulldogs Jack A. Butterfield TrophyMVP of the playoffs: Mike McHugh – Hershey Bears Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Jay Feaster, Hershey Bears James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Lindsay Kramer, Syracuse, (newspaper)Aaron Kennedy, Saint John, (radio)Jim Ogle, Kentucky, (television) Ken McKenzie AwardOutstanding marketing executive: Glenn Stanford, St. John's Maple Leafs & Carole Appleton, Springfield Falcons See also List of AHL seasons References AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB 1995–96 AHL season 1997–98 AHL season AHL seasons Category:American Hockey League seasons 2 2