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 GAProvidence Reds (independent) 72283113 69257270Montreal Voyageurs (MTL) 72273114 68215239Springfield Kings† (LAK) 722935 8 66244281Quebec Aces † (PHI) 72253116 66211240

West GP W L T Pts GF GABaltimore Clippers (DET) 724023 9 89263224Cleveland Barons (independent) 723926 7 85272208Hershey Bears (BOS) 72313110 72238212 Rochester Americans (VAN) 72253611 61222248 †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 Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Fred Speck Baltimore Clippers 72 31 61 92 40 Marc Dufour Baltimore Clippers 69 31 51 82 15 Norm Beaudin Cleveland Barons 59 27 48 75 39 Wayne Rivers Baltimore Clippers 65 38 37 75 66 Joey Johnston Cleveland Barons 72 27 47 74 142 Joe Szura Providence Reds 70 21 53 74 39 Bob Leiter Hershey Bears 72 33 36 69 26 Don Blackburn Rochester Americans 62 25 44 69 22 Doug Volmar Springfield Kings 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 CupPlayoff champions: Springfield Kings F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular Season champions, East Division: Providence Reds John D. Chick TrophyRegular Season champions, West Division: Baltimore Clippers Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Marshall Johnston - Cleveland Barons Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Gary Kurt - Cleveland Barons Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Terry Reardon - Baltimore Clippers Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Jack A. Butterfield James H. Ellery Memorial Award Outstanding media coverage: W.W. "Tiny" Parry, Hershey

See also List of AHL seasons

References AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB