The 1977–78 AHL season was the 42nd season of the American Hockey League. The season was in jeopardy when the last of the original eight franchises of the "International-American Hockey League", the Rhode Island Reds (previously Providence Reds) folded in the offseason, and the AHL was left with five teams. The league increased its member teams by four, when the North American Hockey League and Southern Hockey Leagues both folded before the 1977–78 season. Two teams joined from the NAHL, and another from the SHL, along with one expansion team.
North and south divisions were resumed. The F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy resumes as the regular season championship trophy for the north division, and the John D. Chick Trophy resumes as the regular season championship trophy for the south division. The Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award is first awarded to the player best exemplifying sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey.
Nine teams were scheduled to play 80 games each, however the Hampton Gulls folded on February 10, 1978, playing 46 games. The Maine Mariners finished first overall in the regular season, and won the Calder Cup championship as a first year expansion team.
Team changes The Maine Mariners join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Portland, Maine, playing in the North Division. The Broome Dusters, of the defunct North American Hockey League, acquire and merge with the Rhode Island Reds. The Reds are relocated to Binghamton, New York, and play as the Binghamton Dusters in the North Division. The Philadelphia Firebirds, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, transfer to the AHL as an expansion team, from the defunct North American Hockey League, and play in the South Division. The Hampton Gulls, based in Hampton, Virginia, transfer to the AHL as an expansion team, from the defunct Southern Hockey League, and play in the South Division.
Final standings Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points;
North GP W L T Pts GF GAMaine Mariners (PHI) 804328 9 95305256 Nova Scotia Voyageurs (MTL) 81372816 90304250Springfield Indians (LAK) 813933 9 87348350Binghamton Dusters (PIT) 812746 8 62287377
South GP W L T Pts GF GARochester Americans (BOS) 814331 7 93332296New Haven Nighthawks (NYR) 80383111 87313292 Philadelphia Firebirds 81353511 81294290Hershey Bears (BUF/WSH) 81274410 64281324Hampton Gulls† 461528 3 33142171
†Suspended operations.
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Gord Brooks Philadelphia Firebirds 81 42 56 98 40 Rick Adduono Rochester Americans 76 38 60 98 34 Al Hill Maine Mariners 80 32 59 91 118 Bob Collyard Philadelphia Firebirds 79 28 62 90 42 Andre Peloffy Springfield Indians 67 33 55 88 73 Gordie Clark Rochester Americans 75 37 51 88 18 Joe Hardy Binghamton Dusters 73 24 63 87 56 Tom Colley New Haven Nighthawks 80 32 54 86 17 Charlie Simmer Springfield Indians 75 42 41 83 100 complete list
Calder Cup playoffs
Trophy and award winners Team awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Maine Mariners F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular Season champions, North Division: Maine Mariners John D. Chick TrophyRegular Season champions, South Division: Rochester Americans Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Blake Dunlop - Maine Mariners John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Rick Adduono - Rochester Americans & Gord Brooks - Philadelphia Firebirds Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Norm Dupont - Nova Scotia Voyageurs Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Terry Murray - Maine Mariners Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Bob Holland & Maurice Barrette - Nova Scotia Voyageurs Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Bob McCammon - Maine Mariners Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Blake Dunlop - Maine Mariners Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Sam Pollock James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Brian Thayer, Maine, (newspaper)Al Kalter, Binghamton, (radio)Tim Melton, Hershey & Frank Fixaris, Maine, (television)
See also List of AHL seasons
External links AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB