The 1986–87 AHL season was the 51st season of the American Hockey League. 13 teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league institutes awarding one point in the standings, for an overtime loss. The league experimented with a shootout to settle games tied after a scoreless overtime period; the format would not be used again until the 2004–05 season.
The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season. The Rochester Americans won their fifth Calder Cup championship.
Team changes The St. Catharines Saints move to Newmarket, Ontario, becoming the Newmarket Saints.
Final standings
indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
North Division y–Sherbrooke Canadiens (MTL/WIN) 80 50 28 2 102 328 257 x–Adirondack Red Wings (DET) 80 44 31 5 93 329 296 x–Moncton Golden Flames (BOS/CGY) 80 43 31 6 92 338 315 x–Nova Scotia Oilers (CHI/EDM) 80 38 39 3 79 318 315 e–Maine Mariners (NJD) 80 35 40 5 75 272 298 e–Fredericton Express (QUE/VAN) 80 32 43 5 69 292 357
South Division y–Rochester Americans (BUF) 80 47 26 7 101 315 263 x–Binghamton Whalers (HFD/WSH) 80 47 26 7 101 309 259 x–New Haven Nighthawks (LAK/NYR) 80 44 25 11 99 331 315 x–Hershey Bears (PHI) 80 43 36 1 87 329 309 Baltimore Skipjacks (PIT) 80 35 37 8 78 277 295 e–Springfield Indians (MNS/NYI) 80 34 40 6 74 296 344 e–Newmarket Saints (TOR) 80 28 48 4 60 226 337
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Tim Tookey Hershey Bears 80 51 73 124 45 Alain Lemieux Baltimore Skipjacks 72 41 56 97 62 Brett Hull Moncton Golden Flames 67 50 42 92 16 Mitch Lamoureux Hershey Bears 78 43 46 89 122 Ross Fitzpatrick Hershey Bears 66 45 40 85 34 Glenn Merkosky Adirondack Red Wings 77 54 31 85 66 Ray Allison Hershey Bears 78 29 55 84 57 Bruce Boudreau Nova Scotia Oilers 78 35 47 82 40 Serge Boisvert Sherbrooke Canadiens 78 27 54 81 29 Wes Jarvis Newmarket Saints 70 28 50 78 32 complete list
Calder Cup playoffs
Trophy and Award winners Team awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Rochester Americans F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular Season champions, North Division: Sherbrooke Canadiens John D. Chick TrophyRegular Season champions, South Division: Rochester Americans Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Tim Tookey - Hershey Bears John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Tim Tookey - Hershey Bears Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Brett Hull - Moncton Golden Flames Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Brad Shaw - Binghamton Whalers Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial AwardBest Goaltender: Mark Laforest - Adirondack Red Wings Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Vincent Riendeau - Sherbrooke Canadiens Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Larry Pleau - Binghamton Whalers Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Glenn Merkosky - Adirondack Red Wings Jack A. Butterfield TrophyMVP of the playoffs: David Fenyves - Rochester Americans Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Joel Schiavone James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Joel Jacobson, Nova Scotia, (newspaper)Dave Morrell, Fredericton, (radio)Arnold Klinsky, Rochester, (television) Ken McKenzie AwardOutstanding marketing executive: Larry Haley, Moncton Golden Flames
See also List of AHL seasons
References AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB