The 1988–89 AHL season was the 53rd season of the American Hockey League. Fourteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The league abandoned awarding points for an overtime loss. The Sherbrooke Canadiens finished first overall in the regular season. The Adirondack Red Wings won their third Calder Cup championship.
Team changes The Nova Scotia Oilers move to Sydney, Nova Scotia, becoming the Cape Breton Oilers. The Fredericton Express move to Halifax, Nova Scotia, becoming the Halifax Citadels.
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) 80 47 24 9 103 348 261 x–Halifax Citadels (QUE) 80 42 30 8 92 345 300 x–Moncton Hawks (WIN) 80 37 34 9 83 320 313 x–New Haven Nighthawks (LAK) 80 35 35 10 80 325 309 e–Maine Mariners (BOS) 80 32 40 8 72 262 317 e–Springfield Indians (NYI) 80 32 44 4 68 287 341 e–Cape Breton Oilers (EDM) 80 27 47 6 60 308 388
South Division y–Adirondack Red Wings (DET) 80 47 27 6 100 369 294 x–Hershey Bears (PHI) 80 40 30 10 90 361 309 x–Utica Devils (NJD) 80 37 34 9 83 309 295 x–Newmarket Saints (TOR) 80 38 36 6 82 339 334 e–Rochester Americans (BUF) 80 38 37 5 81 305 302 e–Baltimore Skipjacks (WSH) 80 30 46 4 64 317 347 e–Binghamton Whalers (HFD) 80 28 46 6 62 307 392
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Stephan Lebeau Sherbrooke Canadiens 78 70 64 134 47 Murray Eaves Adirondack Red Wings 80 46 72 118 84 Benoit Brunet Sherbrooke Canadiens 73 41 76 117 95 Mike Richard Baltimore Skipjacks 80 44 63 107 51 Don Biggs Hershey Bears 76 36 67 103158 Terry Yake Binghamton Whalers 75 39 56 95 57 Ken Priestlay Rochester Americans 64 56 37 93 60 Hubie McDonough New Haven Nighthawks 74 37 55 92 41 Ron Wilson Moncton Hawks 80 31 61 92 110 Brian Dobbin Hershey Bears 59 43 48 91 61 complete list
Calder Cup playoffs
Trophy and award winners Team awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Adirondack Red Wings F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular Season champions, North Division: Sherbrooke Canadiens John D. Chick TrophyRegular Season champions, South Division: Adirondack Red Wings Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Stephan Lebeau – Sherbrooke Canadiens John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Stephan Lebeau – Sherbrooke Canadiens Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Stephan Lebeau – Sherbrooke Canadiens Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Dave Fenyves – Hershey Bears Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial AwardBest Goaltender: Randy Exelby – Sherbrooke Canadiens Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Randy Exelby & Francois Gravel – Sherbrooke Canadiens Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Tom McVie – Utica Devils Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Murray Eaves – Adirondack Red Wings Jack A. Butterfield TrophyMVP of the playoffs: Sam St. Laurent – Adirondack Red Wings Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Bruce Landon James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Paul Abramowitz, Maine, (newspaper)Pat Connolly, Cape Breton, (radio)Brian Lambert, Springfield, (television) Ken McKenzie AwardOutstanding marketing executive: John Forslund, Springfield Indians
See also List of AHL seasons
References AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB