The 1995–96 AHL season was the 60th season of the American Hockey League. The AHL expanded by two teams and realigned into two conferences, and four divisions. The Northern Conference includes the North and Atlantic Divisions. The Southern Conference include the South Division and the newly created Central Division.
The league introduces two new trophies for division champions of the regular season. The Frank Mathers Trophy is first awarded for the south division, and the Sam Pollock Trophy is first awarded for the atlantic Division. The John D. Chick Trophy becomes awarded to the central division.
The AHL revives awarding points for overtime losses, last awarded in the 1987–88 AHL season. Eighteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Albany River Rats finished first overall in the regular season. The Rochester Americans won their sixth Calder Cup championship.
Team changes The Baltimore Bandits join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Baltimore, Maryland, playing in the South Division. The Carolina Monarchs join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, playing in the South Division. The Cornwall Aces, Rochester Americans, and Syracuse Crunch switch from the South Division to the new Central Division. The Adirondack Red Wings and Albany River Rats switch from the North Division to the new Central Division.
Final standings
indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention
Northern Conference Atlantic Division y–Prince Edward Island Senators (OTT) 80 38 33 6 3 85 303 313 x–Saint John Flames (CGY) 80 35 30 11 4 85 272 264 x–St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR) 80 31 31 14 4 80 248 274 x–Fredericton Canadiens (MTL) 80 34 35 11 0 79 307 308 e–Cape Breton Oilers (EDM) 80 33 40 3 4 73 290 323
North Division y–Springfield Falcons (HFD/WIN) 80 42 22 11 5 100 272 215 x–Worcester IceCats (STL) 80 36 28 12 4 88 242 244 x–Portland Pirates (WSH) 80 32 34 10 4 78 282 283 x–Providence Bruins (BOS) 80 30 36 10 4 74 249 280
Southern Conference Central Division y–Albany River Rats (NJD) 80 54 19 7 0 115 322 218 x–Adirondack Red Wings (DET) 80 38 32 8 2 86 271 247 x–Rochester Americans (BUF) 80 37 34 5 4 83 294 297 x–Cornwall Aces (COL) 80 34 34 7 5 80 249 251 x–Syracuse Crunch (VAN) 80 31 37 5 7 74 257 307
South Division y–Binghamton Rangers (NYR) 80 39 31 7 3 88 333 331 x–Hershey Bears (PHI) 80 36 30 11 3 86 301 287 x–Baltimore Bandits (ANA) 80 33 36 9 2 77 279 299 e–Carolina Monarchs (FLA) 80 28 38 11 3 70 313 343
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Brad Smyth Carolina Monarchs 68 68 58126 80 Jim Montgomery Hershey Bears 78 34 71105 95 Mike Casselman Carolina Monarchs 70 34 68102 46 Gilbert Dionne Carolina Monarchs 55 43 58101 29 Peter Ferraro Binghamton Rangers 68 48 53101157 Chris Ferraro Binghamton Rangers 77 32 67 99208 Craig Charron Rochester Americans 72 43 52 95 79 Jean-Yves Roy Prince Edward Island Senators 67 40 55 95 64 Dixon Ward Rochester Americans 71 38 56 94 74 Brett Harkins Carolina Monarchs 55 23 71 94 44 Andrew Brunette Portland Pirates 69 28 66 94125 complete list
Calder Cup playoffs
All Star Classic The 9th AHL All-Star Game was played on January 16, 1996, at the Hersheypark Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Team USA defeated Team Canada 6–5. In the inaugural AHL skills competition held the day before the All-Star Game, Team USA won 14–12 over Team Canada.
Trophy and award winners
Team Awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Rochester Americans Richard F. Canning TrophyNorthern Conference playoff champions: Portland Pirates Robert W. Clarke TrophySouthern Conference playoff champions: Rochester Americans Frank Mathers TrophyRegular Season champions, South Division: Binghamton Rangers F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular Season champions, North Division: Springfield Falcons Sam Pollock TrophyRegular Season champions, Atlantic Division: Prince Edward Island Senators John D. Chick TrophyRegular Season champions, Central Division: Albany River Rats
Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Brad Smyth - Carolina Monarchs John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Brad Smyth - Carolina Monarchs Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Darcy Tucker - Fredericton Canadiens Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: Barry Richter - Binghamton Rangers Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial AwardBest Goaltender: Manny Legace - Springfield Falcons Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Manny Legace & Scott Langkow - Springfield Falcons Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Robbie Ftorek - Albany River Rats Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Ken Gernander - Binghamton Rangers Jack A. Butterfield TrophyMVP of the playoffs: Dixon Ward - Rochester Americans
Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Steve Donner, Rochester Americans James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Kevin Oklobzija, Rochester, (newspaper)Seth Everett, Syracuse, (radio)Tom Caron, New England Sports Network, (television) Ken McKenzie AwardOutstanding marketing executive: Tim Kuhl, Syracuse Crunch
See also List of AHL seasons
References
AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB