The 2001–02 AHL season was the 66th season of the American Hockey League. It was the season of the biggest growth in the AHL's history, as it accepted eight new teams. The demise of the International Hockey League brought six teams transferring from the defunct league, in addition to two expansion teams.

The AHL realigned divisions again. The Eastern conference consisted of the East, North and Canadian divisions. The Western conference consisted of the Central, South and West divisions. The league also announced three additional trophies, two of which were awarded for the regular season champions of the new divisions. The Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy went to the West division, and the Emile Francis Trophy went to the North division. The third trophy, the Michael Condon Memorial Award was first awarded for outstanding service by an on-ice official in the AHL.

Twenty-seven teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers finished first overall in the regular season. The Chicago Wolves won their first Calder Cup championship, in their inaugural AHL season.

Team changes The Louisville Panthers suspend operations, becoming dormant. The Kentucky Thoroughblades move to Cleveland, Ohio, becoming the second iteration of the Cleveland Barons. The Bridgeport Sound Tigers join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The Manchester Monarchs join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Manchester, New Hampshire. Teams from the International Hockey League Six teams transferred to the American Hockey League, when the International Hockey League ceased operations. The Chicago Wolves based in Rosemont, Illinois. The Grand Rapids Griffins based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The Houston Aeros based in Houston, Texas. The Manitoba Moose based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Milwaukee Admirals based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Utah Grizzlies based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Final standings

indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot indicates team clinched a playoff spot indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

Eastern Conference Canadian Division y–Quebec Citadelles (MTL) 80 35 27 15 3 88 257 254 x–Hamilton Bulldogs (EDM) 80 37 30 10 3 87 247 205 x–St. John's Maple Leafs (TOR) 80 34 27 17 2 87 256 240 x–Manitoba Moose (VAN) 80 39 33 4 4 86 270 260 e–Saint John Flames (CGY) 80 29 34 13 4 75 182 202

North Division y–Lowell Lock Monsters (CAR) 80 41 25 11 3 96 229 209 x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK) 80 38 28 11 3 90 236 225 x–Worcester IceCats (STL) 80 39 33 7 1 86 245 218 e–Portland Pirates (WSH) 80 30 31 15 4 79 220 225 e–Springfield Falcons (PHX/TBL) 80 35 41 2 2 74 213 237

East Division y–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) 80 43 25 8 4 98 240 192 x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR) 80 41 26 10 3 95 249 243 x–Providence Bruins (BOS) 80 35 33 8 4 82 190 223 e–Albany River Rats (NJD) 80 14 42 12 12 52 172 271

Western Conference Central Division y–Syracuse Crunch (CBJ) 80 39 23 13 5 96 228 193 x–Rochester Americans (BUF) 80 32 30 15 3 82 206 211 x–Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (ANA/DET) 80 33 33 11 3 80 216 211 e–Cleveland Barons (SJS) 80 29 40 7 4 69 223 268

West Division y–Grand Rapids Griffins (OTT) 80 42 27 11 0 95 217 178 x–Houston Aeros (MIN) 80 39 26 10 5 93 234 232 x–Utah Grizzlies (DAL/FLA) 80 40 29 6 5 91 240 225 x–Chicago Wolves (ATL) 80 37 31 7 5 86 250 236 e–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 80 30 35 10 5 75 198 207

South Division y–Norfolk Admirals (CHI) 80 38 26 12 4 92 222 205 x–Hershey Bears (COL) 80 36 27 11 6 89 200 193 x–Philadelphia Phantoms (PHI) 80 33 27 15 5 86 206 210 e–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 80 20 44 13 3 56 201 274

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Donald MacLean St. John's Maple Leafs 75 33 54 87 49 Eric Boguniecki Worcester IceCats 45 38 46 84100 Rob Brown Chicago Wolves 80 29 54 83103 Brad Smyth Hartford Wolf Pack 79 34 48 82 90 Jason Chimera Hamilton Bulldogs 77 26 51 77158 Justin Papineau Worcester IceCats 75 38 38 76 86 Eric Landry Quebec Citadelles 73 26 36 62119 Brian Swanson Hamilton Bulldogs 65 34 39 73 26 Bob Wren St. John's Maple Leafs 69 24 49 73 83 complete list

Calder Cup Playoffs

Note: Pairings are re-seeded after each of the first two rounds.

All Star Classic The 15th AHL All-Star Game was played on February 14, 2002 at the Mile One Stadium in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. Team Canada defeated Team PlanetUSA 13–11. In the skills competition held the day before the All-Star Game, Team Canada won 21–9 over Team PlanetUSA.

Trophy and award winners

Team awards Calder CupPlayoff champions: Chicago Wolves Richard F. Canning TrophyEastern Conference playoff champions: Bridgeport Sound Tigers Robert W. Clarke TrophyWestern Conference playoff champions: Chicago Wolves Macgregor Kilpatrick TrophyRegular season champions, league: Bridgeport Sound Tigers Frank Mathers TrophyRegular season champions, South Division: Norfolk Admirals Norman R. "Bud" Poile TrophyRegular season champions, West Division: Grand Rapids Griffins Emile Francis TrophyRegular season champions, North Division: Lowell Lock Monsters F. G. "Teddy" Oke TrophyRegular season champions, East Division: Bridgeport Sound Tigers Sam Pollock TrophyRegular season champions, Canadian Division: Quebec Citadelles John D. Chick TrophyRegular season champions, Central Division: Syracuse Crunch

Individual awards Les Cunningham AwardMost valuable player: Eric Boguniecki - Worcester IceCats John B. Sollenberger TrophyTop point scorer: Donald MacLean - St. John's Maple Leafs Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial AwardRookie of the year: Tyler Arnason - Norfolk Admirals Eddie Shore AwardDefenceman of the year: John Slaney - Philadelphia Phantoms Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial AwardBest goaltender: Martin Prusek - Grand Rapids Griffins Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial AwardLowest goals against average: Martin Prusek, Simon Lajeunesse & Mathieu Chouinard - Grand Rapids Griffins Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial AwardCoach of the year: Bruce Cassidy - Grand Rapids Griffins Fred T. Hunt Memorial AwardSportsmanship / Perseverance: Nathan Dempsey - St. John's Maple Leafs Yanick Dupre Memorial AwardCommunity Service Award: Travis Roche - Houston Aeros Jack A. Butterfield TrophyMVP of the playoffs: Pasi Nurminen - Chicago Wolves

Other awards James C. Hendy Memorial AwardMost outstanding executive: Glenn Stanford, St. John's Maple Leafs Thomas Ebright Memorial AwardCareer contributions: Bruce Landon James H. Ellery Memorial Awards Outstanding media coverage: Garry McKay, Hamilton, (newspaper)WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, (radio)Tom Grace, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, (television) Ken McKenzie AwardOutstanding marketing executive: Jim Sarosy, Syracuse Crunch Michael Condon Memorial AwardOutstanding service, on-ice official: Jim Doyle

See also List of AHL seasons

References AHL official site AHL Hall of Fame HockeyDB