The 2000–01 IHL season was the 56th and final season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. Eleven teams participated in the regular season, and the Orlando Solar Bears won their first Turner Cup. Following the season, six teams (Admirals, Aeros, Griffins, Grizzles, Moose and Wolves) joined the American Hockey League as expansion teams. The Cyclones rejoined the East Coast Hockey League where they had previously played from 1990 to 1992. The remaining teams ceased operations.
Regular season Eastern Conference GP W L SOL GF GA Pts Grand Rapids Griffins (OTT) 82 53 22 7 279 196 113 Orlando Solar Bears (ATL) 82 47 28 7 241 193 101 Cincinnati Cyclones (CAR) 82 44 29 9 267 258 97 Cleveland Lumberjacks (MIN) 82 43 32 7 270 258 93 Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 82 42 33 7 244 217 91 Detroit Vipers (TBL) 82 23 53 6 184 311 52
Western Conference GP W L SOL GF GA Pts Chicago Wolves (NYI) 82 43 32 7 267 249 93 Houston Aeros 82 42 32 8 229 245 92 Manitoba Moose (DET) 82 39 31 12 222 230 90 Utah Grizzlies (DAL) 82 38 36 8 208 220 84 Kansas City Blades (VAN) 82 37 42 3 239 273 77
Turner Cup Playoffs
Quarterfinals
(E1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (E4) Cleveland Lumberjacks
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E3) Cincinnati Cyclones
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (E5) Milwaukee Admirals
(W2) Houston Aeros vs. (W3) Manitoba Moose
Semifinals
(E1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (E2) Orlando Solar Bears
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (W3) Manitoba Moose
Turner Cup Final
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (W1) Chicago Wolves
Player statistics
Scoring leaders Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player Team GP G A Pts PIMDerek King Grand Rapids Griffins 76 32 51 83 19Steve Larouche Chicago Wolves 75 31 52 83 78Brett Harkins Houston Aeros 81 16 64 80 51Brian Bonin Cleveland Lumberjacks 72 35 42 77 45Rob Brown Chicago Wolves 75 24 53 77 99Niklas Andersson Chicago Wolves 66 33 39 72 81Greg Koehler Cincinnati Cyclones 80 35 36 71 122Vyacheslav Butsayev Grand Rapids Griffins 75 33 35 68 65Christian Matte Cleveland Lumberjacks 58 38 29 67 59Gilbert Dionne Cincinnati Cyclones 80 23 43 66 46
Leading goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts Player Team GP MIN GA GAA W L T SONorm Maracle Orlando Solar Bears 51 2,963 100 2.02 33 13 3 8Richard Shulmistra Kansas City Blades/Chicago Wolves 33 1,855 64 2.07 21 11 0 4Mike Fountain Grand Rapids Griffins 52 3,005 104 2.08 34 10 6 6Chris Mason Milwaukee Admirals 37 2,226 87 2.35 17 14 5 5Rick Tabaracci Utah Grizzlies 30 1,648 67 2.44 14 13 1 1
Awards AHL Awards Turner Cup Orlando Solar Bears Fred A. Huber Trophy(Best regular-season record) Grand Rapids Griffins Commissioner's Trophy (Best coach) Peter Horachek, Orlando Solar Bears Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy(Player with most points) Steve Larouche, Chicago Wolves andDerek King, Grand Rapids Griffins James Gatschene Memorial Trophy(Most valuable player, regular season) Norm Maracle, Orlando Solar Bears Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy(Most valuable player, playoffs) Norm Maracle, Orlando Solar Bears Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy(Best first-year player) Brian Pothier, Orlando Solar Bears Ken McKenzie Trophy(Best American-born first-year player) Brian Pothier, Orlando Solar Bears Larry D. Gordon Trophy(Best defenceman) Brett Hauer, Manitoba Moose James Norris Memorial Trophy(Goaltender(s) of team with fewest goals against) Norm Maracle and Scott Fankhouser, Orlando Solar Bears John Cullen Award(Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication) Rusty Fitzgerald, Manitoba Moose Ironman Award(Played all team's games while showing offensive and defensive skills) Brian Chapman, Manitoba Moose IHL Man of the Year(Leadership and community activities) Wendell Young, Chicago Wolves
All-Star teams First team Position Second teamNorm Maracle, Orlando Solar BearsG CBrian Bonin, Cleveland LumberjacksCurtis Murphy, Orlando Solar BearsD CGreg Koehler, Cincinnati CyclonesBrett Hauer, Manitoba MooseD LWDerek King, Grand Rapids Griffins
External links Season 2000/01 on hockeydb.com