The 2012–13 AHL season was the 77th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 12, 2012 and ended on April 21, 2013. The 2013 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season. The Calder Cup was won by the Grand Rapids Griffins for their first Calder Cup in franchise history.
Regular season On June 28, the Board of Governors approved a minor realignment for the league for the 2012–13 season. The only changes were made in the Western Conference, as three teams swapped divisions for this season: Abbotsford moves to the North Division, Grand Rapids moves to the Midwest Division and Charlotte moves to the newly renamed South Division (formerly West Division). The Eastern Conference remains the same as the previous season. Among the rule changes for this season, the league has adopted video-review for goals, which has been in use in the NHL for years.
Because of the 2012–13 NHL lockout, all NHL players who were still eligible to play in the AHL without clearing waivers were assigned to their AHL teams for the duration of the lockout. The lockout also forced the cancellation of one of the two AHL Outdoor Classics for 2012; as a result, there was only one Outdoor Classic in 2013. The Hershey Bears hosted the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Hersheypark Stadium on January 20. The Penguins won the game 2–1 in overtime before a crowd of 17,653 spectators.
Team and NHL affiliation changes
Relocations As a result of the aforementioned lockout, the Rochester Americans moved a portion of its home schedule to the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York to fill the void of its parent club, the Buffalo Sabres, during the lockout (both teams are owned by Terrence Pegula). The team's name and branding remain unchanged.
Affiliation changes AHL team New affiliate Old affiliate Norfolk Admirals Anaheim Tampa Bay Syracuse Crunch Tampa Bay Anaheim
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 Atlantic Division y–Providence Bruins (BOS) 76 50 21 0 5 105 222 183 x–Portland Pirates (PHX) 76 41 30 3 2 87 230 233 x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK) 76 37 32 3 4 81 219 209 e–Worcester Sharks (SJS) 76 31 34 4 7 73 191 228 e–St. John's IceCaps (WPG) 76 32 36 3 5 72 195 237
Northeast Division y–Springfield Falcons (CBJ) 76 45 22 5 4 99 235 186 e–Connecticut Whale (NYR) 76 35 32 6 3 79 213 222 e–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI) 76 32 32 7 5 76 218 242 e–Albany Devils (NJD) 76 31 32 1 12 75 193 225 e–Adirondack Phantoms (PHI) 76 31 38 3 4 69 187 223
East Division y–Syracuse Crunch (TBL) 76 43 22 6 5 97 247 201 x–Binghamton Senators (OTT) 76 44 24 1 7 96 227 188 x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT) 76 42 30 2 2 88 185 178 x–Hershey Bears (WSH) 76 36 31 3 6 81 204 196 e–Norfolk Admirals (ANA) 76 37 34 4 1 79 188 207
Western Conference North Division y–Toronto Marlies (TOR) 76 43 23 3 7 96 237 199 x–Rochester Americans (BUF) 76 43 29 3 1 90 234 209 e–Lake Erie Monsters (COL) 76 35 31 3 7 80 211 220 e–Abbotsford Heat (CGY) 76 34 32 4 6 78 171 198 e–Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL) 76 29 41 1 5 64 159 228
Midwest Division y–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET) 76 42 26 4 4 92 234 205 x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) 76 41 28 4 3 89 197 200 e–Rockford IceHogs (CHI) 76 42 31 2 1 87 246 225 e–Chicago Wolves (VAN) 76 37 30 5 4 83 204 207 e–Peoria Rivermen (STL) 76 33 35 5 3 74 183 218
South Division y–Texas Stars (DAL) 76 43 22 5 6 97 235 201 x–Charlotte Checkers (CAR) 76 42 26 4 4 92 226 202 x–Oklahoma City Barons (EDM) 76 40 25 2 9 91 240 228 x–Houston Aeros (MIN) 76 40 26 5 5 90 212 199 e–San Antonio Rampage (FLA) 76 29 38 2 7 67 195 241
Statistical leaders
Leading skaters The following players are sorted by points, then goals. Updated as of the end of the regular season.
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Rockford IceHogs 76 22 53 75 72 Hershey Bears 73 18 53 71 27 Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 76 31 37 68 55 Oklahoma City Barons 74 22 46 68 48 Manchester Monarchs 74 22 45 67 32 Springfield Falcons 74 21 46 67 65 Peoria Rivermen 76 19 48 67 50 Syracuse Crunch 62 37 28 65 34 Syracuse Crunch 71 31 32 63 53 Connecticut Whale 70 20 42 62 127
Leading goaltenders The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played lead the league in goals against average. Updated as of the end of the regular season.
GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes); SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout loss
Player Team GP TOI SA GA SO GAA SV% W L OT Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 49 2799 1131 90 5 1.93 0.920 26 20 0 Abbotsford Heat 40 2108 927 72 3 2.05 0.922 18 10 2 Binghamton Senators 31 1841 1046 65 3 2.12 0.938 18 10 2 Milwaukee Admirals 39 2107 991 75 6 2.14 0.924 22 13 0 Providence Bruins 48 2872 1384 104 4 2.17 0.925 37 8 2
Calder Cup playoffs
AHL awards Calder Cup : Grand Rapids Griffins Les Cunningham Award : Tyler Johnson, Syracuse John B. Sollenberger Trophy : Brandon Pirri, Rockford Willie Marshall Award : Tyler Johnson, Syracuse Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award : Tyler Toffoli, Manchester Eddie Shore Award : Justin Schultz, Oklahoma City Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award : Niklas Svedberg, Providence Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award : Jeff Zatkoff & Brad Thiessen, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award : Willie Desjardins, Texas Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award : Brandon Davidson, Oklahoma City Yanick Dupre Memorial Award : Michael Zigomanis, Toronto Jack A. Butterfield Trophy : Tomas Tatar, Grand Rapids Richard F. Canning Trophy : Syracuse Crunch Robert W. Clarke Trophy : Grand Rapids Griffins Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy: Providence Bruins Frank Mathers Trophy: Syracuse Crunch Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy: Grand Rapids Griffins Emile Francis Trophy : Providence Bruins F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy: Springfield Falcons Sam Pollock Trophy: Toronto Marlies John D. Chick Trophy: Texas Stars James C. Hendy Memorial Award: Thomas Ebright Memorial Award: James H. Ellery Memorial Awards: Ken McKenzie Award: Michael Condon Memorial Award:
All-star teams First All-Star Team Justin Schultz (D) Sami Vatanen (D) Jonathan Audy-Marchessault (LW) Tyler Johnson (C) Gustav Nyquist (RW) Niklas Svedberg (G)
Second All-Star Team Mark Barberio (D) Adam Clendening (D) Matt Fraser (LW) Jeff Taffe (C) Brett Connolly (RW) Curtis McElhinney (G)
Milestones Abbotsford Heat The Marlies, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, were tied against the Abbotsford Heat when first Steve McCarthy scored a short-handed goal and then Ben Street scored from the faceoff circle. The two goals in three seconds tied a professional hockey record. Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo's Puck Daddy blog reported that the ECHL, formerly the East Coast Hockey League, had two goals scored in the same span during a 1993 game. However, the comparable record in the NHL is four seconds. Before Thursday, the fastest two goals had been scored in the AHL was five seconds. The Heat is an affiliate of the NHL's Calgary Flames, and the team went on to win the game, 3-0 on November 1, 2012. Abbotsford Heat goaltender Barry Brust set a record for longest shutout streak by not allowing any goals for 268 minutes and 17 seconds. The previous record was 249:51, set by Johnny Bower with the Cleveland Barons in 1957. Hershey Bears forward Jon DiSalvatore became the 82nd player in AHL history to record 500 career points on November 25, 2012. Toronto Marlies forward Keith Aucoin became the 11th player in AHL history to record 800 career points on December 16, 2012. Rockford IceHogs forward Martin St. Pierre became the 83rd player in AHL history to record 500 career points on January 5, 2013. Providence Bruins forward Graham Mink became the 84th player in AHL history to record 500 career points on February 16, 2013. Hershey Bears forward Boyd Kane became the 85th player in AHL history to record 500 career points on March 23, 2013. Hershey Bears forward Jeff Taffe became the 86th player in AHL history to record 500 career points on April 20, 2013.
See also List of AHL seasons 2012 in ice hockey 2013 in ice hockey
References
External links AHL official site