2009–10 AHL season

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2009–10 AHL season

| league = American Hockey League

| sport = Ice hockey

| duration = October 2, 2009 - April 11, 2010

| attendance =

| season = Regular season

| season_champ_name = Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy

| season_champs = Hershey Bears

| MVP = Keith Aucoin

| MVP_link = Les Cunningham Award

| top_scorer = Keith Aucoin

| top_scorer_link = John B. Sollenberger Trophy

| playoffs = Playoffs

| playoffs_link = 2010 Calder Cup playoffs

| finals = Calder Cup

| finals_link =

| finals_champ = Hershey Bears

| finals_runner-up = Texas Stars

| playoffs_MVP = Chris Bourque

| playoffs_MVP_link = Jack A. Butterfield Trophy

|nextseason_year = 2010–11

|prevseason_year = 2008–09

| seasonslist = List of AHL seasons

| seasonslistnames = AHL

}}

The 2009–10 AHL season was the 74th season of the American Hockey League. Twenty-nine teams played 80 regular-season games each from October 2 to April 11. This season featured the addition of one new team, the relocation of two others, and the involuntary suspension of another.

League business

=European pre-season openers=

On June 11, 2009, both the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Toronto Marlies were invited to participate in a four-team preseason tournament in Edinburgh, Scotland, to celebrate Scotland's contribution to the game of ice hockey.

The Edinburgh Capitals, Scotland's only Elite Ice Hockey team, hosted the tournament from September 24–27. The Bulldogs and Marlies played the Capitals and the Belfast Giants in order to win the Gardiner Cup. Hamilton defeated Toronto in the final.{{cite web |url=http://theahl.com/news/league/index.html?article_id=10225 |title=Bulldogs, Marlies going overseas this preseason

|date=June 11, 2009 |publisher=theahl.com |access-date=2009-06-13}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

=Playoff format=

The top four teams from each division played for the Calder Cup. The league's rules included one exception: if the fifth-place team in the Atlantic Division finishes better than the fourth-place team in the East Division, they assume the fourth playoff spot in the East Division. The Atlantic Division's Bridgeport Sound Tigers qualified for the playoffs under this provision.{{cite web |url=http://theahl.com/qualification-rules-s11572 |title=Calder Cup Playoffs Qualification Rules |publisher=theahl.com |access-date=2010-01-09| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100115012854/http://theahl.com/qualification-rules-s11572| archive-date= 15 January 2010 | url-status= live}}

Team and NHL affiliation changes

=Team changes=

On April 28, 2009, it was announced that two teams would be relocated for the 2009–10 season and one expansion team would join:

Quad City Flames would move to Abbotsford, BC due to poor ticket sales. They became the Abbotsford Heat.
Philadelphia Phantoms would relocate to Glens Falls, NY due to the Wachovia Spectrum being demolished fall of 2009. They became the Adirondack Phantoms.{{cite web|url=http://www.theahl.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=9993 |title=Austin, Abbotsford, Glens Falls joining AHL in 2009-10 |date=April 28, 2009 |publisher=theahl.com |access-date=2009-04-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502115503/http://www.theahl.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=9993 |archive-date=2 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}
Texas Stars joined the league with a limited membership and will be operated by the Dallas Stars. The limited membership is conditioned on the completed purchase of an existing AHL franchise within one year.{{cite news|first=Dan |last=Barnes |work=Edmonton Journal |title=Austin, Abbotsford, Glens Falls joining AHL in 2009-10 |url=http://theahl.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=9993 |date=April 28, 2009 |access-date=April 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502115503/http://www.theahl.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=9993 |archive-date=2 May 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Heika |work=The Dallas Morning News |title=Texas Stars to play in Cedar Park next season |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/hockey/minors/stories/042909dnspohockeyaustin.3efae69.html |date=April 29, 2009| access-date= 1 July 2009 }}
Iowa Chops involuntarily suspended operations on July 7, 2009, by the AHL Board of Governors for the 2009-10 season for being "unable to remedy certain violations of the provisions of the league's Constitution and By-Laws" .[http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090707/SPORTS1403/90707013/1020 "League suspends Iowa Chops from playing in 2009-10 season"]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Des Moines Register, July 7, 2009[http://theahl.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=10283 "Chops franchise in suspension for 2009-10 season"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090711125201/http://www.theahl.com/headlines/index.html?article_id=10283 |date=2009-07-11 }} AHL Press Release July 7, 2009

=Affiliation changes=

class="wikitable"
bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="45%" \| AHL team ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" \| new affiliate ! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" \| old affiliate
align=left\| Texas Stars	DAL	None

class="wikitable"

bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="45%" | AHL team

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | new affiliate

! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="25%" | old affiliate

align=left| Texas Stars

DAL

None

Final standings

{{Color box|#97DEFF|y–|border=darkgray}} indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
{{Color box|#bbffbb|x–|border=darkgray}} indicates team clinched a playoff spot
{{Color box|#ffcccc|e–|border=darkgray}} indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

= Eastern Conference =

width="35%" \| Atlantic Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Worcester Sharks (SJS)	80	49	25	3	3	104	275	239
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Portland Pirates (BUF)	80	45	24	7	4	101	244	214
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK)	80	43	28	3	6	95	213	200
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Lowell Devils (NJD)	80	39	31	4	6	88	239	232
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)	80	38	32	4	6	86	201	220
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)	80	36	33	6	5	83	231	251
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Providence Bruins (BOS)	80	36	38	5	1	78	207	226
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Springfield Falcons (EDM)	80	25	39	12	4	66	207	296

width="35%" \| East Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Hershey Bears (WSH)	80	60	17	0	3	123	342	198
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Albany River Rats (CAR)	80	43	29	3	5	94	244	231
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)	80	41	34	2	3	87	239	229
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Norfolk Admirals (TBL)	80	39	35	3	3	84	208	214
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Binghamton Senators (OTT)	80	36	35	6	3	81	251	260
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Syracuse Crunch (CBJ)	80	34	39	4	3	75	227	272
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Adirondack Phantoms (PHI)	80	32	41	3	4	71	199	251

= Western Conference =

width="35%" \| North Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)	80	52	17	3	8	115	271	182
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Rochester Americans (FLA)	80	44	33	2	1	91	253	247
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Abbotsford Heat (CGY)	80	39	29	5	7	90	217	231
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Manitoba Moose (VAN)	80	40	33	5	2	87	204	232
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Toronto Marlies (TOR)	80	33	35	6	6	78	193	261
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Lake Erie Monsters (COL)	80	34	37	1	8	77	234	257
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)	80	34	39	3	4	75	244	265

width="35%" \| West Division ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! width="5%" \| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! width="7.5%" \| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
bgcolor=#97DEFF \| y–Chicago Wolves (ATL)	80	49	24	1	6	105	264	214
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Texas Stars (DAL)	80	46	27	3	4	99	238	198
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Rockford IceHogs (CHI)	80	44	30	3	3	94	226	226
bgcolor=#bbffbb \| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)	80	41	30	2	7	91	237	220
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Peoria Rivermen (STL)	80	38	33	2	7	85	233	248
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–San Antonio Rampage (PHX)	80	36	32	5	7	84	235	244
bgcolor=#ffcccc \| e–Houston Aeros (MIN)	80	34	34	7	5	80	206	224

Statistical leaders

= Leading skaters =

The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the regular season.{{cite web|title=Top Scorers - 2009-10 Regular Season - All Players|url=http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_scorers&season_id=|publisher=AHL|access-date=2009-12-29| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100115030728/http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_scorers&season_id=| archive-date= 15 January 2010 | url-status= live}}

GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/– = P Plus–minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

style="width:12em" \| Player ! style="width:15em" \| Team ! style="width:4em" \| GP ! style="width:4em" \| G ! style="width:4em" \| A ! style="width:4em" \| Pts ! style="width:4em" \| +/– ! style="width:4em" \| PIM
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
align=left\| {{sortname\|Keith\|Aucoin}} \| align=left\| Hershey Bears \| 72	35	71	106	+27	49
align=left\| {{sortname\|Alexandre\|Giroux}} \| align=left\| Hershey Bears \| 69	50	53	103	+32	34
align=left\| {{sortname\|Corey\|Locke}} \| align=left\| Hartford Wolf Pack \| 76	31	54	85	-5	44
align=left\| {{sortname\|Jerome\|Samson}} \| align=left\| Albany River Rats \| 74	37	41	78	+8	66
align=left\| {{sortname\|David\|Desharnais}} \| align=left\| Hamilton Bulldogs \| 60	27	51	78	+30	34
align=left\| {{sortname\|Brock\|Trotter}} \| align=left\| Hamilton Bulldogs \| 75	36	41	77	+33	56
align=left\| {{sortname\|Jason\|Krog}} \| align=left\| Chicago Wolves \| 78	14	61	75	+17	34
align=left\| {{sortname\|Mark\|Mancari}} \| align=left\| Portland Pirates \| 74	28	46	74	+16	55
align=left\| {{sortname\|Charles\|Linglet}}{{ref\|†\|†}} \| align=left\| Springfield Falcons \| 75	19	55	74	0	36
align=left\| {{sortname\|Martin\|St. Pierre\|Martin St. Pierre (ice hockey)}} \| align=left\| Binghamton Senators \| 77	24	48	72	-24	50

{{note|†|†}} = No longer with listed team

= Leading goaltenders =

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1560 minutes played led the league in goals against average at the end of the regular season.{{cite web|title=Top Goalies - 2009-10 Regular Season - Goals Against Average | url=http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_goalies&season_id=|publisher=AHL|access-date=2009-12-29| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100115031220/http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_goalies&season_id=| archive-date= 15 January 2010 | url-status= live}}

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

style="width:12em" \| Player ! style="width:12em" \| Team ! GP	TOI	SA	GA	SO	GAA	SV%	W	L	OT
class="wikitable sortable"
{{sortname\|Cedrick\|Desjardins}}	Hamilton Bulldogs \| 47	2576	1067	86	6	2.00	0.919	29	9	4
{{sortname\|Jonathan\|Bernier}}	Manchester Monarchs \| 58	3424	1823	116	9	2.03	0.936	30	21	6
{{sortname\|Curtis\|Sanford}}	Hamilton Bulldogs \| 41	2230	935	79	4	2.13	0.916	23	11	3
{{sortname\|Braden\|Holtby}}	Hershey Bears \| 37	2146	1000	83	2	2.32	0.917	25	8	2
{{sortname\|Mark\|Dekanich}}	Milwaukee Admirals \| 49	2804	1266	109	4	2.33	0.914	27	16	4

Calder Cup playoffs

=Bracket=

{{16TeamBracket

| RD1=Division Semifinals

| RD2=Division Finals

| RD3=Conference Finals

| RD4=Calder Cup Final

| RD2-group1=Eastern Conference

| RD2-group2=Western Conference

| RD1-group1=East Division

| RD1-group2=Atlantic Division

| RD1-group3=North Division

| RD1-group4=West Division

| RD1-seed01=E1

| RD1-team01=Hershey

| RD1-seed02=A5

| RD1-team02=Bridgeport

| RD1-score01=4

| RD1-score02=1

| RD1-seed03=E2

| RD1-team03=Albany

| RD1-seed04=E3

| RD1-team04=Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

| RD1-score03=4

| RD1-score04=0

| RD1-seed05=A1

| RD1-team05=Worcester

| RD1-seed06=A4

| RD1-team06=Lowell

| RD1-score05=4

| RD1-score06=1

| RD1-seed07=A2

| RD1-team07=Portland

| RD1-seed08=A3

| RD1-team08=Manchester

| RD1-score07=0

| RD1-score08=4

| RD1-seed09=N1

| RD1-team09=Hamilton

| RD1-seed10=N4

| RD1-team10=Manitoba

| RD1-score09=4

| RD1-score10=2

| RD1-seed11=N2

| RD1-team11=Rochester

| RD1-seed12=N3

| RD1-team12=Abbotsford

| RD1-score11=3

| RD1-score12=4

| RD1-seed13=W1

| RD1-team13=Chicago

| RD1-seed14=W4

| RD1-team14=Milwaukee

| RD1-score13=4

| RD1-score14=3

| RD1-seed15=W2

| RD1-team15=Texas

| RD1-seed16=W3

| RD1-team16=Rockford

| RD1-score15=4

| RD1-score16=0

| RD2-seed01=E1

| RD2-team01=Hershey

| RD2-seed02=E2

| RD2-team02=Albany

| RD2-score01=4

| RD2-score02=0

| RD2-seed03=A1

| RD2-team03=Worcester

| RD2-seed04=A3

| RD2-team04=Manchester

| RD2-score03=2

| RD2-score04=4

| RD2-seed05=N1

| RD2-team05=Hamilton

| RD2-seed06=N3

| RD2-team06=Abbotsford

| RD2-score05=4

| RD2-score06=2

| RD2-seed07=W1

| RD2-team07=Chicago

| RD2-seed08=W2

| RD2-team08=Texas

| RD2-score07=3

| RD2-score08=4

| RD3-seed01=E1

| RD3-team01=Hershey

| RD3-seed02=A3

| RD3-team02=Manchester

| RD3-score01=4

| RD3-score02=2

| RD3-team03=Hamilton

| RD3-seed03=N1

| RD3-score03=3

| RD3-team04=Texas

| RD3-seed04=W2

| RD3-score04=4

| RD4-seed01=E1

| RD4-team01=Hershey

| RD4-seed02=W2

| RD4-team02=Texas

| RD4-score01= 4

| RD4-score02= 2

}}

AHL awards

cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"
Calder Cup : Hershey Bears
Les Cunningham Award : Keith Aucoin, Hershey
John B. Sollenberger Trophy : Keith Aucoin, Hershey
Willie Marshall Award : Alexandre Giroux, Hershey
Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award : Tyler Ennis, Portland
Eddie Shore Award : Danny Groulx, Worcester
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award : Jonathan Bernier, Manchester
Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award : Cedrick Desjardins & Curtis Sanford, Hamilton
Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award : Guy Boucher, Hamilton
Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award : Casey Borer, Albany
Yanick Dupre Memorial Award : Josh Tordjman, San Antonio
Jack A. Butterfield Trophy : Chris Bourque, Hershey
Richard F. Canning Trophy : Hershey Bears
Robert W. Clarke Trophy : Texas Stars
Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy: Hershey Bears
Frank Mathers Trophy: Hershey Bears
Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy: Hamilton Bulldogs
Emile Francis Trophy : Worcester Sharks
F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy: Hershey Bears
Sam Pollock Trophy: Hamilton Bulldogs
John D. Chick Trophy: Chicago Wolves
James C. Hendy Memorial Award: Howard Dolgon, Syracuse
Thomas Ebright Memorial Award: Tom Mitchell, Binghamton
James H. Ellery Memorial Awards: Pete Dougherty, Albany
Ken McKenzie Award: Jim Sarosy, Syracuse
Michael Condon Memorial Award: David Butova

Milestones

References

[http://www.theahl.com/ AHL official site]

{{succession box |

before = 2008–09 AHL season |

after = 2010–11 AHL season |

title = AHL seasons |

years = |

}}

2009-10