2011–12 AHL season

{{Infobox sports season

| title = 2011–12 AHL season

| league = American Hockey League

| sport = Ice hockey

| duration = October 7, 2011 - April 15, 2012

| attendance =

| season = Regular season

| season_champ_name = Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy

| season_champs = Norfolk Admirals

| MVP = Cory Conacher

| MVP_link = Les Cunningham Award

| top_scorer = Chris Bourque

| top_scorer_link = John B. Sollenberger Trophy

| playoffs = Playoffs

| playoffs_link = 2012 Calder Cup playoffs

| finals = Calder Cup

| finals_link =

| finals_champ = Norfolk Admirals

| finals_runner-up = Toronto Marlies

| playoffs_MVP = Alexandre Picard

| playoffs_MVP_link = Jack A. Butterfield Trophy

|nextseason_year = 2012–13

|prevseason_year = 2010–11

| seasonslist = List of AHL seasons

| seasonslistnames = AHL

}}

The 2011–12 AHL season was the 76th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 7, 2011, and concluded on April 15, 2012. The 2012 Calder Cup playoffs follows the conclusion of the regular season.{{cite web|url=http://theahl.com/stats/schedule.php?view=month&month=2011-10 |title=The American Hockey League |publisher=TheAHL.com |date=2019-09-03 |accessdate=2021-11-20}}

Regular season

The 2011–12 season will feature scheduling changes in the regular season and post season. The major change will be the elimination of four games and extending the season by a week. The reasoning behind the change is to eliminate teams having to play four games in five nights. This will bring the total number of games for each team to 76. To accomplish that, the league has decided to add an additional week to the season.{{Cite web |url=http://theahl.com/ahl-announces-schedule-modification-plan-p170643 |title = TheAHL.com {{!}} The American Hockey League {{!}} AHL announces schedule modification plan |access-date=2011-04-14 |archive-date=2011-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416063404/http://theahl.com/ahl-announces-schedule-modification-plan-p170643 |url-status=dead }}

On July 5, 2011, the league's new realignment was revealed. The league moved from having four divisions of seven/eight teams to six even divisions of five teams, similar to that of the NHL. The Western Conference consists of the West, Midwest, and North divisions; the Eastern Conference consists of the Atlantic, Northeast, and East divisions. As a result of the Manitoba Moose relocating to St. John's, they have switched to the Eastern Conference, while the Charlotte Checkers have moved to the Western Conference.

The third installment of the AHL Outdoor Classic took place in Canada, with the Hamilton Bulldogs hosting the Toronto Marlies in a regional rivalry game at Ivor Wynne Stadium on January 21. The Marlies won the game 7–2 in front of a crowd of 20,565 spectators. This marks the first time the event has been played in Canada, and the event was moved up to the third weekend in January, instead of the third weekend in February as it has been in previous years. In addition to this game, another outdoor AHL game, between the Hershey Bears and the Adirondack Phantoms, took place as part of the 2012 NHL Winter Classic festivities on January 6, 2012. The Phantoms won that game 4–3 in overtime, and an AHL attendance record was set as the game drew a crowd of 45,653 fans.{{cite news|title=Record crowd watches AHL outdoor game |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/record-crowd-watches-ahl-outdoor-game/article2294797/|access-date=January 7, 2012|date=January 6, 2012|newspaper=The Globe and Mail}}

The Norfolk Admirals set a professional hockey record with 28 consecutive wins.{{cite web| url = https://pilotonline.com/sports/hockey/norfolk-admirals/article_4ada2d28-f9f4-52f9-8560-e2d3d13af024.html| title = Admirals close regular season with 28th straight win - The Virginian-Pilot}}

Playoff format

The 2011–12 playoff format will change as a result of the scheduling changes. The first round of the playoffs will now be a best of five series and the following rounds will continue to be best of seven game series'.

Eight teams per conference will qualify for the playoffs. The three division winners will earn the top three seeds. Seeds four through eight will be determined by regular season points out of the remaining teams in the division. Team will be re-seeded after the first round so that the highest remaining seed plays the lowest remaining seed.

Team and NHL affiliation changes

=Team changes=

The Manitoba Moose relocated to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, due to the Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL relocating to Winnipeg, Manitoba, as the Winnipeg Jets. They became the St. John's IceCaps, affiliating as the Jets' farm club.

=Affiliation changes=

style="background:#ddf; width:45%;"\| AHL team ! style="background:#ddf; width:25%;"\| New affiliate ! style="background:#ddf; width:25%;"\| Old affiliate
class="wikitable"
align=left\| St. John's IceCaps (formerly Manitoba)	Winnipeg (formerly Atlanta)	Vancouver
align=left\| Chicago Wolves	Vancouver	Atlanta (now Winnipeg)
align=left\| Rochester Americans	Buffalo	Florida
align=left\| San Antonio Rampage	Florida	Phoenix
align=left\| Portland Pirates	Phoenix	Buffalo

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 =

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
style="background:#ddf;" ! style="width:35%;"\| Atlantic Division ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
style="background:#97deff;" \| y–St. John's IceCaps (WPG)	76	43	25	5	3	94	240	216
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Manchester Monarchs (LAK)	76	39	32	2	3	83	207	208
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Portland Pirates (PHX)	76	36	31	4	5	81	223	254
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Providence Bruins (BOS)	76	35	34	3	4	77	193	214
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Worcester Sharks (SJS)	76	31	33	4	8	74	199	218

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
style="background:#ddf;" ! style="width:35%;"\| Northeast Division ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
style="background:#97deff;" \| y–Bridgeport Sound Tigers (NYI)	76	41	26	3	6	91	233	219
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Connecticut Whale (NYR)	76	36	26	7	7	86	210	208
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Adirondack Phantoms (PHI)	76	37	35	2	2	78	204	217
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Springfield Falcons (CBJ)	76	36	34	3	3	78	217	231
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Albany Devils (NJD)	76	31	34	6	5	73	190	226

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
style="background:#ddf;" ! style="width:35%;"\| East Division ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
style="background:#97deff;" \| y–Norfolk Admirals (TBL)	76	55	18	1	2	113	273	180
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)	76	44	25	2	5	95	235	215
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Hershey Bears (WSH)	76	38	26	4	8	88	244	225
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Syracuse Crunch (ANA)	76	37	29	5	5	84	238	234
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Binghamton Senators (OTT)	76	29	40	5	2	65	201	243

= Western Conference =

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
style="background:#ddf;" ! style="width:35%;"\| North Division ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
style="background:#97deff;" \| y–Toronto Marlies (TOR)	76	44	24	5	3	96	217	175
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Rochester Americans (BUF)	76	36	26	10	4	86	224	221
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Lake Erie Monsters (COL)	76	37	29	3	7	84	189	210
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Grand Rapids Griffins (DET)	76	33	32	7	4	77	245	249
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Hamilton Bulldogs (MTL)	76	34	35	2	5	75	185	226

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
style="background:#ddf;" ! style="width:35%;"\| Midwest Division ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
style="background:#97deff;" \| y–Chicago Wolves (VAN)	76	42	27	4	3	91	213	193
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)	76	40	29	2	5	87	210	190
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Charlotte Checkers (CAR)	76	38	29	3	6	85	209	214
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Peoria Rivermen (STL)	76	39	33	2	2	82	217	207
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Rockford IceHogs (CHI)	76	35	32	2	7	79	207	228

class="wikitable" style="width:50em"
style="background:#ddf;" ! style="width:35%;"\| West Division ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|W\|Wins}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|L\|Losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|OTL\|Overtime losses}} ! style="width:5%;"\| {{abbr\|SOL\|Shootout losses}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GF\|Goals for}} ! style="width:7.5%;"\| {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}}
style="background:#97deff;" \| y–Oklahoma City Barons (EDM)	76	45	22	4	5	99	213	176
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Abbotsford Heat (CGY)	76	42	26	3	5	92	200	201
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–San Antonio Rampage (FLA)	76	41	30	3	2	87	197	204
style="background:#bfb;" \| x–Houston Aeros (MIN)	76	35	25	5	11	86	202	206
style="background:#fcc;" \| e–Texas Stars (DAL)	76	31	40	3	2	67	224	251

Statistical leaders

= Leading skaters =

The following players are sorted by points, then goals.{{cite web|title=Top Scorers - 2011-12 Regular Season - All Players|url=http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_scorers&season_id=37|publisher=AHL}}

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" \| PIM
class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
align=left\| {{sortname\|Chris\|Bourque}} \| align=left\| Hershey Bears \| 73	27	66	93	42
align=left\| {{sortname\|Cory\|Conacher}} \| align=left\| Norfolk Admirals \| 75	39	41	80	114
align=left\| {{sortname\|Patrick\|Maroon}} \| align=left\| Syracuse Crunch \| 75	32	42	74	120
align=left\| {{sortname\|T. J.\|Hensick}} \| align=left\| Peoria Rivermen \| 66	21	49	70	20
align=left\| {{sortname\|Keith\|Aucoin}} \| align=left\| Hershey Bears \| 43	11	59	70	34
align=left\| {{sortname\|Tyler\|Johnson\|Tyler Johnson (ice hockey)}} \| align=left\| Norfolk Admirals \| 75	31	37	68	28
align=left\| {{sortname\|Trevor\|Smith\|Trevor Smith (ice hockey)}} \| align=left\| Norfolk Admirals \| 64	25	42	67	70
align=left\| {{sortname\|Travis\|Morin}} \| align=left\| Texas Stars \| 76	13	53	66	46
align=left\| {{sortname\|Ryan\|Potulny}} \| align=left\| Hershey Bears \| 61	33	32	65	32
align=left\| {{sortname\|Kris\|Newbury}} \| align=left\| Connecticut Whale \| 65	25	39	64	130

= Leading goaltenders =

The following goaltenders with a minimum 1500 minutes played led the league in goals against average.{{cite web|title=Top Goalies - 2011-12 Regular Season - Goals Against Average | url=http://theahl.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=top_goalies&season_id=37|publisher=AHL}}

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:15em" \| Team ! GP	TOI	SA	GA	SO	GAA	SV%	W	L	OT
class="wikitable sortable"
{{sortname\|Ben\|Scrivens}}	Toronto Marlies \| 39	2292	1052	78	4	2.04	0.926	22	15	1
{{sortname\|Yann\|Danis}}	Oklahoma City Barons \| 43	2544	1165	88	5	2.07	0.924	26	14	2
{{sortname\|Cedrick\|Desjardins\|Cédrick Desjardins}}	Lake Erie Monsters \| 32	1935	997	68	3	2.11	0.932	16	11	5
{{sortname\|Jeremy\|Smith\|Jeremy Smith (ice hockey)}}	Milwaukee Admirals \| 56	3283	1525	119	5	2.17	0.922	31	19	2
{{sortname\|Dustin\|Tokarski}}	Norfolk Admirals \| 45	2582	1109	96	5	2.23	0.913	32	11	0

Calder Cup playoffs

Bracket

{{16TeamBracket-info

|RD1-RD2-path = no

| team-width=170

| score-width=25

| RD1=Conference quarterfinals

| RD2=Conference semifinals

| RD3=Conference finals

| RD4=Calder Cup Final

|RD3-text1 = {{center|Eastern Conference}}

|RD3-text2 = {{center|Western Conference}}

| RD1-seed01=1

| RD1-team01=Norfolk

| RD1-seed02=8

| RD1-team02=Manchester

| RD1-score01=3

| RD1-score02=1

| RD1-seed03=2

| RD1-team03=St. John's

| RD1-seed04=7

| RD1-team04=Syracuse

| RD1-score03=3

| RD1-score04=1

| RD1-seed05=3

| RD1-team05=Bridgeport

| RD1-seed06=6

| RD1-team06=Connecticut

| RD1-score05=0

| RD1-score06=3

| RD1-seed07=4

| RD1-team07=Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

| RD1-seed08=5

| RD1-team08=Hershey

| RD1-score07=3

| RD1-score08=2

| RD1-seed09=1

| RD1-team09=Oklahoma City

| RD1-seed10=8

| RD1-team10=Houston

| RD1-score09=3

| RD1-score10=1

| RD1-seed11=2

| RD1-team11=Toronto

| RD1-seed12=7

| RD1-team12=Rochester

| RD1-score11=3

| RD1-score12=0

| RD1-seed13=3

| RD1-team13=Chicago

| RD1-seed14=6

| RD1-team14=San Antonio

| RD1-score13=2

| RD1-score14=3

| RD1-seed15=4

| RD1-team15=Abbotsford

| RD1-seed16=5

| RD1-team16=Milwaukee

| RD1-score15=3

| RD1-score16=0

| RD2-seed01=1

| RD2-team01=Norfolk

| RD2-seed02=6

| RD2-team02=Connecticut

| RD2-score01=4

| RD2-score02=2

| RD2-seed03=2

| RD2-team03=St. John's

| RD2-seed04=4

| RD2-team04=Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

| RD2-score03=4

| RD2-score04=3

| RD2-seed05=1

| RD2-team05=Oklahoma City

| RD2-seed06=6

| RD2-team06=San Antonio

| RD2-score05=4

| RD2-score06=1

| RD2-seed07=2

| RD2-team07=Toronto

| RD2-seed08=4

| RD2-team08=Abbotsford

| RD2-score07=4

| RD2-score08=1

| RD3-seed01=1

| RD3-team01=Norfolk

| RD3-seed02=2

| RD3-team02=St. John's

| RD3-score01=4

| RD3-score02=0

| RD3-seed03=1

| RD3-team03=Oklahoma City

| RD3-seed04=2

| RD3-team04=Toronto

| RD3-score03=1

| RD3-score04=4

| RD4-seed01=E1

| RD4-team01=Norfolk

| RD4-seed02=W2

| RD4-team02=Toronto

| RD4-score01=4

| RD4-score02=0

}}

AHL awards

cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"

Calder Cup : Norfolk Admirals

Les Cunningham Award : Cory Conacher, Norfolk

John B. Sollenberger Trophy : Chris Bourque, Hershey

Willie Marshall Award : Cory Conacher, Norfolk

Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award : Cory Conacher, Norfolk

Eddie Shore Award : Mark Barberio, Norfolk

Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award : Yann Danis, Oklahoma City

Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award : Ben Scrivens, Toronto

Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award : Jon Cooper, Norfolk

Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award : Chris Minard, Grand Rapids

Yanick Dupre Memorial Award : Nick Petrecki, Worcester

Jack A. Butterfield Trophy : Alexandre Picard, Norfolk

Richard F. Canning Trophy : Norfolk Admirals

Robert W. Clarke Trophy : Toronto Marlies

Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy: Norfolk Admirals

Frank Mathers Trophy: Norfolk Admirals

Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy: Chicago Wolves

Emile Francis Trophy : St. John's IceCaps

F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

Sam Pollock Trophy: Toronto Marlies

John D. Chick Trophy: Oklahoma City Barons

James C. Hendy Memorial Award: Glenn Stanford, St. John's

Thomas Ebright Memorial Award: Lyman G Bullard, Jr.

James H. Ellery Memorial Awards: Dave Eminian, Peoria (Newspaper), Pete Michaud, Norfolk (Radio), Aaron LaFontaine, Toronto (TV)

Ken McKenzie Award: Mike Lappan, Charlotte

Michael Condon Memorial Award: Bob Paquette

Milestones

On December 10, 2011, Chicago Wolves forward Darren Haydar recorded his 700th career AHL point. He became the 22nd player in league history to reach this milestone.
On February 11, 2012, Worcester Sharks coach Roy Sommer recorded his 500th win as an AHL coach. He became the fourth coach in league history to reach this milestone.
On March 18, 2012, the Norfolk Admirals broke the single-season consecutive wins record at 18, finishing the streak with 28 consecutive wins at the close of the season, the longest such streak in professional hockey worldwide.{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/release_story1.php?id=2520 |title = Norfolk Admirals Official Website |access-date=2012-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625233606/http://www.norfolkadmirals.com/release_story1.php?id=2520 |archive-date=2012-06-25 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web| url = http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/admirals-close-regular-season-28th-straight-win| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120418110144/http://hamptonroads.com/2012/04/admirals-close-regular-season-28th-straight-win| archive-date = 2012-04-18| title = Admirals close regular season with 28th straight win {{!}} HamptonRoads.com {{!}} PilotOnline.com}} The previous record was set by the Philadelphia Phantoms in 2004–05.
On March 25, 2012, Springfield Falcons forward Alexandre Giroux recorded his 700th career AHL point. He became the 23rd player in league history to reach this milestone.

References

External links

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

{{succession box |

before = 2010–11 AHL season |

after = 2012–13 AHL season |

title = AHL seasons |

years = |

}}

2011-12 Ahl Season