SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The American Hockey League announced its plans for the upcoming 2021-22 season, as well as revealed that there would be no plans to award the Calder Cup for the current 2021 season on Thursday. The announcement was made by the AHL’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Scott Howson.
2020-21 Playoffs
The league will not award the Calder Cup this season through a traditional postseason format, although each individual division was allowed to determine its own playoff format. Only the Pacific Division will be holding a postseason tournament to award a winner. Meanwhile, the rest will award a division champion based on the final regular-season standings. The plans were made in accordance with the league’s COVID-19 protocols.
“While we are disappointed that we will not be able to award the Calder Cup this spring, we are grateful to have been able to provide a safe and competitive environment for more than 1,000 players to play AHL hockey and continue their development,” Howson said via the league’s press release. “We’re especially thankful for the work done by our athletic trainers, COVID-19 officers and other front-line workers to ensure the health and safety of all of our players and staff throughout the league.”
Each division will instead be awarding one of the trophies normally reserved for regular-season division champions. Divisional champions will be awarded as follows:
- Pacific Division: John D. Chick Trophy
- Atlantic Division: Emile Francis Trophy
- Canadian Division: Frank S. Mathers Trophy
- Central Division: Sam Pollock Trophy
- North Division: F.G. (Teddy) Oke Trophy
2021-22 Season Plans
The AHL revealed some early details surrounding the 2021-22 season, which will begin on October 15, 2021, and end on April 24, 2022. The calendar was approved by the AHL’s Board of Governors for the league’s 86th season. All 31 teams are expected to participate, and the division alignments and full schedule information will be released over the summer.
This is an ongoing story. Stay with The Sin Bin as news develops.
