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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.

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.

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.
• 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.
• 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" .

Affiliation changes

Final standings

•  y–  indicates team clinched division and a playoff spot
•  x–  indicates team clinched a playoff spot
•  e–  indicates team was eliminated from playoff contention

Eastern Conference

Western Conference

Statistical leaders

Leading skaters

The following players led the league in points at the conclusion of the regular season.

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

^† = 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.

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

Calder Cup playoffs

Bracket

AHL awards

Milestones

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010)

See also

• List of AHL seasons
• 2009 in ice hockey
• 2010 in ice hockey

References

1. "Bulldogs, Marlies going overseas this preseason". theahl.com. June 11, 2009. Retrieved June 13, 2009.
2. "Calder Cup Playoffs Qualification Rules". theahl.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved January 9, 2010.
3. "Austin, Abbotsford, Glens Falls joining AHL in 2009-10". theahl.com. April 28, 2009. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2009.
4. Barnes, Dan (April 28, 2009). "Austin, Abbotsford, Glens Falls joining AHL in 2009-10". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on May 2, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
5. Heika, Mike (April 29, 2009). "Texas Stars to play in Cedar Park next season". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
6. "League suspends Iowa Chops from playing in 2009-10 season" The Des Moines Register, July 7, 2009
7. "Chops franchise in suspension for 2009-10 season" Archived 2009-07-11 at the Wayback Machine AHL Press Release July 7, 2009
8. "Top Scorers - 2009-10 Regular Season - All Players". AHL. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.
9. "Top Goalies - 2009-10 Regular Season - Goals Against Average". AHL. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2009.

• AHL official site

• 2009–10 AHL season
• American Hockey League seasons
• 2009–10 in American ice hockey by league
• 2009–10 in Canadian ice hockey by league