1976 Calder Cup Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1976 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League
began on April 3, 1976. The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The two division winners earned byes for the Division Semifinals while the other two teams in each division played best-of-5 series. The winners played best-of-7 series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup
. The Calder Cup Final ended on April 28, 1976 with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs
defeating the Hershey Bears
four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the second time in team history.
, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs
finished the regular season with the best overall record. The two division champions earned byes to the Division Finals.
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
began on April 3, 1976. The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The two division winners earned byes for the Division Semifinals while the other two teams in each division played best-of-5 series. The winners played best-of-7 series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
. The Calder Cup Final ended on April 28, 1976 with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
The Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....
defeating the Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the second time in team history.
Playoff seeds
After the 1975–76 AHL regular season1975–76 AHL season
The 1975–76 AHL season was the 40th season of the American Hockey League. The league begins to give out three James H. Ellery Memorial Awards to the media, one each for outstanding newspaper, radio and television coverage of the AHL....
, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
The Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....
finished the regular season with the best overall record. The two division champions earned byes to the Division Finals.
Northern Division
- Nova Scotia VoyageursNova Scotia VoyageursThe Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....
- 104 points - Rochester AmericansRochester AmericansThe Rochester Americans are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and a top affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres. The team plays its home games in Rochester, New York, at the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial...
- 93 points - Providence RedsProvidence RedsThe Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
- 76 points
Southern Division
- Hershey BearsHershey BearsThe Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
- 84 points - Richmond RobinsRichmond RobinsThe Richmond Robins were a professional ice hockey team based in Richmond, Virginia. They were a member of the American Hockey League for five seasons from 1971–72 to 1975–76...
- 66 points - New Haven NighthawksNew Haven NighthawksThe New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
- 66 points
Bracket
In each round, the team that earned more points during the regular season receives home ice advantage, meaning they receive the "extra" game on home-ice if the series reaches the maximum number of games. There is no set series format due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.Byes
- Nova Scotia Voyageurs (Northern Division regular-season champions)
- Hershey Bears (Southern Division regular-season champions)