1994 Calder Cup Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1994 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League
began on April 13, 1994. The twelve teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals and division finals. The highest remaining seed received a bye for the third round while the other two remaining teams played a best-of-3 series series, with the winner advancing to play the bye-team in a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup
. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 29, 1994 with the Portland Pirates
defeating the Moncton Hawks
four games to two to win the first Calder Cup in team history. Portland's Olaf Kolzig
won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
Portland's Mike Boback tied an AHL playoff record for points in a single playoff game by scoring 7 points
(3 goals, 4 assists) in game 5 of the Northern division semifinal against the Albany River Rats
.
, 12 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The St. John's Maple Leafs
finished the regular season with the best overall record.
franchise, which moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
, in the offseason to become the Worcester IceCats
.
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 13, 1994. The twelve teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals and division finals. The highest remaining seed received a bye for the third round while the other two remaining teams played a best-of-3 series series, with the winner advancing to play the bye-team in 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 May 29, 1994 with the Portland Pirates
Portland Pirates
The Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
defeating the Moncton Hawks
Moncton Hawks
The Moncton Hawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1987 and 1994 operated as a minor league affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Home games were played at the Moncton Coliseum...
four games to two to win the first Calder Cup in team history. Portland's Olaf Kolzig
Olaf Kölzig
Olaf Kölzig is a retired German professional ice hockey goaltender and associate goalie coach for the Washington Capitals. With the exception of 8 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning, he played his entire 14 year career with the Capitals...
won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
Portland's Mike Boback tied an AHL playoff record for points in a single playoff game by scoring 7 points
Point (ice hockey)
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
(3 goals, 4 assists) in game 5 of the Northern division semifinal against the Albany River Rats
Albany River Rats
The Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
.
Playoff seeds
After the 1993-94 AHL regular season1993–94 AHL season
The 1993–94 AHL season was the 58th season of the American Hockey League. Sixteen teams played 80 games each in the schedule. The St. John's Maple Leafs finished first overall in the regular season...
, 12 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The St. John's Maple Leafs
St. John's Maple Leafs
The St. John's Maple Leafs were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada at Memorial Stadium from 1991–2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001–2005.-History:...
finished the regular season with the best overall record.
Atlantic Division
- St. John's Maple LeafsSt. John's Maple LeafsThe St. John's Maple Leafs were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada at Memorial Stadium from 1991–2001, and at Mile One Stadium from 2001–2005.-History:...
- 102 points - Saint John FlamesSaint John FlamesThe Saint John Flames were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League from 1993 to 2003 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. The Calgary Flames bought and relocated the Utica Devils, to be their AHL affiliate....
- 84 points - Moncton HawksMoncton HawksThe Moncton Hawks were a professional ice hockey team based in Moncton, New Brunswick. They played in the American Hockey League between 1987 and 1994 operated as a minor league affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets. Home games were played at the Moncton Coliseum...
- 81 points - Cape Breton OilersCape Breton OilersThe Cape Breton Oilers were a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. The team relocated from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1988 and was renamed for Cape Breton Island. Home games were played in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, at Centre 200...
- 77 points
Northern Division
- Adirondack Red WingsAdirondack Red WingsThe Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
- 98 points - Portland PiratesPortland PiratesThe Portland Pirates is a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They are the top affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. They play in the Cumberland County Civic Center in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the...
- 96 points - Albany River RatsAlbany River RatsThe Albany River Rats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Albany, New York at the Times Union Center.- Founding to 2010 :...
- 84 points - Springfield IndiansSpringfield IndiansThe Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
- 71 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...
- 87 points - Hamilton CanucksHamilton CanucksThe franchise of the Hamilton Canucks was the top minor league affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks for two seasons in the American Hockey League. Today, the franchise is known as the Syracuse Crunch....
- 79 points - Cornwall AcesCornwall AcesThe Cornwall Aces were the AHL affiliate of the NHL's Quebec Nordiques from 1993 to 1995, and the relocated Colorado Avalanche in 1995–96. They were based in the eastern Ontario city of Cornwall, and played at the Ed Lumley Arena inside the Cornwall Civic Complex...
- 77 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...
- 77 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. For the Semifinal round, the team that earned the most points during the regular season out of the three remaining teams receives a bye directly to the Calder Cup Final. There is no set series format due to arena scheduling conflicts and travel considerations.Division Semifinals
- Note 1: Home team is listed first.
- Note 2: The number of overtime periods played (where applicable) is not specified
(A1) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A4) Cape Breton Oilers
(A2) Saint John Flames vs. (A3) Moncton Hawks
(N1) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (N4) Springfield Indians
The deciding game was the last for the sixty year old Springfield IndiansSpringfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
franchise, which moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, in the offseason to become the Worcester IceCats
Worcester IceCats
The Worcester IceCats were an ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA at the Worcester Centrum...
.
(N2) Portland Pirates vs. (N3) Albany River Rats
(S1) Hershey Bears vs. (S4) Rochester Americans
(S2) Hamilton Canucks vs. (S3) Cornwall Aces
(A1) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (A3) Moncton Hawks
(N1) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (N2) Portland Pirates
(S1) Hershey Bears vs. (S3) Cornwall Aces
Bye
- (N2) Portland Pirates receive a bye to the Calder Cup Final by virtue of having earned the highest point total in the regular season out of the three remaining teams.