1997 Calder Cup playoffs
Tournament details
DatesApril 18–June 13, 1997
Teams16
Final positions
ChampionsHershey Bears
Runner-upHamilton Bulldogs

The 1997 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 18, 1997.[1] The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-five series for division semifinals and best-of-seven series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 13, 1997, with the Hershey Bears defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs four games to one to win the eighth Calder Cup in team history.[2] Hershey's Mike McHugh won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.[3]

Hershey set an AHL playoff record by scoring 35 powerplay goals during the 1997 Calder Cup playoffs. Furthermore, Game 2 of the Mid-Atlantic Division final between Hershey and Philadelphia set an AHL playoff record for the most penalty minutes in one game by both teams with 350 (Hershey, 179; Philadelphia, 171).[4] In addition, Hershey's Jean-François Labbé set an AHL playoff record for goaltenders by playing in 23 games in one playoff.[5]

Playoff seeds

After the 1996–97 AHL regular season, 16 teams qualified for the playoffs. The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. However, due to the uneven number of teams in the each conference, it was possible for the fifth-placed team in the five team divisions to crossover to the playoffs for the four team divisions. This could only happen if the fifth-placed team in a five team division earned more points than the fourth-placed team in the four team division in the same conference. In this case, the fifth-placed team from the five team division would play in place of the fourth-placed team from the four team division in that part of the playoff bracket. The Philadelphia Phantoms were the Southern Conference regular season champions and also had the best overall regular season record. The Rochester Americans were the Northern Conference regular season champions.[6]

Northern Conference

Canadian Division

  1. St. John's Maple Leafs – 88 points
  2. Saint John Flames – 72 points
  3. Hamilton Bulldogs – 69 points

Empire State Division

  1. Rochester Americans – Northern Conference regular season champions, 90 points
  2. Adirondack Red Wings – 90 points
  3. Albany River Rats – 90 points
  4. Syracuse Crunch – 74 points
  5. Binghamton Rangers – 69 points (Played in the Canadian Division bracket by virtue of earning more points than the fourth-placed team in that division)

Southern Conference

New England Division

  1. Worcester IceCats – 100 points
  2. Springfield Falcons – 96 points
  3. Portland Pirates – 91 points
  4. Providence Bruins – 75 points

Mid-Atlantic Division

  1. Philadelphia Phantoms – Southern Conference regular season champions; Best overall regular season record, 111 points
  2. Hershey Bears – 101 points
  3. Kentucky Thoroughblades – 81 points
  4. Baltimore Bandits – 73 points

Bracket

Division Semifinals Division Finals Conference Finals Calder Cup Final
            
C1 St. John's 3
E5 Binghamton 1
C1 St. John's 3
Canadian Division
C3 Hamilton 4
C2 Saint John 2
C3 Hamilton 3
C3 Hamilton 4
Northern Conference
E3 Albany 1
E1 Rochester 3
E4 Syracuse 0
E1 Rochester 3
Empire State Division
E3 Albany 4
E2 Adirondack 1
E3 Albany 3
C3 Hamilton 1
M2 Hershey 4
N1 Worcester 2
N4 Providence 3
N4 Providence 1
New England Division
N2 Springfield 4
N2 Springfield 3
N3 Portland 2
N2 Springfield 3
Southern Conference
M2 Hershey 4
M1 Philadelphia 3
M4 Baltimore 0
M1 Philadelphia 3
Mid-Atlantic Division
M2 Hershey 4
M2 Hershey 3
M3 Kentucky 1

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.[7]

Division Semifinals

Note 1: All times are in Eastern Time (UTC−4).
Note 2: Game times in italics signify games to be played only if necessary.
Note 3: Home team is listed first.

Northern Conference

Canadian Division

(C1) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (E5) Binghamton Rangers
April 18 St. John's Maple Leafs 5 – 2 Binghamton Rangers Memorial Stadium
April 20 St. John's Maple Leafs 2 – 3 Binghamton Rangers Memorial Stadium
April 23 Binghamton Rangers 2 – 3 St. John's Maple Leafs Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
April 25 Binghamton Rangers 2 – 4 St. John's Maple Leafs Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena
St. John's won series 3 – 1
(C2) Saint John Flames vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs
April 18 Saint John Flames 4 – 5 Hamilton Bulldogs Harbour Station
April 20 Saint John Flames 3 – 2 Hamilton Bulldogs Harbour Station
April 23 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 1 Saint John Flames Copps Coliseum
April 25 Hamilton Bulldogs 4 – 5 OT Saint John Flames Copps Coliseum
April 28 Saint John Flames 1 – 3 Hamilton Bulldogs Harbour Station
Hamilton won series 3 – 2

Empire State Division

(E1) Rochester Americans vs. (E4) Syracuse Crunch
April 18 Rochester Americans 7 – 4 Syracuse Crunch Rochester Community War Memorial
April 19 Rochester Americans 6 – 2 Syracuse Crunch Rochester Community War Memorial
April 23 Syracuse Crunch 2 – 3 Rochester Americans Onondaga War Memorial
Rochester won series 3 – 0
(E2) Adirondack Red Wings vs. (E3) Albany River Rats
April 19 Albany River Rats 2 – 0 Adirondack Red Wings Pepsi Arena
April 20 Albany River Rats 2 – 3 Adirondack Red Wings Pepsi Arena
April 22 Adirondack Red Wings 7 – 3 Albany River Rats Glens Falls Civic Center
April 24 Adirondack Red Wings 4 – 1 Albany River Rats Glens Falls Civic Center
Albany won series 3 – 1

Southern Conference

New England Division

(N1) Worcester IceCats vs. (N4) Providence Bruins
April 18 Worcester IceCats 5 – 4 Providence Bruins Worcester Centrum
April 19 Providence Bruins 4 – 5 Worcester IceCats Providence Civic Center
April 23 Worcester IceCats 2 – 4 Providence Bruins Worcester Centrum
April 24 Providence Bruins 5 – 4 2OT Worcester IceCats Providence Civic Center
April 26 Worcester IceCats 2 – 3 Providence Bruins Worcester Centrum
Providence won series 3 – 2
(N2) Springfield Falcons vs. (N3) Portland Pirates
April 18 Springfield Falcons 3 – 4 Portland Pirates Springfield Civic Center
April 19 Portland Pirates 5 – 2 Springfield Falcons Cumberland County Civic Center
April 23 Springfield Falcons 3 – 2 OT Portland Pirates Springfield Civic Center
April 26 Portland Pirates 3 – 4 Springfield Falcons Cumberland County Civic Center
April 27 Springfield Falcons 1 – 0 OT Portland Pirates Springfield Civic Center
Springfield won series 3 – 2

Mid-Atlantic Division

(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (M4) Baltimore Bandits
April 19 Philadelphia Phantoms 4 – 2 Baltimore Bandits CoreStates Center[1]
April 20 Philadelphia Phantoms 7 – 1 Baltimore Bandits CoreStates Center[1]
April 23 Baltimore Bandits 2 – 4 Philadelphia Phantoms Baltimore Arena
Philadelphia won series 3 – 0
(M2) Hershey Bears vs. (M3) Kentucky Thoroughblades
April 18 Hershey Bears 4 – 3 2OT Kentucky Thoroughblades Hersheypark Arena
April 21 Hershey Bears 3 – 0 Kentucky Thoroughblades Hersheypark Arena
April 23 Kentucky Thoroughblades 4 – 2 Hershey Bears Rupp Arena
April 25 Kentucky Thoroughblades 2 – 5 Hershey Bears Rupp Arena
Hershey won series 3 – 1

Division Finals

Northern Conference

Canadian Division

(C1) St. John's Maple Leafs vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs
May 1 Hamilton Bulldogs 3 – 2 St. John's Maple Leafs Copps Coliseum
May 3 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 4 St. John's Maple Leafs Copps Coliseum
May 5 St. John's Maple Leafs 3 – 1 Hamilton Bulldogs Memorial Stadium
May 7 St. John's Maple Leafs 3 – 4 Hamilton Bulldogs Memorial Stadium
May 9 St. John's Maple Leafs 5 – 2 Hamilton Bulldogs Memorial Stadium
May 11 Hamilton Bulldogs 4 – 3 OT St. John's Maple Leafs Copps Coliseum
May 13 St. John's Maple Leafs 0 – 3 Hamilton Bulldogs Memorial Stadium
Hamilton won series 4 – 3

Empire State Division

(E1) Rochester Americans vs. (E3) Albany River Rats
April 30 Rochester Americans 2 – 3 OT Albany River Rats Rochester Community War Memorial
May 2 Rochester Americans 3 – 5 Albany River Rats Rochester Community War Memorial
May 4 Albany River Rats 2 – 5 Rochester Americans Pepsi Arena
May 7 Albany River Rats 3 – 2 OT Rochester Americans Pepsi Arena
May 9 Rochester Americans 4 – 2 Albany River Rats Rochester Community War Memorial
May 11 Albany River Rats 2 – 6 Rochester Americans Pepsi Arena
May 14 Rochester Americans 2 – 6 Albany River Rats Rochester Community War Memorial
Albany won series 4 – 3

Southern Conference

New England Division

(N2) Springfield Falcons vs. (N4) Providence Bruins
May 2 Springfield Falcons 4 – 1 Providence Bruins Springfield Civic Center
May 3 Springfield Falcons 2 – 0 Providence Bruins Springfield Civic Center
May 6 Providence Bruins 3 – 4 OT Springfield Falcons Providence Civic Center
May 9 Providence Bruins 2 – 1 Springfield Falcons Providence Civic Center
May 10 Springfield Falcons 3 – 1 Providence Bruins Springfield Civic Center
Springfield won series 4 – 1

Mid-Atlantic Division

(M1) Philadelphia Phantoms vs. (M2) Hershey Bears
May 1 Philadelphia Phantoms 3 – 5 Hershey Bears CoreStates Spectrum
May 3 Philadelphia Phantoms 7 – 4 Hershey Bears CoreStates Spectrum
May 4 Hershey Bears 4 – 2 Philadelphia Phantoms Hersheypark Arena
May 7 Hershey Bears 2 – 3 OT Philadelphia Phantoms Hersheypark Arena
May 10 Philadelphia Phantoms 3 – 0 Hershey Bears CoreStates Spectrum
May 11 Hershey Bears 3 – 2 3OT Philadelphia Phantoms Hersheypark Arena
May 14 Philadelphia Phantoms 2 – 3 Hershey Bears CoreStates Spectrum
Hershey won series 4 – 3

Conference finals

Northern Conference

(E3) Albany River Rats vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs

May 17 Albany River Rats 1 – 2 OT Hamilton Bulldogs Pepsi Arena
May 20 Albany River Rats 3 – 4 Hamilton Bulldogs Pepsi Arena
May 23 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 0 Albany River Rats Copps Coliseum
May 25 Hamilton Bulldogs 3 – 5 Albany River Rats Copps Coliseum
May 27 Hamilton Bulldogs 7 – 3 Albany River Rats Copps Coliseum
Hamilton won series 4 – 1

Southern Conference

(M2) Hershey Bears vs. (N2) Springfield Falcons

May 18 Hershey Bears 2 – 6 Springfield Falcons Hersheypark Arena
May 19 Hershey Bears 3 – 5 Springfield Falcons Hersheypark Arena
May 21 Springfield Falcons 3 – 4 OT Hershey Bears Springfield Civic Center
May 23 Springfield Falcons 4 – 3 Hershey Bears Springfield Civic Center
May 24 Springfield Falcons 1 – 4 Hershey Bears Springfield Civic Center
May 29 Hershey Bears 4 – 1 Springfield Falcons Hersheypark Arena
May 31 Hershey Bears 3 – 1 Springfield Falcons Hersheypark Arena
Hershey won series 4 – 3

Calder Cup Final

(M2) Hershey Bears vs. (C3) Hamilton Bulldogs

June 4 Hershey Bears 4 – 2 Hamilton Bulldogs Hersheypark Arena
June 7 Hershey Bears 6 – 5 OT Hamilton Bulldogs Hersheypark Arena
June 9 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 1 Hershey Bears Copps Coliseum
June 11 Hamilton Bulldogs 2 – 4 Hershey Bears Copps Coliseum
June 13 Hamilton Bulldogs 1 – 4 Hershey Bears Copps Coliseum
Hershey won series 4 – 1

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 1997 Calder Cup Playoffs caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 2, 2008.
  2. ↑ Calder Cup Finals open tonight Archived 2006-11-12 at the Wayback Machine, caldercup.com, June 2, 2006. Retrieved on May 2, 2008.
  3. ↑ Jack A. Butterfield Trophy Archived 2008-09-17 at the Wayback Machine ahlhalloffame.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008.
  4. ↑ Calder Cup record book: Teams caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008.
  5. ↑ Calder Cup record book: Players caldercup.com. Retrieved on May 6, 2008.
  6. ↑ 1996-97 AHL Standings The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved on May 2, 2008.
  7. ↑ Frequently asked questions Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine theahl.com. Retrieved on May 12, 2008.
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