The Cincinnati Swords were an American Hockey League team that played at the Cincinnati Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1971 to 1974. They were owned by and the affiliate of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.
The 2008 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 16, 2008. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 10, 2008 with the Chicago Wolves defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, four games to two, to win the second Calder Cup in team history. Jason Krog won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as playoff MVP, after having already been named the regular-season MVP. Krog also tied the AHL record for most assists in one playoff with 26.
The 2006 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 18, 2006. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 15, 2006 with the Hershey Bears defeating the Milwaukee Admirals four games to two to win the ninth Calder Cup in team history.
The 2004 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 14, 2004. Twenty teams, the top five from each division, qualified for the playoffs. The fourth- and fifth-placed teams in each division played best-of-3 series in the qualifying round. The four winners, in addition to the other twelve teams that qualified, played best-of-7 series for division semifinals, finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 6, 2004 with the Milwaukee Admirals defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins four games to none to win the first Calder Cup in team history. Milwaukee's Wade Flaherty won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
The 2002 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 9, 2002. Twenty teams, the top ten from each conference, qualified for the playoffs. The seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, and tenth-placed teams in each conference played best-of-three series in the qualifying round. The four winners, in addition to the other twelve teams that qualified, played best-of-five series for conference quarterfinals. The remaining 8 teams played best-of-seven series for conference semifinals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 3, 2002 with the Chicago Wolves defeating the Bridgeport Sound Tigers four games to one to win the first Calder Cup in team history.
The 2001 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 10, 2001. 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 May 28, 2001, with the Saint John Flames defeating the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins four games to two to win the first, and only, Calder Cup in team history.
The 1997 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 18, 1997. 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. Hershey's Mike McHugh won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
The 1993 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 12, 1993. The twelve teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-seven 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-three series, with the winner advancing to play the bye-team in a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 30, 1993, with the Cape Breton Oilers defeating the Rochester Americans four games to one to win the first Calder Cup in team history.
The 1988 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 6, 1988. The eight teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 12, 1988, with the Hershey Bears defeating the Fredericton Express four games to zero to win the Calder Cup for the seventh time in team history. Hershey went an unprecedented 12-0 during their Calder Cup run, which also set an AHL record for most consecutive games won in one playoff. Hershey's Wendell Young won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
The 1987 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 8, 1987. The eight teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 23, 1987, with the Rochester Americans defeating the Sherbrooke Canadiens four games to three to win the Calder Cup for the fifth time in team history. Rochester's Dave Fenyves won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
The 1985 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 10, 1985. The eight teams that qualified, four from each division, played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 24, 1985, with the Sherbrooke Canadiens defeating the Baltimore Skipjacks four games to two to win the Calder Cup for the only time in team history. Sherbrooke's Brian Skrudland won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.
The 1982 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 7, 1982. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-five series for Division Semifinals and best-of-seven series for Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 10, 1982, with the New Brunswick Hawks defeating the Binghamton Whalers four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the only time in team history.
The 1981 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 7, 1981. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Division Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 20, 1981, with the Adirondack Red Wings defeating the Maine Mariners four games to two to win the Calder Cup for the first time in team history.
The 1979 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 11, 1979. 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-five series. The winners played best-of-seven series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 11, 1979, with the Maine Mariners defeating the New Haven Nighthawks four games to zero to win the Calder Cup for the second consecutive year, and the third time in team history. Maine also beat new Haven in the 1978 Calder Cup Final.
The 1978 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 11, 1978. 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-five series. The winners played best-of-seven series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 15, 1978, with the Maine Mariners defeating the New Haven Nighthawks four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the first time in team history.
The 1977 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 3, 1977. The top four teams in the league qualified for the playoffs and played best-of-seven series for Semifinals. The two winners played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on April 30, 1977, with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs defeating the Rochester Americans four games to two to win the Calder Cup for second consecutive year, and the third time in team history. For the second consecutive year, the Voyageurs parent club, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in a four-game sweep over the Boston Bruins, making them the only pair of teams in history to win both the AHL's Calder Cup and NHL's Stanley Cup in the same season twice.
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-five series. The winners played best-of-seven series with the team that received the first round bye in their division. The winners of each Division Final played a best-of-seven 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. Coincidentally, the Voyageurs parent club, the Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup in a four-game sweep over the Philadelphia Flyers, making them the first pair of teams in history to win both the AHL's Calder Cup and NHL's Stanley Cup in the same season. Even more impressive is that these same two teams would accomplish this feat again the following year.
The 1975 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 2, 1975. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 7, 1975, with the Springfield Indians defeating the New Haven Nighthawks four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the fourth time in team history.
The 1974 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 3, 1974. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 8, 1974, with the Hershey Bears defeating the Providence Reds four games to one to win the Calder Cup for the fifth time in team history.
The 1973 Calder Cup playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 3, 1973. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-seven series for Division Semifinals and Finals. The division champions played a best-of-seven series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 15, 1973, with the Cincinnati Swords defeating the Nova Scotia Voyageurs four games to one to win the only Calder Cup in team history.