The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Canada.
The International Hockey League (IHL) was a minor professional ice hockey league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1945 to 2001. The IHL served as the National Hockey League's alternate farm system to the American Hockey League (AHL). After 56 years of operation, financial instability led to the league's demise. Six of the surviving seven teams merged into the AHL in 2001.
The Toronto Marlies are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL) as a member of the North Division of the Eastern Conference. The Marlies are owned by Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, a company that owns several professional sports teams in the city, including their NHL affiliate, the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Marlies have played their home games at Coca-Cola Coliseum since 2005.
Shawn Paul Horcoff is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He was selected in the fourth round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, 99th overall, by the Edmonton Oilers, with whom he played 11 seasons and served as team captain during three seasons. He currently serves as the assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings and as the general manager of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Darren Douglas McCarty is a Canadian former professional ice hockey forward and professional wrestler, best known for his years playing with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). McCarty has been known for taking on the role of the Red Wings enforcer most of his career, a role in which he played in five Stanley Cup Finals and won the Stanley Cup four times in 1997, 1998, 2002, and 2008, the last of which after resurrecting his career in the Red Wings minor league system.
Danny Syvret is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 59 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). Syvret was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the third round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Curtis Martin Fraser is an American former professional ice hockey player who played for the Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and the Minnesota North Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1978-79 and 1989-90. He featured in the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals with the Canucks.
The 2003–04 AHL season was the 68th season of the American Hockey League. The league introduced the Willie Marshall Award in honor of the career points leader in the AHL, and awards it to the annual top goal scorer.
Matt Ellis is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and assistant coach for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. Not selected in an NHL Entry Draft, Ellis has also played in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings and the Sabres.
Marc Lamothe is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He last played in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga for Hamburg Freezers during the 2010–11 season.
Bob McNamara is a former professional ice hockey player and executive. He is the former general manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the International Hockey League and the American Hockey League and a former goaltender in the minor leagues.
Jonathan Ericsson is a Swedish professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL). Ericsson was drafted in the ninth round, 291st overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, the final pick of the draft. He has played his entire NHL career with the Red Wings organization.
Eric James Manlow is a former professional ice hockey player who played 37 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins and New York Islanders.
Teams in the American Hockey League first hosted games outdoors in 2010. Paralleling the National Hockey League's Winter Classic and Heritage Classic, these outdoor games frequently pit two regional rivals in a game in an outdoor venue. Inasmuch as the games have carried a unified brand, the most commonly used name for these events has been the Outdoor Classic.
Joël Chouinard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the American Hockey League (AHL).
Maxim Vladimirovich Spiridonov is a Russia professional ice hockey forward.
Jeff Blashill is an American professional ice hockey coach who is currently serving as an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was formerly the head coach for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Benjamin Street is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for EHC Red Bull München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). An undrafted player, Street played five seasons of college hockey with the Wisconsin Badgers before turning professional in 2010. He joined the Calgary Flames organization in 2012 before signing with the Colorado Avalanche in 2014. He has also played with the Detroit Red Wings, Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils.
Chad Billins is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently under contract with HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). An undrafted player, Billins played four seasons of college hockey with the Ferris State Bulldogs that culminated in his serving as co-captain of the team that reached the first Frozen Four appearance in school history in 2012. He turned professional in 2012 with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) and was a member of their Calder Cup championship team. Billins made his NHL debut in 2013 as a member of the Calgary Flames.
Julien BriseBois is a Canadian ice hockey executive. He is the general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the National Hockey League (NHL) and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch.
