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.
Edward John Belfour is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. Belfour was born in Carman, Manitoba and grew up playing hockey. He played junior hockey for the Winkler Flyers before going to the University of North Dakota where he helped the school win the NCAA championship in the 1986–87 season. The following year, Belfour signed as a free agent with the Chicago Blackhawks alternating time between them and the Saginaw Hawks of the International Hockey League. Many regard Belfour as an elite goaltender and one of the best of all-time. His 484 wins rank fifth all-time among NHL goaltenders. Belfour was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in the 2011 class, his first year of eligibility. In addition Belfour is one of only two players to have won an NCAA championship, an Olympic Gold medal, and a Stanley Cup.
Robert Bowlby Blake is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He is the current general manager of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was originally drafted by the Kings in 1988, appearing in the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, winning the James Norris Memorial Trophy and serving as team captain for five seasons in his initial 11-season stint with the club. In 2001, Blake was traded to the Colorado Avalanche and was a member of their 2001 Stanley Cup championship team. It was his only Stanley Cup as a player, though he won the Cup again as a member of the Kings' front office in 2014. After a two-season return to Los Angeles, Blake signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2008, retiring as its captain after the 2009–10 season. Four years later, in 2014, Blake was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The Portland Pirates were a minor league professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League (AHL). Their home arena was the Cross Insurance Arena in downtown Portland, Maine. The franchise was previously known as the Baltimore Skipjacks from 1982 to 1993.
Josef Sami Boumedienne is a Swedish former professional hockey defenceman and hockey scout. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New Jersey Devils, Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals. He is currently serving as an Assistant Coach for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Michael Vernon is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 19 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers.
The Triple Gold Club is the group of ice hockey players and coaches who have won an Olympic Games gold medal, a World Championship gold medal, and the Stanley Cup, the championship trophy of the National Hockey League (NHL). The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) considers them to be "the three most important championships available to the sport".
James Patrick is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is currently the head coach for the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Peter Joseph Ferraro is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He and his twin brother Chris became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team, in the 1995–1996 NHL hockey season. The first was Ron and Rich Sutter.
Christopher M. Ferraro is an American former professional ice hockey player who formerly played in the National Hockey League. Along with his twin brother, Peter, became the second set of identical twins to play on the same NHL team: the New York Rangers in the 1995–96 season.
Eric John Weinrich is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New Jersey Devils, Hartford Whalers, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, and Vancouver Canucks. He played 1,157 career NHL games, scoring 70 goals and 318 assists for 388 points.
Tyler John Bouck is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Dallas Stars, Phoenix Coyotes and the Vancouver Canucks. He spent the last five seasons of his career in Germany with ERC Ingolstadt of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Brenden Blair Morrow is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger. Morrow was drafted in the first round, 25th overall, by the Dallas Stars at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft, the organization he would play with for 13 seasons before brief stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, and Tampa Bay Lightning.
John G. Slaney is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He is currently an assistant coach for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was formerly the assistant coach of the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Cody McCormick is a Canadian former ice hockey player and coach. He is of European and First Nations descent, with both Oneida and Chippewa/Ojibway ancestors. Cody McCormick is from London, Ontario Canada and has played for Colorado Avalanche, Buffalo Sabres, and Minnesota Wild. He was also the head coach of the Buffalo Beauts of the National Women's Hockey League from December 2018 to May 2019.
Maxim Valeryevich Kondratyev is a retired professional ice hockey defenceman who most recently played for HC 19 Humenné in the Slovenská hokejová liga (Slovak.1).
Anders Hedberg is a Swedish former professional ice hockey player who was one of the first European-born players to make an impact in North America. He played internationally for the Sweden men's national ice hockey team, and was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 1997. Along with countryman Ulf Nilsson, Hedberg signed a contract to play for the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1974, after having represented both Modo Hockey and Djurgårdens IF in his native Sweden. Hedberg subsequently played during seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the New York Rangers. He was twice voted best junior in Sweden and as such the only one and is a graduate from the Stockholm School of Physical Education (GIH).
Grant Stuart Ledyard is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Beginning his career in 1984 as an undrafted free agent, Ledyard spent 18 seasons in the NHL as a journeyman; he played at least one game with nine NHL teams over the course of his career.
Frédéric Cassivi is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Atlanta Thrashers and Washington Capitals. A two-time winner of the Calder Cup in the American Hockey League (AHL), Cassivi was inducted to the AHL Hall of Fame in 2015.
Todd Nelson is a Canadian ice hockey coach and former professional player. He is currently serving as the head coach of the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL). He played 3 games in the National Hockey League with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals between 1991 and 1994. The rest of his playing career, which lasted from 1990 to 2002, was mainly spent in the minor leagues.
