The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). As of the 2024–25 AHL season, all 32 NHL teams held affiliations with an AHL team. Historically, when an NHL team does not have an AHL affiliate, its players are assigned to AHL teams affiliated with other NHL franchises.
The Grand Rapids Griffins are a professional ice hockey team based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They compete in the American Hockey League (AHL), playing their home games at Van Andel Arena. They are the AHL affiliate to the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League, and are the 2013 and 2017 Calder Cup champions.
The Hershey Bears are a professional ice hockey team based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a town located 14 miles east of the state capital of Harrisburg. The current Bears club has played in the American Hockey League since the 1938–39 season, making it the longest continuously operating member club of the league still playing in its original city.
Michael Andrew Nykoluk was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 32 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1956–57. The rest of his playing career, which lasted from 1955 to 1972, was spent in the minor leagues. He became the first assistant coach in the NHL and won the Stanley Cup in that capacity with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1974 and 1975, before serving as the Maple Leafs head coach from 1981 to 1984. He was the younger brother of longtime Canadian Football League player Danny Nykoluk.
Darren William Rumble is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former professional ice hockey player. Rumble played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, St. Louis Blues and Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL), but played most of his career with various minor league teams, winning the Eddie Shore Award as the American Hockey League (AHL)'s best defenceman in 1997. He won the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2004. After retiring later that year, Rumble became an assistant coach with the Springfield Falcons of the AHL. He became head coach of the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL in 2008, holding the position until January 2010. He then took up various coaching positions in the minor leagues. He has served as head coach of the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League.
Boyd Kane is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He most notably played over 1000 games in the American Hockey League (AHL), claiming three Calder Cups.
Claude Noël is a Canadian professional ice hockey former player and coach. He most recently worked as a scout with the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Noël has close to 30 years experience coaching with his most recent coaching position being head coach of the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League in the 2014–15 season. He played 7 games in the NHL with the Washington Capitals during the 1979–80 season. The rest of his playing career, which lasted from 1976 to 1988, was mainly spent in the minor leagues.
Michael Patrick Stothers is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who is an assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League. He played for the Philadelphia Flyers and Toronto Maple Leafs, and was previously the head coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, the Owen Sound Attack of the OHL, the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League, and the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League.
Todd Andrew Krygier is an American former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Hartford Whalers, Washington Capitals, and Mighty Ducks of Anaheim between 1989 and 1997. Internationally Krygier played for the American national team at three World Championships. After finishing his playing career Krygier turned to coaching, and since 2019 has been an assistant coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League
Alvin John Paddock is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player, currently the senior vice-president of hockey operations of the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He is a former head coach of the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators. During his long career in the American Hockey League (AHL), he won five Calder Cup championships and was inducted into the AHL's Hall of Fame in 2010.
Todd R. Reirden is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was most recently the associate coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He previously held head coaching positions for the Washington Capitals in the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL). Reirden played in the NHL for the St. Louis Blues, Phoenix Coyotes, Atlanta Thrashers, and Edmonton Oilers.
Danton Edward Cole is an American former professional hockey player and the former head coach of the Michigan State Spartans men's hockey team. He had guided the USA Hockey Under-18 team to a pair of gold medals and a bronze medal at the IIHF World U18 Championships during his seven seasons at the helm from 2010 to 2017. As a player, he spent seven seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.
Bryan Berry Helmer is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is currently the VP of Hockey Operations with the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL). He previously served as an assistant coach with the Bears and the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). A veteran of over 1,000 AHL and IHL games, Helmer previously served as captain for the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL). He has also played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks and the Washington Capitals.
Bruce Allan Boudreau is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He previously served as head coach of the Washington Capitals, Anaheim Ducks, Minnesota Wild, and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). As a player, Boudreau played professionally for 20 seasons, and was a third round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. He played 141 games in the NHL with the Maple Leafs and Chicago Black Hawks, and 30 games in the World Hockey Association (WHA) with the Minnesota Fighting Saints. Boudreau played most of his career in the American Hockey League (AHL) for various teams where he was known for his goals and point-scoring abilities, recording 316 goals and 483 assists for 799 points in 634 games.
Todd Andrew McLellan is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. He was most recently the head coach of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 2019 to 2024. He previously served as head coach of the San Jose Sharks (2008–2015) and Edmonton Oilers (2015–2018), and as an assistant coach with the Detroit Red Wings (2005–2008), with whom he won the Stanley Cup in 2008. He was drafted in 1986 by the New York Islanders and played five games with the major league club in the 1987–88 season before retiring in the minors the following season due to recurring injury.
Dylan McIlrath is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and captain of the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played junior ice hockey for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL) and was drafted by the New York Rangers, 10th overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. McIlrath is of majority Scottish descent.
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).
Hunter Markus Shepard is an American professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing with the Hershey Bears in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Garrett Pilon, is an American-born Canadian professional ice hockey centre who is currently playing for the Belleville Senators in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 87th overall, in the third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals.
The 2022–23 AHL season was the 87th season of the American Hockey League. The regular season began on October 14, 2022, and ended on April 16, 2023. The 2023 Calder Cup playoffs followed the conclusion of the regular season, and began on April 18, 2023. They concluded on June 21 with the Hershey Bears winning their 12th Calder Cup in team history, defeating the Coachella Valley Firebirds in overtime of game seven of the finals.
