PLAYERS
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in the National Hockey League, including 346 who skated in both leagues last year alone. Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux, Boston’s Brad Marchand, Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf and Minnesota’s Zach Parise were among the 21 AHL graduates who led their NHL teams in scoring, and former AHL All-Stars Pekka Rinne, Tuukka Rask, Cory Schneider, Braden Holtby and Jimmy Howard were among the 27 AHL goaltending alumni who paced their NHL clubs in victories. More than 270 former first- and second-round draft picks developed their skills in the AHL last season, including 2013 AHL scoring champion Brandon Pirri and 2013 Calder Cup Playoffs MVP Tomas Tatar.
Edmonton Oilers defenseman Justin Schultz was an All-Rookie Team selection in both the NHL and the AHL in 2012-13.
COACHES
At the start of the 2013-14 season, the National Hockey League featured 23 head coaches who
were former AHL bench bosses, including recent Stanley Cup champions Joel Quenneville (Chicago, 2010, 2013), Claude Julien (Boston, 2011), Dan Bylsma (Pittsburgh, 2009), Mike Babcock (Detroit, 2008), Randy Carlyle (Anaheim, 2007), Peter Laviolette (Carolina, 2006) and John Tortorella (Tampa Bay, 2004). “The American Hockey League has been essential in developing my potential both as a player and as a coach. Being able to hone my skills and improve at a high level of competition was key to reaching my goals of playing in the NHL, becoming a head coach and winning the Stanley Cup.” -- Dan Bylsma, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins and 2014 U.S. Olympic Team 2011 Jack Adams Award Winner, 2009 Stanley Cup Champion FANS
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or just the second time in league history, more than 6.5 million fans attended regular-season AHL games in 2012-13, and the average of 5,710 fans per game was the third-largest ever. The Hershey Bears paced the league for the seventh year in a row, averaging 10,046 fans per game last season, and showcase games in Philadelphia, Buffalo, Toronto, Washington and Montreal all drew better than 18,500 fans each.
Graig Abel Photograaphy
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During the 2012-13 season, more than 800 AHL alumni played
Photo: Steven Christy
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The Toronto Marlies and Hamilton Bulldogs squared off at a sold-out Air Canada Centre on Boxing Day last season.
STARS
The AHL All-Star Classic showcases the league’s top talent each
Photo: Alan Sullivan/AHL
year in an All-Star Skills Competition and All-Star Game. The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic was held in front of capacity crowds in Providence, R.I., and televised live across the U.S. and Canada.
Photo: AP
Of the 630 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey League, including Patrice Bergeron, Daniel Briere, Ryan Callahan, Zdeno Chara, Niklas Kronwall, Chris Kunitz, Ryan Miller, Bobby Ryan, Jason Spezza and Eric Staal. /TheAHL
theahl.com
Ryan Hamilton 2013 AHL All-Star Game MVP
@TheAHL
Grand Rapids GRIFFINS • 2013 Calder Cup Champions
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