# 1972–73 AHL season

The 1972–73 AHL season was the 37th season of the American Hockey League. Twelve teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Cincinnati Swords finished first overall in the regular season, and won the Calder Cup championship.

## Team changes

* The New Haven Nighthawks join the AHL as an expansion team, based in New Haven, Connecticut, playing in the East Division.
* The Cleveland Barons move midseason to Jacksonville, Florida, becoming the Jacksonville Barons.
* The Tidewater Wings are renamed the Virginia Wings.

## Final standings

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points;
| East | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Nova Scotia Voyageurs (MTL) | 76 | 43 | 18 | 15 | 101 | 316 | 191 |
| Boston Braves (BOS) | 76 | 34 | 29 | 13 | 81 | 248 | 256 |
| Rochester Americans (independent) | 76 | 33 | 31 | 12 | 78 | 239 | 276 |
| Providence Reds (NYR) | 76 | 32 | 30 | 14 | 78 | 253 | 255 |
| Springfield Kings (LAK) | 76 | 18 | 42 | 16 | 52 | 265 | 344 |
| New Haven Nighthawks (MNS/NYI) | 76 | 16 | 40 | 20 | 52 | 246 | 331 |
| West | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Cincinnati Swords (BUF) | 76 | 54 | 17 | 5 | 113 | 351 | 206 |
| Hershey Bears (PIT) | 76 | 42 | 23 | 11 | 95 | 326 | 231 |
| Virginia Wings (DET) | 76 | 38 | 22 | 16 | 92 | 258 | 221 |
| Richmond Robins (PHI) | 76 | 30 | 36 | 10 | 70 | 272 | 280 |
| Cleveland/Jacksonville Barons (independent) | 76 | 23 | 44 | 9 | 55 | 251 | 329 |
| Baltimore Clippers (independent) | 76 | 17 | 48 | 11 | 45 | 210 | 315 |

## Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Yvon Lambert | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | 76 | 52 | 52 | 104 | 84 |
| Tony Featherstone | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | 74 | 49 | 54 | 103 | 78 |
| Morris Stefaniw | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | 64 | 30 | 71 | 101 | 80 |
| Bill Inglis | Cincinnati Swords | 75 | 40 | 57 | 97 | 29 |
| Jeannot Gilbert | Hershey Bears | 74 | 29 | 42 | 71 | 24 |
| Rene Drolet | Richmond Robins | 76 | 34 | 53 | 87 | 30 |
| Orest Kindrachuk | Richmond Robins | 72 | 35 | 51 | 86 | 133 |
| Rick Dudley | Cincinnati Swords | 64 | 40 | 44 | 84 | 159 |
| Danny Schock | Richmond Robins | 74 | 48 | 36 | 84 | 37 |
* complete list

## Calder Cup playoffs

| Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Semifinals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Division Finals | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final | Calder Cup Final |
| 1 | Nova Scotia | 4 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Providence | 0 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Providence | 0 | 1 | Nova Scotia | 4 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | 1 | Nova Scotia | 4 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | 2 | Boston | 0 | | | |
| 2 | Boston | 4 | 2 | Boston | 0 | | | |
| 3 | Rochester | 2 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Rochester | 2 | | | | E1 | Nova Scotia | 1 |
| | | | | | | W1 | Cincinnati | 4 |
| 1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | | | | W1 | Cincinnati | 4 |
| 4 | Richmond | 0 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Richmond | 0 | 1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | 1 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | 3 | Virginia | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Hershey | 3 | 3 | Virginia | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Virginia | 4 | | | | | | |

## Trophy and award winners
### Team awards

| Calder Cup Playoff champions: | Cincinnati Swords |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division: | Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division: | Cincinnati Swords |

### Individual awards

| Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player: | Bill Inglis - Cincinnati Swords |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer: | Yvon Lambert - Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year: | Ron Anderson - Boston Braves |
| Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year: | Ray McKay - Cincinnati Swords |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average: | Michel Larocque & Michel Deguise - Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year: | Floyd Smith - Cincinnati Swords |

### Other awards

| James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive: | Richard F. Canning |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Award Outstanding media coverage: | Jerry Linquist, Baltimore |