# 1970–71 AHL season

The 1970–71 AHL season was the 35th season of the American Hockey League. Eight teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Baltimore Clippers finished first overall in the regular season. The Springfield Kings won their first Calder Cup championship, since being renamed from the Indians.

## Team changes

* The Buffalo Bisons cease operations, when the Buffalo Sabres joined the National Hockey League as an expansion team.

## 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 |
| Providence Reds (independent) | 72 | 28 | 31 | 13 | 69 | 257 | 270 |
| Montreal Voyageurs (MTL) | 72 | 27 | 31 | 14 | 68 | 215 | 239 |
| Springfield Kings$^†$ (LAK) | 72 | 29 | 35 | 8 | 66 | 244 | 281 |
| Quebec Aces $^†$ (PHI) | 72 | 25 | 31 | 16 | 66 | 211 | 240 |
| West | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Baltimore Clippers (DET) | 72 | 40 | 23 | 9 | 89 | 263 | 224 |
| Cleveland Barons (independent) | 72 | 39 | 26 | 7 | 85 | 272 | 208 |
| Hershey Bears (BOS) | 72 | 31 | 31 | 10 | 72 | 238 | 212 |
| Rochester Americans (VAN) | 72 | 25 | 36 | 11 | 61 | 222 | 248 |
$^†$The Springfield Kings defeated the Quebec Aces by a score of 4–3 in overtime in a one-game playoff to determine the last playoff spot in the East Division.

## Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Fred Speck | Baltimore Clippers | 72 | 31 | 61 | 92 | 40 |
| Marc Dufour | Baltimore Clippers | 69 | 31 | 51 | 82 | 15 |
| Norm Beaudin | Cleveland Barons | 59 | 27 | 48 | 75 | 39 |
| Wayne Rivers | Baltimore Clippers | 65 | 38 | 37 | 75 | 66 |
| Joey Johnston | Cleveland Barons | 72 | 27 | 47 | 74 | 142 |
| Joe Szura | Providence Reds | 70 | 21 | 53 | 74 | 39 |
| Bob Leiter | Hershey Bears | 72 | 33 | 36 | 69 | 26 |
| Don Blackburn | Rochester Americans | 62 | 25 | 44 | 69 | 22 |
| Doug Volmar | Springfield Kings | 69 | 42 | 26 | 68 | 52 |
* complete list

## Calder Cup playoffs
### Tiebreaker

* Springfield Kings defeated Quebec Aces 4–3 in overtime.

### First round

* Providence Reds defeated Baltimore Clippers 4 games to 2.
* Springfield Kings defeated Montreal Voyageurs 3 games to 0.
* Cleveland Barons defeated Hershey Bears 3 games to 1.

### Second round

* Providence Reds earned second round bye.
* Springfield Kings defeated Cleveland Barons 3 games to 1.

### Finals

* Springfield Kings defeated Providence Reds 4 games to 0, to win the Calder Cup.
* list of scores

## Trophy and award winners
### Team awards

| Calder Cup Playoff champions: | Springfield Kings |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division: | Providence Reds |
| John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division: | Baltimore Clippers |

### Individual awards

| Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player: | Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer: | Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year: | Fred Speck - Baltimore Clippers |
| Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year: | Marshall Johnston - Cleveland Barons |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average: | Gary Kurt - Cleveland Barons |
| Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year: | Terry Reardon - Baltimore Clippers |

### Other awards

| James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive: | Jack A. Butterfield |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Award Outstanding media coverage: | W.W. "Tiny" Parry, Hershey |