# 1971–72 AHL season

The 1971–72 AHL season was the 36th season of the American Hockey League. Major changes occurred in the off-season. The league welcomed four expansion teams, and lost both Quebec-based teams. Eleven teams played 76 games each in the schedule. The Boston Braves finished first overall in the regular season. The Nova Scotia Voyageurs won their first Calder Cup championship.

## Team changes

* The Quebec Aces move to Richmond, Virginia becoming the Richmond Robins, playing in the West Division.
* The Montreal Voyageurs move to Halifax, Nova Scotia becoming the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.
* The Rochester Americans switch divisions from West to East.
* The Boston Braves join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the East Division.
* The Cincinnati Swords join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, playing in the West Division.
* The Tidewater Wings join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Norfolk, Virginia, playing in the West Division.

## 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 |
| Boston Braves$^†$ (BOS) | 76 | 41 | 21 | 14 | 96 | 260 | 191 |
| Nova Scotia Voyageurs (MTL) | 76 | 41 | 21 | 14 | 96 | 274 | 202 |
| Springfield Kings (LAK) | 76 | 31 | 30 | 15 | 77 | 273 | 266 |
| Providence Reds (NYR) | 76 | 28 | 37 | 11 | 67 | 250 | 274 |
| Rochester Americans (VAN) | 76 | 28 | 38 | 10 | 66 | 242 | 311 |
| West | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
| Baltimore Clippers (CGS) | 76 | 34 | 31 | 11 | 79 | 240 | 249 |
| Hershey Bears (PIT) | 76 | 33 | 30 | 13 | 79 | 266 | 253 |
| Cincinnati Swords (BUF) | 76 | 30 | 28 | 18 | 78 | 252 | 258 |
| Cleveland Barons (independent) | 76 | 32 | 34 | 10 | 74 | 269 | 263 |
| Richmond Robins (PHI) | 76 | 29 | 34 | 13 | 71 | 237 | 218 |
| Tidewater Wings (DET) | 76 | 22 | 45 | 9 | 53 | 197 | 275 |
$^†$ First place tiebreaker determined by head-to-head competition during regular season.

## Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Don Blackburn | Providence Reds | 76 | 34 | 65 | 99 | 12 |
| Fred Harvey | Cleveland Barons | 73 | 41 | 54 | 95 | 72 |
| Terry Caffery | Cleveland Barons | 65 | 29 | 59 | 88 | 18 |
| Gord Labossiere | Cleveland Barons | 66 | 40 | 45 | 85 | 71 |
| Ed Hoekstra | Springfield Kings | 74 | 16 | 69 | 85 | 32 |
| Pete Laframboise | Baltimore Clippers | 72 | 37 | 44 | 81 | 95 |
| Wayne Rivers | Springfield Kings | 68 | 48 | 33 | 81 | 67 |
| Germain Gagnon | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | 70 | 25 | 56 | 81 | 34 |
| Joe Szura | Baltimore Clippers | 72 | 38 | 38 | 76 | 20 |
| Doug Roberts | Boston Braves | 74 | 35 | 40 | 75 | 107 |
* 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 | Boston | 4 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Providence | 1 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Providence | 1 | 1 | Boston | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | 1 | Boston | 0 | | | |
| Eastern Division | Eastern Division | Eastern Division | 2 | Nova Scotia | 4 | | | |
| 2 | Nova Scotia | 4 | 2 | Nova Scotia | 4 | | | |
| 3 | Springfield | 1 | | | | | | |
| 3 | Springfield | 1 | | | | E2 | Nova Scotia | 4 |
| | | | | | | W1 | Baltimore | 2 |
| 1 | Baltimore | 4 | | | | | | | W1 | Baltimore | 2 |
| 4 | Cleveland | 2 | | | | | | |
| 4 | Cleveland | 2 | 1 | Baltimore | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | 1 | Baltimore | 4 | | | |
| Western Division | Western Division | Western Division | 3 | Cincinnati | 2 | | | |
| 2 | Hershey | 0 | 3 | Cincinnati | 2 | | | |
| 3 | Cincinnati | 4 | | | | | | |

## Trophy and award winners
### Team awards

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

### Individual awards

| Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player: | Garry Peters - Boston Braves |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer: | Don Blackburn - Providence Reds |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year: | Terry Caffery - Cleveland Barons |
| Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year: | Noel Price - Springfield Kings / Nova Scotia Voyageurs |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average: | Dan Bouchard & Ross Brooks - Boston Braves |
| Louis A.R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year: | Al MacNeil - Nova Scotia Voyageurs |

### Other awards

| James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive: | Robert W. Clarke |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Award Outstanding media coverage: | Al Fischer, Baltimore |