2015-16 AHL season

This is the 2015-16 American Hockey League season.  This is the league's 80th season.  Each of the league's 5 California based teams will play a 68 game schedule while the remaining 25 members will play a 76 game schedule.
==Rule changes==
The league approved the following rule changes (as well as the schedule and playoff format) at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the AHL Board of Governors in early July. These changes match the rule changes that were made at the NHL Board of Governors meeting in late June.
*The overtime period will be a five minute 3 on 3 sudden death period. There will be a dry scrape of the entire ice prior to the start of the overtime period and the teams will change ends at the start of the overtime.  If the game is still tied a winner will be determined by a three player shoot out and if still tied sudden death shoot out. (Rule 85)
*The coaches are now able to use a "coach's challenge" to initiate an official video review but only on items that are by rule reviewable (potential offside on a goal and goaltender interference).  The challenge must be issued prior to the resumption of play.  The must have a time out available as if the review does not result in the original call being overturned the team will be charged with a time out. (Rule 79)
*For all face-offs (excluding center ice), the defending player shall place his stick on the ice first; for face-offs at center ice, the visiting player shall place his stick on the ice first. (Rule 76.4)
==Major franchise shifts for 2015-16==
Late in January 2015 the league announced the league's Board of Governors approved the formation of a Pacific Division for the 2015-16 season with the Norfolk Admirals being relocated to San Diego, California as the San Diego Gulls; the Manchester Monarchs being relocated to Ontario, California as the Ontario Reign the Worcester Sharks being relocated to San Jose, California as the San Jose Barracuda (playing out of the same arena as the San Jose Sharks, the Adirondack Flames being relocated to Stockton, California and become the Stockton Heat.  The ownership of the Oklahoma City Barons announced previously that they were ceasing operations after losing their affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers.  The Oilers purchased the Bakersfield Condors franchise in the ECHL and were making Bakersfield, California the home of their AHL affiliate as the Bakersfield Condors. In March, the Winnipeg Jets announced the were relocating their AHL affiliate from St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador to Winnipeg as the Manitoba Moose, and the Montreal Canadiens purchased the Hamilton Bulldogs franchise and relocated them to St. John's and assumed the St. John's IceCaps identity. Both of the moves are believed to be temporary as Winnipeg may be relocating their affiliation to Thunder Bay, Ontario if and when a new arena opens there and the Canadiens are waiting for an arena to open in Laval, Quebec to move their affiliate. The former owner of the Hamilton AHL franchise purchased the Belleville Bulls and will relocate the team to Hamilton assuming the Bulldogs identity.
==Team Alignment for 2015-16 season==
Current teams
Division 	Team 	Arena 	Location 	NHL Affiliate Team(s)	ECHL/CHL Affiliate Team(s)
Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference
Atlantic 	Bridgeport Sound Tigers 	Webster Bank Arena 	Bridgeport, CT 	New York Islanders 	Stockton Thunder
Atlantic 	Hartford Wolf Pack 	XL Center 	Hartford, CT 	New York Rangers 	Greenville Road Warriors
Atlantic 	Hershey Bears 	Giant Center 	Hershey, PA 	Washington Capitals 	South Carolina Stingrays
Atlantic 	Lehigh Valley Phantoms 	PPL Center 	Allentown, PA 	Philadelphia Flyers 	Reading Royals
Atlantic 	Portland Pirates 	Cross Insurance Arena 	Portland, ME 	Florida Panthers 	Gwinnett Gladiators
Atlantic 	Providence Bruins 	Dunkin' Donuts Center 	Providence, RI 	Boston Bruins 	South Carolina Stingrays
Atlantic 	Springfield Falcons 	MassMutual Center 	Springfield, MA 	Arizona Coyotes 	Kalamazoo Wings
Atlantic 	Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza 	Wilkes-Barre, PA 	Pittsburgh Penguins 	Wheeling Nailers
North 	Albany Devils 	Times Union Center 	Albany, NY 	New Jersey Devils 	None
North 	Binghamton Senators 	Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena	Binghamton, NY 	Ottawa Senators 	Evansville Icemen
North 	Rochester Americans 	Blue Cross Arena 	Rochester, NY 	Buffalo Sabres 	Elmira Jackals
North 	St. John's IceCaps 	Mile One Centre 	St. John's, NL 	Montreal Canadiens 	Ontario Reign
North 	Syracuse Crunch 	Oncenter War Memorial Arena 	Syracuse, NY 	Tampa Bay Lightning 	Florida Everblades/Brampton Beast
North 	Toronto Marlies 	Ricoh Coliseum 	Toronto, ON 	Toronto Maple Leafs 	Orlando Solar Bears
North 	Utica Comets 	Utica Memorial Auditorium 	Utica, NY 	Vancouver Canucks 	Kalamazoo Wings
Western Conference	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference 	Western Conference
Central 	Charlotte Checkers 	Bojangles Coliseum 	Charlotte, NC 	Carolina Hurricanes 	Florida Everblades
Central 	Chicago Wolves 	Allstate Arena 	Rosemont, IL 	St. Louis Blues 	Alaska Aces/Missouri Mavericks
Central 	Grand Rapids Griffins 	Van Andel Arena 	Grand Rapids, MI 	Detroit Red Wings 	Toledo Walleye
Central 	Iowa Wild 	Wells Fargo Arena 	Des Moines, IA 	Minnesota Wild 	Alaska Aces/Quad City Mallards
Central 	Lake Erie Monsters 	Quicken Loans Arena 	Cleveland, OH 	Columbus Blue Jackets	Fort Wayne Komets
Central 	Manitoba Moose 	MTS Centre 	Winnipeg, Manitoba 	Winnipeg Jets 	?
Central 	Milwaukee Admirals 	BMO Harris Bradley Center 	Milwaukee, WI 	Nashville Predators 	Cincinnati Cyclones
Central 	Rockford IceHogs 	BMO Harris Bank Center 	Rockford, IL 	Chicago Blackhawks 	Indy Fuel
Pacific 	Bakersfield Condors 	Rabobank Arena 	Bakersfield, CA 	Edmonton Oilers 	Norfolk Admirals
Pacific 	Ontario Reign 	Citizens Business Bank Arena 	Ontario, California	Los Angeles Kings 	Manchester Monarchs
Pacific 	San Antonio Rampage 	AT&T Center 	San Antonio, TX 	Colorado Avalanche 	Cincinnati Cyclones
Pacific 	San Diego Gulls 	Valley View Casino Center 	San Diego, CA 	Anaheim Ducks 	Utah Grizzlies
Pacific 	San Jose Barracuda 	SAP Center at San Jose 	San Jose, CA 	San Jose Sharks 	Allen Americans
Pacific 	Stockton Heat 	Stockton Arena 	Stockton, CA 	Calgary Flames 	Adirondack Thunder
Pacific 	Texas Stars 	Cedar Park Center 	Cedar Park, TX 	Dallas Stars 	Idaho Steelheads
==Outdoor Game==
On December 19th (rescheduled from December 18th due to rain) as part of the Golden State Hockey Rush, the Stockton Heat and the Bakersfield Condors met in an outdoor game at Raley Field in West Sacramento, California. Stockton won the game 3-2 in front of a crowd of 9,357.  The Golden State Hockey Rush runs from November 20th to January 3rd.
==2016 All Star Classic==
The AHL's 2016 All Star Classic will be held at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, New Yorkon January 31st and February 1st, 2016. The actual All Star Game will be played on February 1st.
==Standings==
Eastern Conference 	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division 	Atlantic Division
Team 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	SOL 	GF 	GA 	P 	%
Hershey Bears 	76 	43 	21 	- 	5 	7 	259 	220 	98 	0.645
Providence Bruins 	76 	41 	22 	- 	9 	4 	238 	198 	95 	0.625
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins	76 	43 	27 	- 	4 	2 	230 	203 	92 	0.605
Portland Pirates 	76 	41 	27 	- 	6 	2 	215 	207 	90 	0.592
Bridgeport Sound Tigers 	76 	40 	29 	- 	4 	3 	209 	220 	87 	0.572
Hartford Wolf Pack 	76 	41 	32 	- 	3 	0 	202 	199 	85 	0.559
Lehigh Valley Phantoms 	76 	34 	35 	- 	4 	3 	215 	222 	75 	0.493
Springfield Falcons 	76 	26 	42 	- 	3 	5 	194 	265 	60 	0.395
North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division 	North Division
Team 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	SOL 	GF 	GA 	P 	%
Toronto Marlies 	76 	54 	16 	- 	5 	1 	294 	191 	114 	0.750
Albany Devils 	76 	46 	20 	- 	8 	2 	212 	167 	102 	0.671
Utica Comets 	76 	38 	26 	- 	8 	4 	224 	217 	88 	0.579
Syracuse Crunch 	76 	32 	29 	- 	11 	4 	213 	240 	79 	0.520
St. John's IceCaps 	76 	32 	33 	- 	8 	3 	208 	239 	75 	0.493
Rochester Americans 	76 	34 	38 	- 	3 	1 	199 	249 	72 	0.474
Binghamton Senators 	76 	31 	38 	- 	6 	1 	204 	241 	69 	0.454
Western Conference 	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference	Western Conference
Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division 	Central Division
Team 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	SOL 	GF 	GA 	P 	%
Milwaukee Admirals 	76 	48 	23 	- 	3 	2 	224 	193 	101 	0.664
Lake Erie Monsters 	76 	43 	22 	- 	6 	5 	211 	188 	97 	0.638
Rockford IceHogs 	76 	40 	22 	- 	10 	4 	214 	205 	94 	0.618
Grand Rapids Griffins 	76 	44 	30 	- 	1 	1 	238 	195 	90 	0.592
Charlotte Checkers 	76 	36 	32 	- 	3 	5 	214 	229 	80 	0.526
Chicago Wolves 	76 	33 	35 	- 	5 	3 	194 	228 	74 	0.487
Manitoba Moose 	76 	26 	41 	- 	4 	5 	180 	250 	61 	0.401
Iowa Wild 	76 	24 	41 	- 	5 	6 	169 	225 	59 	0.388
Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division 	Pacific Division
Team 	GP 	W 	L 	T 	OTL 	SOL 	GF 	GA 	P 	%
Ontario Reign 	68 	44 	19 	- 	4 	1 	192 	138 	93 	0.684
San Diego Gulls 	68 	39 	23 	- 	4 	2 	208 	200 	84 	0.618
Texas Stars 	76 	40 	25 	- 	8 	3 	277 	246 	91 	0.599
San Jose Barracuda 	68 	31 	26 	- 	8 	3 	198 	193 	73 	0.537
Bakersfield Condors 	68 	31 	28 	- 	7 	2 	212 	222 	71 	0.522
Stockton Heat 	68 	32 	32 	- 	2 	2 	194 	224 	68 	0.500
San Antonio Rampage 	76 	33 	35 	- 	8 	0 	213 	240 	74 	0.487
note: due to the California based teams only playing 68 games this season; all standings were calculated on point percentage which is points earned divided by twice the number of games played (or available points)
==2016 Calder Cup Playoffs==
For more detailed information please see 2016 Calder Cup playoffs
===Format===
Due to the realignment of the league the playoff format was changed:
*The playoff format is now a division based format with the top four teams in each division qualifying for the playoffs with one exception if the fifth place team in one division has a better points percentage than the fourth place team in the other division within the conference they will assume the fouth place team's place in the other division's bracket. (note: this is not the same as the NHL's format for this season)
*The division semi-final round is best-of-five with the division final, conference final and Calder Cup final rounds all being best-of-seven.
===Bracket===
===Atlantic Division Semifinals===
*Hershey Bears defeated Portland Pirates 3 games to 2 (4-6, 3-1, 1-2 (3ot), 2-0, 2-1)
*Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins defeated Providence Bruins 3 games to none (3-2 (ot), 4-3 (ot), 5-4 (ot))
===North Division Semifinals===
*Toronto Marlies defeated Bridgeport Sound Tigers 3 games to none (4-1, 3-0, 6-4)
*Albany Devils defeated Utica Comets 3 games to 1 (3-2, 5-1, 1-2 (ot), 6-3)
===Central Division Semfinals===
*Grand Rapids Griffins defeated Milwaukee Admirals 3 games to none (3-1, 2-1, 4-1)
*Lake Erie Monsters defeated Rockford IceHogs 3 games to none (5-2, 5-1, 5-3)
===Pacific Division Semifinals===
*Ontario Reign defeated San Jose Barracuda 3 games to 1 (2-1, 2-3, 3-1, 4-1)
*San Diego Gulls defeated Texas Stars 3 games to 1 (3-1, 1-5, 6-1, 6-1)
===Atlantic Division Final===
*Hershey Bears defeated Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins 4 games to 3 (0-4, 2-0, 5-2, 1-2 (ot), 5-3, 2-6, 3-2 (ot))
===North Division Final===
*Toronto Marlies defeated  Albany Devils 4 games to 3 (1-2, 5-3, 2-3 (ot), 7-2, 5-1, 1-4, 4-3)
===Central Division Final===
*Lake Erie Monsters defeated Grand Rapids Griffins 4 games to 2 (3-2 (ot), 4-3, 2-1, 4-5, 1-6, 4-3 (ot))
===Pacific Division Final===
*Ontario Reign defeated San Diego Gulls 4 games to 1 (5-3, 2-1 (ot), 0-3, 4-3 (ot), 2-1)
===Eastern Conference Final===
*Hershey Bears  defeated Toronto Marlies 4 games to 1 (3-1, 3-2 (ot), 8-2, 0-5, 3-2)
===Western Conference Final===
*Lake Erie Monsters defeated Ontario Reign 4 games to none (4-3, 3-2, 4-0, 2-1 (2ot))
===Calder Cup Final===
*Lake Erie Monsters defeated Hershey Bears 4 games to none (4-1, 5-3, 3-2 (ot), 1-0 (ot))
Category:2016 in hockey
Category:American Hockey League seasons
Category:American Hockey League