All American Hockey League (2008-2011)

The All American Hockey League (AAHL) was a lower level professional ice hockey league with teams in the Midwestern United States. After finishing the 2010-2011 season with only two remaining teams after starting with five, on June 16, 2011 the league announced it will suspend its operations for the 2011-2012 season on. 
==Affiliations==
Over the course of the league's history, various All American Hockey League teams have had affiliations with the ECHL (higher affiliate), IHL (higher affiliate), CHL (higher affiliate), and Greater Metro Junior A Hockey League (lower affiliate).
==League History==
===Inaugural Season (2008–2009)===
The All American Hockey League was formed in 2008 as the All American Hockey Association when the Battle Creek Revolution and South Shore Shooters (later the Chi-Town Shooters) of the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League banded together with the Evansville IceMen and Motor City Gamblers (later the Detroit Dragons) of the Midwest Hockey League.
The Detroit Dragons folded mid-season, with the Chicago Blaze joining weeks later to fill the void. (The Blaze were originally going to be an expansion franchise for the 2009-10 season.)
On April 5, 2009, the Chi-Town Shooters became the first team to win the Champions Cup by defeating the Battle Creek Revolution in the Best-of-5 championship series.
On April 14, 2009, the AAHA Board of Directors announced a reorganization from a Association format to a League format. This resulted in the All American Hockey Association being renamed the All American Hockey League. From the first season problems began with players not being paid, tryout contracts offered to non-skilled players, and real contracts in the amount of 1 dollar being offered.
===Second Season (2009–2010)===
On August 10, 2009, the AAHL announced a merger with the still-unlaunched Midwest Hockey League, absorbing the MWHL's Madison Ice Muskies as well as key MWHL personnel. The merged leagues continued under the AAHL name.
During the season, the Madison Ice Muskies and Chicago Blaze ceased operations due to financial problems. Also, the expansion Detroit Hitmen moved west to Muskegon, Michigan mid-season, and were re-christened as the West Michigan Blizzard.
On April 15, 2010, the Evansville IceMen won the AAHL's Rod Davidson Cup (originally "Champions Cup" during the inaugural AAHA season) by beating the West Michigan Blizzard 4-games-to-1.
===Third Season (2010–2011)===
In June 2010 the IceMen suspended operation.
In August 2010, it was announced that the Madison Ice Muskies would be reinstated in the AAHL.
In August 2010, it was also announced that the Queen City Storm were approved for membership in the AAHL as a expansion team.
The Chi-Town Shooters left the league in August 2010 with plans to join a junior hockey league for the 2011-12 season.
In August 2010, the AAHL granted an expansion team to Lapeer, Michigan. A contest decided that Lapeer's team would be named the Lapeer Loggers.
On August 31, 2010, the Troy Bruins were officially announced as the sixth expansion team in the 2010-2011 All American Hockey League season.
In September 2010, the West Michigan Blizzard relocated to Dyer, Indiana and was renamed the Indiana Blizzard.
On October 27, 2010, the Madison Ice Huskies moved to Wooster, Ohio, and became the Wooster Korn Kings. On November 17, 2010, the Korn Kings were taken over by the league and ceased all operations.
On December 29, 2010, it was announced that the Indiana Blizzard were ceasing operations and the Chi-Town Shooters were returning for the remainder of the season, taking over all the Blizzard's players, as well as their current record. Despite keeping the "Chi-Town" monkier, they are based in Dyer, Indiana, instead of Chicago.
On January 3, 2011 the Lapeer Loggers were taken over by the league. Within days, the Bruins and Storm both ceased operations. Players from these three teams were brought together under the name Michigan Moose. The Moose, coached by AAHL commissioner Rod Davidson, are based in Battle Creek and play their home games in Revolution Arena (the same arena as the rival Battle Creek Revolution). In February 2011, the Moose ceased operation. In March 2011, the Battle Creek Revolution won their first Rod Davidson Cup.
==Teams Year-by-Year==
Year 	Teams	Expansion 	Defunct 	Suspended	Return from Hiatus 	Relocated 	Name Changes
2008-09	5 	Battle Creek Revolution,Chicago Blaze,Chi-Town Shooters,Evansville IceMen,Detroit Dragons	Detroit Dragons 	 	 	 	Motor City Gamblers → Detroit DragonsSouth Shore Shooters → Chi-Town Shooters
2009-10	6 	Detroit Hitmen,Madison Ice Muskies 	Chicago Blaze,Madison Ice Muskies 	 	 	Detroit Hitmen → Norton Shores, Michigan 	Detroit Hitmen → West Michigan Blizzard
2010-11	6 	Queen City Storm,Lapeer Loggers,Troy Bruins 	Evansville IceMen,Chi-Town Shooters,Wooster Korn Kings,Indiana Blizzard,Queen City Storm,Troy Bruins,Madison Ice Muskies,Michigan Moose	 	Madison Ice Muskies,Chi-Town Shooters	West Michigan Blizzard → Dyer, IndianaMadison Ice Muskies → Wooster, OhioIndiana Blizzard → Chicago, ILLapeer Loggers → Battle Creek, MI	West Michigan Blizzard → Indiana BlizzardMadison Ice Muskies → Wooster Korn KingsIndiana Blizzard → Chi-Town ShootersLapeer Loggers → Michigan Moose
==Rod Davidson Cup==
The Rod Davidson Cup is awarded to the annual playoff champion. It was known as the "Champions Cup" during the inaugural AAHA season, with the name change coming during the league's first season operating as the AAHL.
The past winners are:
*2009 - Chi-Town Shooters
*2010 - Evansville IceMen
*2011 - Battle Creek Revolution
==Hockey Hall of Fame==
On February 14, 2009, Kira Hurley of the Evansville IceMen became the first female goalie to register a point in a men's professional game. Because of this achievement, Kira is featured in the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Kira's game memorabilia (goalie stick and game-worn jersey) is on permanent display in the minor league section of the Hockey Hall of Fame, along with the official scoresheet from the historic game.
==Individual trophies and awards==
Award 	Description 	2009/2010 holder
Coach of the Year 	Awarded to the league's best coach 	Bob CloustonBattle Creek Revolution
Executive of the Year 	Awarded to the league's best executive 	Bill and Sandy VitaleWest Michigan Blizzard
Officiating Staff Member of the Year	Awarded to the league's best Officiating Staff Member	Ryan Harrison
Equipment Manager of the Year 	Awarded to the league's best Equipment Manager 	Jeremy HollowayWest Michigan Blizzard
League MVP 	Awarded to the league's Most Valuable Player 	Cameron SaultWest Michigan Blizzard
Defensive Player of the Year 	Awarded to the league's best defensive player 	Rob SchweyerBattle Creek Revolution
Goaltender of the Year 	Awarded to the league's best goaltender 	John DormanEvansville IceMen
==Teams==
Team 	Location 	Arena 	Tenure 	Notes
Battle Creek Revolution	Battle Creek, Michigan 	Revolution Arena 	2008-2011	ownership form Junior level team when league collapses
Chi-Town Shooters 	Dyer, Indiana 	Midwest Training and Ice Center 	2008-2010	ownership withdrew to form Junior level team
Detroit Dragons 	Fraser, Michigan 	Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena	2008-2009	Fold January 9, 2009; replaced by Chicago Blaze
Evansville IceMen 	Evansville, Indiana 	Swonder Ice Arena 	2008-2010	Suspend opreations June 2010
Chicago Blaze 	Rolling Meadows, Illinois	West Meadows Ice Arena 	2008-2010	Fold during season
Detroit Hitmen 	Fraser, Michigan 	Great Lakes Sports City Superior Arena	2009-2009	Relocated to Muskegon December 17, 2009
Madison Ice Muskies 	Madison, Wisconsin 	Hartmeyer Ice Arena 	2009-2010	Fold during season; reinstated for 2010-11 season
West Michigan Blizzard 	Muskegon, Michigan 	LC Walker Arena 	2009-2010	relocated to Dyer, Indiana
Lapeer Loggers 	Lapeer, Michigan 	Polar Palace Arena 	2010-2011	Folded by league in January 2011 player help form Michigan Moose
Madison Ice Muskies 	Madison, Wisconsin 	Hartmeyer Ice Arena 	2010-2010	relocate to Wooster, Ohio October 27, 2010
Queen City Storm 	Sharonville, Ohio 	Sports Plus Arena 	2010-2011	Folded by league in January 2011 player help form Michigan Moose
Indiana Blizzard 	Dyer, Indiana 	Midwest Training and Ice Center 	2010-2010	Folded by league December 29, 2010; players to reformed Chi-Town Shooters
Troy Bruins 	Troy, Ohio 	Hobart Arena 	2010-2011	Folded by league in January 2011 player help form Michigan Moose
Wooster Korn Kings 	Wooster, Ohio 	Alice Noble Ice Arena 	2010-2010	Folded November 17, 2010
Chi-Town Shooters 	Dyer, Indiana 	Midwest Training and Ice Center 	2010-2011	Fold with league
Michigan Moose 	Battle Creek, Michigan 	Revolution Arena 	2011-2011	Ceased operations February 2011
==References==
==External links==
*Official AAHL website
Category:All American Hockey League (2008-2011)
Category:Ice hockey leagues