The American Hockey League (AHL) is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 201011 season, every team in the league has an affiliation agreement with one NHL team. When NHL teams do not have an AHL affiliate, players are assigned to AHL teams affiliated with other NHL teams. Twenty-six AHL teams are located in the United States and the remaining four are in Canada. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and its current president is David Andrews.

The annual playoff champion is awarded the Calder Cup, named for Frank Calder, the first President (19171943) of the NHL. The reigning champions are the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The AHL traces its origins directly to two predecessor professional leagues: the Canadian-American Hockey League (the "Can-Am" League), founded in 1926, and the first International Hockey League, established in 1929. Although the Can-Am League never operated with more than six teams, the departure of the Boston Bruin Cubs after the 193536 season reduced it down to just four member clubs Springfield Indians, Philadelphia Ramblers, Providence Reds, and New Haven Eagles for the first time in its history. At the same time, the then-rival IHL lost half of its eight members after the 193536 season, also leaving it with just four member teams: Buffalo Bisons, Syracuse Stars, Pittsburgh Hornets and Cleveland Falcons.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. how big is the AHL
2. how many are in the united states
3. what is awarded at the anual playoff
4. whaen was canadianAmerican hockey league founded
5. how many teams did it operate with
6. what were the 4 member clubs
7. who is current president
8. who are the reigning champions
9. how many players were lost after the 1935- 36 season
10. are they based in us
11. what was established in 1929
12. what does AHL stand for
13. Is this Ice Hockey
14. who was calder cup named after
15. are there 31 teams
16. was can-am established in 1929
17. what does NHL stand for
18. what years were frank calder alive
19. does cananda serve as a primary league
20. are there 30 teams
1. 30 teams
2. Twenty-six
3. Calder Cup
4. 1926
5. never more than six teams,
6. Springfield Indians, Philadelphia Ramblers, Providence Reds, and New Haven Eagles
7. David Andrews
8. Grand Rapids Griffins
9. 4 members
10. no
11. International Hockey League,
12. The American Hockey League
13. Yes
14. Frank Calder,
15. No
16. No
17. National Hockey League
18. 19171943
19. Yes
20. Yes