1972 Calder Cup Playoffs
Encyclopedia
The 1972 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League
began on April 4, 1972. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-7 series for Division Semifinals and Finals. The division champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup
. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 15, 1972 with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs
, in their inaugural season in Nova Scotia
, defeating the Baltimore Clippers
four games to two to win the Calder Cup for the first time in team history. The Voyageurs also became the first Canadian team to win the Calder Cup.
Baltimore
and Cincinnati
set an AHL playoff record for most goals scored by both teams in one game with 18, when Baltimore beat Cincinnati 10-8 in game 5 of the Southern division final. Baltimore's Howie Menard
set an AHL record for most points
in one playoff game with 7 against Cleveland in game 5 of their Southern division semifinal. Two players have tied this record since then. Nova Scotia's Michel Plasse
set an AHL record for lowest goals against average
in one playoff, posting a 1.25 GAA.
, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Boston Braves
finished the regular season with the best overall record, winning the head-to-head tiebreaker with Nova Scotia
.
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
began on April 4, 1972. The eight teams that qualified played best-of-7 series for Division Semifinals and Finals. The division champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup
Calder Cup
The Calder Cup is awarded annually to the playoff champion of the American Hockey League. The trophy is the world's second oldest continuous professional ice hockey championship, having first been awarded in 1937 following the 1936-37 AHL season, and continuously being awarded every year.The cup...
. The Calder Cup Final ended on May 15, 1972 with the Nova Scotia Voyageurs
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
The Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....
, in their inaugural season in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, defeating the Baltimore Clippers
Baltimore Clippers
The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
four games to two to win the Calder Cup for the first time in team history. The Voyageurs also became the first Canadian team to win the Calder Cup.
Baltimore
Baltimore Clippers
The Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
and Cincinnati
Cincinnati Swords
The Cincinnati Swords are a defunct American Hockey League team, founded in 1971, when the newly created NHL expansion team, Buffalo Sabres, exercised their option to create their own AHL farm team to replace the team they forced out of the AHL, the Buffalo Bisons...
set an AHL playoff record for most goals scored by both teams in one game with 18, when Baltimore beat Cincinnati 10-8 in game 5 of the Southern division final. Baltimore's Howie Menard
Howie Menard
Howard Hubert Menard is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 151 games in the National Hockey League...
set an AHL record for most points
Point (ice hockey)
Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
in one playoff game with 7 against Cleveland in game 5 of their Southern division semifinal. Two players have tied this record since then. Nova Scotia's Michel Plasse
Michel Plasse
Michel Pierre Plasse was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender.-Playing career:...
set an AHL record for lowest goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
in one playoff, posting a 1.25 GAA.
Playoff seeds
After the 1971–72 AHL regular season1971–72 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...
, the top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs. The Boston Braves
Boston Braves (AHL)
The Boston Braves were a professional ice hockey team in Boston, Massachusetts. They were a member of the American Hockey League from 1971 to 1974....
finished the regular season with the best overall record, winning the head-to-head tiebreaker with Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Voyageurs
The Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....
.
Eastern Division
- Boston BravesBoston Braves (AHL)The Boston Braves were a professional ice hockey team in Boston, Massachusetts. They were a member of the American Hockey League from 1971 to 1974....
- 96 points - Nova Scotia VoyageursNova Scotia VoyageursThe Nova Scotia Voyageurs were a professional ice hockey team, based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They played in the American Hockey League, from 1971 to 1984. The Voyageurs played their first two seasons , as the Montreal Voyageurs....
- 96 points - Springfield KingsSpringfield IndiansThe Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
- 77 points - Providence RedsProvidence RedsThe Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
- 67 points
Western Division
- Baltimore ClippersBaltimore ClippersThe Baltimore Clippers were an American ice hockey team. They were the first of three Baltimore entries into the American Hockey League, who played from 1962–76...
- 79 points - Hershey BearsHershey BearsThe Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
- 79 points - Cincinnati SwordsCincinnati SwordsThe Cincinnati Swords are a defunct American Hockey League team, founded in 1971, when the newly created NHL expansion team, Buffalo Sabres, exercised their option to create their own AHL farm team to replace the team they forced out of the AHL, the Buffalo Bisons...
- 78 points - Cleveland Barons - 74 points