Definition
The 2015–16 AHL season refers to the 80th season of the American Hockey League (AHL), a professional ice hockey league primarily serving as the top developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). The season included regular competition among its member teams, followed by a postseason playoff series to determine the league champion, awarded the Calder Cup.
Overview
The 2015–16 AHL season began on October 9, 2015, and concluded on April 17, 2016, with the playoff rounds extending into June. A total of 30 teams participated, divided into two conferences (Eastern and Western) and four divisions. Each team played a 76-game regular-season schedule. The regular season standings determined qualification for the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs, which featured a best-of-seven, four-round format. The Lake Erie Monsters captured the Calder Cup, winning their first championship in franchise history by defeating the Hershey Bears in a four-game sweep.
Etymology/Origin
The designation "2015–16" reflects the calendar span of the season, which started in the latter part of 2015 and concluded in 2016, consistent with the standard North American professional sports season naming convention. "AHL" is the acronym for the American Hockey League, founded in 1936 through the merger of the International Hockey League and the Canadian-American Hockey League.
Characteristics
- Regular season duration: October 9, 2015 – April 17, 2016.
- Number of teams: 30.
- Games per team: 76.
- Playoffs: 20 teams qualified (top seven from each division and two wild cards per conference).
- Champion: Lake Erie Monsters (first title).
- MVP: Mike McKenna, who led the league in save percentage and goals-against average while playing for the Syracuse Crunch.
- Rookie of the Year: Sebastian Aho (not to be confused with the NHL player of the same name), though accurate information on the official recipient is not confirmed in publicly available league records.
Related Topics
- American Hockey League
- Calder Cup
- National Hockey League (NHL)
- Lake Erie Monsters
- 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs
- Professional ice hockey in North America
- Minor league sports seasons