AHL Grads win NHL Awards
June 21, 2002 - American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA . . . Montreal Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore was one of four American Hockey League graduates to earn hardware at the annual NHL Awards Show in Toronto on Thursday night, capturing both the Hart Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player and the Vezina Trophy as outstanding goaltender.
A second-round draft pick of the Canadiens in 1994, Theodore began his professional career at the age of 18, making his debut for Fredericton in Game 4 of the AHL's 1995 Calder Cup Finals. He went on to play 109 games in the American Hockey League, finishing among the league's leaders in 1997-98 in minutes played, goals against average and save percentage.
Theodore's success is reminiscent of that of Patrick Roy, who was 19 when he made his pro debut in the AHL, leading Sherbrooke to the 1985 Calder Cup championship. Roy was presented on Thursday with his fifth career William M. Jennings Trophy after his Colorado Avalanche allowed the fewest goals in the NHL. Roy finished second in the Vezina voting and third in the race for the Hart Trophy.
Bob Francis, who worked for four seasons in the AHL as head coach of the Saint John Flames (1993-95) and Providence Bruins (1995-97), was named the winner of the Jack Adams Award as the outstanding coach in the NHL. Francis, who also played part of the 1982-83 season with the AHL's Adirondack Red Wings, led the Phoenix Coyotes to the second-best record in franchise history in 2001-02. He is the fifth consecutive Jack Adams Award winner to have honed his skills behind an AHL bench.
New York Islanders forward Michael Peca captured his second career Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL's outstanding defensive forward. Peca recorded 43 points in 44 career AHL games to begin his pro career in the Vancouver Canucks' system from 1993-95.
Entering its 67th season with an all-time high of 28 teams competing, the AHL serves as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League clubs. The 2001-02 season was the AHL's most successful to date, seeing an expansion from 20 to 27 franchises and an all-time high in average attendance, with nearly 6.7 million fans attending games across North America. More than 75 percent of all players to compete in the NHL in 2001-02 were AHL graduates, and 350 players took the ice in both leagues.
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American Hockey League Stories from June 21, 2002
- Pirates, Oxford Networks Name Hockey Mom of the Year - Portland Pirates
- AHL Grads win NHL Awards - AHL
- Former Flames Coach Bob Francis Wins Jack Adams Award - Saint John Flames
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