AHL Quick Hits

Published on April 9, 2002 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release

IN REVIEW:

Bridgeport defeated Hartford, 4-1, to claim the East Division title, the first seed in the Eastern Conference, and the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy as the AHL's overall points champion. Trent Hunter scored twice for the first-year Sound Tigers, and Rick DiPietro notched his league-leading 30th win of the season. Bridgeport will open their conference quarterfinal series against either Providence, Manitoba or Worcester later this week.

WHAT'S ON TAP:

Rochester and Philadelphia, who have combined to represent the Western Conference in three of the last four Calder Cup Finals, kick off their best-of-three qualifying series at the First Union Spectrum tonight (7:05 ET). The Phantoms were 4-0-2 against the Amerks on the season, but all four wins were by just one goal each. Both head coaches won a Calder Cup championship while playing for the team they now coach: Randy Cunneyworth in Rochester (1983) and John Stevens in Philadelphia (1998).

The Moose will try to get back on track in a hurry when they open their best-of-three in Worcester tonight (7:05 ET, 6:05 CT). With a chance to capture the Canadian Division title on Sunday, a road-weary Manitoba club dropped a 5-2 decision to Grand Rapids, instead falling to the ninth seed in the East. The IceCats boast three of the top 15 scorers in the AHL, including MVP Eric Boguniecki.

Game 1 tonight (7:00 CT, 8:00 ET) pits Cincinnati against Chicago at Allstate Arena. The Mighty Ducks have never won a playoff series, falling in their opening series in 1999 and 2001, but have added experience in Aris Brimanis (61 career AHL playoff games) and Steve Brule, whose name is engraved on the Stanley Cup with the 2000 New Jersey Devils. The Wolves' Norm Maracle was the MVP of last year's IHL playoffs, but has a career record of 1-7 in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Game 1 - Rochester at Philadelphia, 7:05 ET
Game 1 - Manitoba at Worcester, 7:05 ET
Game 1 - Cincinnati at Chicago, 7:00 CT

FROM CALDER TO STANLEY:

Former Calder Cup-winning head coaches Bob Hartley, Robbie Ftorek, Bill Barber and Peter Laviolette have already led their current teams to berths in the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Marc Crawford, who coached St. John's to the 1992 Calder Cup Finals, leads his Vancouver Canucks into Denver tonight to face the Colorado Avalanche in an important Western Conference battle.

ON THE AIR:

Wednesday's series opener between Providence and St. John's, to be played at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, will be televised live on Rogers Cable in St. John's (9:00 NT) and on Leafs TV (7:30 ET) in Ontario... AHL Rinkside airs on Leafs TV on Thursday at 11:00 am ET and again at 11:00 pm ET.

Syracuse defenseman and 2001 Calder Cup champion Derrick Walser will enter the AHL Chat Room on caldercup.com on Thursday at 1:00 pm ET.

SERIES SCHEDULES
Western Conference Qualifying Series
7-Chicago vs. 10-Cincinnati
Game 1 - Tue 4/9 at Chicago, 7:00
Game 2 - Wed 4/10 at Chicago, 7:00
*Game 3 - Thu 4/11 at Chicago, 7:00

Western Conference Qualifying Series
8-Philadelphia vs. 9-Rochester
Game 1 - Tue 4/9 at Philadelphia, 7:05
Game 2 - Thu 4/11 at Philadelphia, 7:05
*Game 3 - Fri 4/12 at Philadelphia, 7:05

Eastern Conference Qualifying Series
7-St. John's vs. 10-Providence
Game 1 - Wed 4/10 at Toronto, 7:30
Game 2 - Thu 4/11 at Brampton, 7:30
*Game 3 - Fri 4/12 at Brampton, 7:30

Eastern Conference Qualifying Series
8-Worcester vs. 9-Manitoba
Game 1 - Tue 4/9 at Worcester, 7:05
Game 2 - Wed 4/10 at Worcester, 7:05
*Game 3 - Thu 4/11 at Worcester, 7:05

Western Conference Quarterfinal
3-Norfolk vs. 6-Hershey
Game 1 - Fri 4/12 at Norfolk, 7:30
Game 2 - Sat 4/13 at Norfolk, 7:30
Game 3 - Wed 4/17 at Hershey, 7:30
*Game 4 - Fri 4/19 at Hershey, 7:30
*Game 5 - Sat 4/20 at Norfolk, 7:30

Western Conference Quarterfinal
4-Houston vs. 5-Utah
Game 1 - Thu 4/11 at Houston, 7:00
Game 2 - Sat 4/13 at Houston, 7:30
Game 3 - Tue 4/16 at Utah, 7:00
*Game 4 - Thu 4/18 at Utah, 7:00
*Game 5 - Sat 4/20 at Houston, 7:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
3-Quebec vs. 6-Hamilton
Game 1 - Sat 4/13 at Quebec, 7:30
Game 2 - Mon 4/15 at Quebec, 7:30
Game 3 - Wed 4/17 at Hamilton, 7:30
*Game 4 - Fri 4/19 at Hamilton, 7:30
*Game 5 - Sun 4/21 at Quebec, 2:00

Eastern Conference Quarterfinal
4-Hartford vs. 5-Manchester
Game 1 - Sat 4/13 at Hartford, 7:05
Game 2 - Sun 4/14 at Hartford, 4:05
Game 3 - Wed 4/17 at Manchester, 7:05
*Game 4 - Fri 4/19 at Manchester, 7:35
*Game 5 - Sat 4/20 at Hartford, 7:05

*if necessary... All times local

American Hockey League Stories from April 9, 2002

• End of an era in Hershey - OSC Original by Marc Viquez
• Thatcher Bell signed to an ATO - Manitoba Moose
• Mike Brown re-assigned to Moose - Manitoba Moose
• Aeros Weekly - Houston Aeros
• Ducks edge Wolves in playoff series opener - Cincinnati RailRaiders
• Moose Take Game One - Worcester IceCats
• Crunch Announce Potential First Round Dates - Syracuse Crunch
• Columbus Returns Brad Moran And Mathieu Darche To Syracuse - Syracuse Crunch
• Detroit Red Wings Assign Right Wing Williams - Adirondack Phantoms
• Labbe To Throw Out First Pitch At SkyChiefs Game - Syracuse Crunch
• Griffins Announce Potential Schedule for Western Conference Quarterfinals - Grand Rapids Griffins
• Szuper to Join Hungarian National Team at 2002 World Championships - Saint John Flames
• AHL Quick Hits - AHL
• Norfolk's Tyler Arnason Named AHL's Outstanding Rookie - AHL
• Dan is the Wolves Man - Chicago Wolves
• Arnason Named AHL's Most Outstanding Rookie - Norfolk Admirals
• Playoff Picture Clears -- Record Breaking Year for Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
• Calgary Flames Recall DuPont From St. John's - Toronto Marlies

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