Houston Aeros Win American Hockey League's Western Conference Championship
Published on May 24, 2011 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The Houston Aeros have won the Robert W. Clarke Trophy as the American Hockey League's Western Conference champions for 2010-11, advancing to the Calder Cup Finals with a 4-3 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs in the decisive Game 7 at Toyota Center in Houston on Tuesday evening.
Aeros captain Jon DiSalvatore scored the winning goal with 1:13 left in regulation as Houston regrouped after seeing a 3-0 series lead wiped out by the North Division champion Bulldogs.
The top affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild, Houston was 46-28-1-5 for 98 points during the regular season, finishing second in the West Division and sixth in the overall league standings. Led by rookie head coach Mike Yeo, who won a Stanley Cup as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, the Aeros defeated the Peoria Rivermen in the division semifinals (4-0), the Milwaukee Admirals in the division finals (4-3) and the Bulldogs in the conference finals (4-3) to reach the Calder Cup Finals for the first time since winning the championship in 2003.
The 2011 Calder Cup Finals - the AHL's 75th championship series - will begin Friday in Houston, with the Aeros taking on the Eastern Conference champion Binghamton Senators. The complete series schedule is below.
Established in 1990, the AHL's Western Conference championship trophy honors the late Robert W. Clarke. Mr. Clarke served as the Chairman of the AHL's Board of Governors from 1967-94, and in 1956, he played an instrumental role in the formation of the Rochester Americans, one of the most successful franchises in AHL history and themselves a seven-time recipient of the Clarke Trophy.
2011 Calder Cup Finals (best-of-seven)
W2-Houston Aeros vs. E5-Binghamton Senators
Game 1 - Fri., May 27 - Binghamton at Houston, 7:35 CT
Game 2 - Sat., May 28 - Binghamton at Houston, 7:35 CT
Game 3 - Wed., June 1 - Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 ET
Game 4 - Fri., June 3 - Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 ET
*Game 5 - Sat., June 4 - Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 ET
*Game 6 - Tue., June 7 - Binghamton at Houston, 7:05 CT
*Game 7 - Thu., June 9 - Binghamton at Houston, 7:05 CT
*if necessary
American Hockey League Stories from May 24, 2011
- DiSalvatore's Late Goal Lifts Aeros to Calder Cup Finals - Houston Aeros
- Houston Aeros Win American Hockey League's Western Conference Championship - AHL
- B-Sens to Face the Houston Aeros in the Calder Cup Finals - Binghamton Senators
- Bulldogs Game 7 Watch Party at Faloney's of Ancaster Tonight - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Predators Ink Defenseman Victor Bartley - Milwaukee Admirals
- Crunch Foundation Helps Raise Over $73,000 for Central New York Non-Profits and Youth Organizations - Syracuse Crunch
- Sharks, City of Worcester, Combine Efforts with Red Cross to Help Tornado Victims - Worcester Sharks
- Whale Re-Sign Defenseman Jared Nightingale - Connecticut Whale
- Updated Preview: Aeros-Bulldogs, Game 7 - Houston Aeros
- AHL Morning Skate - AHL
- Spot Screech Promotion Continues - Springfield Falcons
- Charron's Legacy Continues to be Inspiration of Strength and Courage - Rochester Americans
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