Maltais wins AHL scoring title
Published on April 6, 2003 under American Hockey League (AHL) News Release
SPRINGFIELD, MA ... Chicago Wolves forward Steve Maltais has won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the leading scorer in the American Hockey League for the 2002-03 season.
Maltais scored three goals and added an assist in the waning seconds of Chicago's season-ending 6-4 loss to San Antonio on Sunday evening. Maltais finished the season with a league-best 56 assists and 86 points, one point better than Houston's Jean-Guy Trudel.
The AHL's leading scorer trophy was originally named after Wally Kilrea, who held the AHL's single-season scoring record when the award was instituted in 1947-48. That year, Carl Liscombe broke Kilrea's record, and the award was renamed in his honor. In 1955, the AHL Board of Governors voted to name the trophy after John B. Sollenberger, a long-time contributor to the league as manager and president of the Hershey Bears and former Chairman of the Board of Governors.
Previous winners of the John B. Sollenberger Trophy include Eddie Olson (1953, '55), Zellio Toppazzini (1956), Fred Glover (1957, '60), Willie Marshall (1958), Bill Sweeney (1961, '62, '63), Don Blackburn (1972), Paul Gardner (1985, '86), Bruce Boudreau (1988), Shaun Van Allen (1992), Tim Taylor (1994), Peter White (1995, '97, '98) and Derek Armstrong (2001).
Now in its 67th season, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 77 percent of all players to compete in the NHL this season have been AHL graduates, and over 380 players have taken the ice in both leagues in 2002-03. Four AHL head coaches have also been promoted to the NHL during this season.
The Calder Cup 2003 Playoffs get underway on Wednesday night, with 20 teams vying for the honor of capturing the league's coveted championship trophy.
American Hockey League Stories from April 6, 2003
- Phantoms just miss the playoffs - OSC Original by David W. Unkle
- Bulldogs Fall in Regular Season Finale - Hamilton Bulldogs
- Rampage's Playoff Journey Begins with Norfolk Admirals - San Antonio Rampage
- Monarchs close season; Playoff info - Manchester Monarchs
- Admirals Playoff Tickets on Sale Monday - Milwaukee Admirals
- Pirates Award Year-End Honors - Portland Pirates
- Bring on the Wolves - Hershey Bears
- Bears Clinch Fifth Seed with Shutout Win over Admirals - Hershey Bears
- Phantoms lose 4-3 in OT to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - Adirondack Phantoms
- Qualification Round Playoff Schedule Announced - Portland Pirates
- Maltais wins AHL scoring title - AHL
- Norfolk announces Conference Quarterfinals Schedule - Norfolk Admirals
- Checkers Defenseman Chad Wilchynski Wins ECHL Award - Charlotte Checkers
- Sound Tigers Announce Playoff Schedule - Bridgeport Islanders
- Sound Tigers Win Regular Season Finale 2-1 In Overtime - Bridgeport Islanders
- Moose finish as ninth seed and play Portland in qualifying round - Manitoba Moose
- Penguins to Meet Utah in Opening Round of 2003 Calder Cup Playoffs - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Playoff-Bound Cats Fall to Falcons - Worcester IceCats
- Barons Fall In Fanale, 4-2 - Cleveland Barons
- Brown and Hedstrom lead Ducks past Barons - Cincinnati RailRaiders
- Lamothe and MacDonald Win Harry 'Hap' Holmes Memorial Award - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Phantoms present annual team awards - Adirondack Phantoms
- Wolf Pack Announce Qualifying Round Playoff Schedule - Connecticut Whale
- Sound Tigers Recall Tetrault & Wood - Bridgeport Islanders
- Pens, Admirals Skate to 1-1 Tie - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bulldogs Add Depth - Hamilton Bulldogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
