Current season, competition or edition: 2024–25 AHL season | |
 American Hockey League logo | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1936 (IHL/C-AHL Interlocking schedules); 1938 (IHL/C-AHL formally merged) |
| President | Scott Howson |
| No. of teams | 32 |
| Countries | United States (26 teams) Canada (6 teams) |
| Headquarters | Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Most recent champion(s) | Hershey Bears (13th title) |
| Most titles | Hershey Bears (13)[1] |
| TV partner(s) | Canada (English): Sportsnet/Sportsnet One Canada (French): Réseau des sports Europe: Premier Sports United States (English): NHL Network, FloSports United States (Spanish): ESPN Deportes |
| Official website | theahl.com |
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL).[2] As of the 2024–25 AHL season, all 32 NHL teams held affiliations with an AHL team. Historically, when an NHL team does not have an AHL affiliate, its players are assigned to AHL teams affiliated with other NHL franchises.
Twenty-six AHL teams are located across the United States whereas the remaining six are situated in Canada. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and its current president is Scott Howson.[3]
A player must be at least 18 years of age to play in the AHL or not currently be beholden to a junior ice hockey team. The league limits the number of experienced professional players in a team's lineup during any given game; only five skaters can have accumulated more than 260 games played at the professional level (goaltenders are exempt from this rule).[4]
The annual playoff champion is awarded the Calder Cup, named for Frank Calder, the first President (1917–1943) of the NHL. The defending champions following the 2023–24 season are the Hershey Bears, winning their 13th Calder Cup in franchise history.
- ^ "Calder Cup Record Book" Archived January 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, theahl.com
- ^ Scott, Jon C. (2006). Hockey Night in Dixie: Minor Pro Hockey in the American South. Heritage House Publishing Company Ltd. p. xvii. ISBN 1-894974-21-2.
- ^ "Howson elected AHL President and CEO". theahl.com. February 14, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "FAQ". Theahl.com. Retrieved December 11, 2017.