1969–70 AHL season
Sports season
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The 1969–70 AHL season was the 34th season of the American Hockey League. Nine teams played 72 games each in the schedule. The Montreal Voyageurs became the second Canada-based team in the league, and finished first overall in the regular season. This would be the last season for the Buffalo Bisons in the AHL as the National Hockey League added the Buffalo Sabres who would begin play the next season, the Bisons would go out on top by winning their fifth Calder Cup championship.
| 1969–70 AHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | American Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Regular season | |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy | Montreal Voyageurs |
| Season MVP | Gilles Villemure |
| Top scorer | Jude Drouin |
| Playoffs | |
| Champions | Buffalo Bisons |
| Runners-up | Springfield Kings |
Team changes
- The Montreal Voyageurs join the AHL as an expansion team, based in Montreal, Quebec, playing in the East Division.
- The Quebec Aces switch divisions from West to East.
- The Baltimore Clippers and the Hershey Bears switch divisions from East to West.
Final standings
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points;
| East | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Voyageurs (MTL) | 72 | 43 | 15 | 14 | 100 | 327 | 195 |
| Springfield Kings (LAK) | 72 | 38 | 29 | 5 | 81 | 287 | 287 |
| Quebec Aces (PHI) | 72 | 27 | 39 | 6 | 60 | 221 | 272 |
| Providence Reds (OAK) | 72 | 23 | 36 | 13 | 59 | 218 | 267 |
| West | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bisons (NYR/STL/TOR) | 72 | 40 | 17 | 15 | 95 | 280 | 193 |
| Hershey Bears (BOS) | 72 | 28 | 28 | 16 | 72 | 247 | 249 |
| Baltimore Clippers (PIT) | 72 | 25 | 30 | 17 | 67 | 230 | 252 |
| Cleveland Barons (DET) | 72 | 23 | 33 | 16 | 62 | 222 | 255 |
| Rochester Americans (independent) | 72 | 18 | 38 | 16 | 52 | 253 | 315 |
Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jude Drouin | Montreal Voyageurs | 65 | 37 | 69 | 106 | 88 |
| Gord Labossiere | Springfield Kings | 60 | 30 | 59 | 89 | 94 |
| Guy Trottier | Buffalo Bisons | 71 | 55 | 33 | 88 | 8 |
| Doug Robinson | Springfield Kings | 70 | 45 | 41 | 86 | 26 |
| Marc Dufour | Springfield Kings | 71 | 32 | 53 | 85 | 22 |
| Guy Charron | Montreal Voyageurs | 65 | 37 | 45 | 82 | 20 |
| Norm Beaudin | Cleveland Barons | 70 | 37 | 44 | 81 | 10 |
| Rene Drolet | Quebec Aces | 71 | 32 | 48 | 80 | 42 |
| Bill Inglis | Springfield Kings | 72 | 31 | 44 | 75 | 25 |
| Norm Armstrong | Rochester Americans | 70 | 30 | 45 | 75 | 117 |
Calder Cup playoffs
- First round
- Montreal Voyageurs defeated Baltimore Clippers 4 games to 1.
- Buffalo Bisons defeated Quebec Aces 4 games to 2.
- Springfield Kings defeated Hershey Bears 4 games to 3.
- Second round
- In double round-robin, Buffalo Bisons and Springfield Kings advanced. Montreal Voyageurs eliminated after third loss.
- Finals
- Buffalo Bisons defeated Springfield Kings 4 games to 0, to win the Calder Cup.
- list of scores
Trophy and award winners
- Team awards
| Calder Cup Playoff champions: | Buffalo Bisons |
| F. G. "Teddy" Oke Trophy Regular Season champions, East Division: | Montreal Voyageurs |
| John D. Chick Trophy Regular Season champions, West Division: | Buffalo Bisons |
- Individual awards
| Les Cunningham Award Most valuable player: | Gilles Villemure - Buffalo Bisons |
| John B. Sollenberger Trophy Top point scorer: | Jude Drouin - Montreal Voyageurs |
| Dudley "Red" Garrett Memorial Award Rookie of the year: | Jude Drouin - Montreal Voyageurs |
| Eddie Shore Award Defenceman of the year: | Noel Price - Springfield Kings |
| Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award Lowest goals against average: | Gilles Villemure - Buffalo Bisons |
| Louis A. R. Pieri Memorial Award Coach of the year: | Fred Shero - Buffalo Bisons |
- Other awards
| James C. Hendy Memorial Award Most outstanding executive: | Eddie Shore |
| James H. Ellery Memorial Award Outstanding media coverage: | Les Sterns, Springfield |