Canadian-American Hockey League
Encyclopedia
The Canadian-American Hockey League, popularly known as the Can-Am League, was a professional ice hockey league that operated from 1926 to 1936. It was a direct ancestor of the American Hockey League
.
For its first 10 years the Can-Am's membership varied between five and six teams. When Boston dropped out after the 1935-36 season thus reducing the league to just four active teams (Philadelphia, Providence, Springfield, and New Haven), however, the C-AHL joined with four teams from the International Hockey League (Syracuse, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland) and operated as a new but temporary "circuit of mutual convenience" styled as the "International-American Hockey League." In this form the two leagues played an interlocking schedule for the next two years with the Can-Am clubs serving as the I-AHL's Eastern Division and the IHL as its Western Division, although Buffalo was forced to drop out early in the 1936-37 season owing to the roof of its arena having collapsed in a snowstorm.
At a meeting held in New York City on June 28, 1938, the two leagues formally merged into a unified eight-team circuit operating under the I-AHL name with the addition of the EAHL's
then three-time defending champion Hershey Bears
which was awarded an I-AHL franchise that day to replace the defunct Buffalo club. The league changed its name to the current AHL in 1940.
Two current AHL franchises have roots in the old Can-Am. The Connecticut Whale is descended from the old Providence Reds
franchise, which moved to Binghamton, New York
in 1977 before moving to Hartford in 1997. The Peoria Rivermen
are the former Springfield Indians
franchise that had moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
in 1994 before relocating to Peoria in 2005.
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
.
For its first 10 years the Can-Am's membership varied between five and six teams. When Boston dropped out after the 1935-36 season thus reducing the league to just four active teams (Philadelphia, Providence, Springfield, and New Haven), however, the C-AHL joined with four teams from the International Hockey League (Syracuse, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland) and operated as a new but temporary "circuit of mutual convenience" styled as the "International-American Hockey League." In this form the two leagues played an interlocking schedule for the next two years with the Can-Am clubs serving as the I-AHL's Eastern Division and the IHL as its Western Division, although Buffalo was forced to drop out early in the 1936-37 season owing to the roof of its arena having collapsed in a snowstorm.
Eastern Hockey League
-Eastern Amateur Hockey League :The league was founded in 1933 as the Eastern Amateur Hockey League . The league was founded by Thomas Lockhart, who served as its commissioner from 1933 to 1972...
then three-time defending champion Hershey Bears
Hershey Bears
The Hershey Bears Hockey Club is a professional ice hockey team playing in the American Hockey League, and is currently the top affiliate of the NHL Washington Capitals. The hockey club is based in the unincorporated town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, located within Derry Township some 14 miles east of...
which was awarded an I-AHL franchise that day to replace the defunct Buffalo club. The league changed its name to the current AHL in 1940.
Two current AHL franchises have roots in the old Can-Am. The Connecticut Whale is descended from the old Providence Reds
Providence Reds
The Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
franchise, which moved to Binghamton, New York
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton is a city in the Southern Tier of New York in the United States. It is near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers...
in 1977 before moving to Hartford in 1997. The Peoria Rivermen
Peoria Rivermen
The Peoria Rivermen are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They play in Peoria, Illinois, USA at the Carver Arena.-History:...
are the former Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
franchise that had moved to Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
in 1994 before relocating to Peoria in 2005.
Teams
- Boston Bruin Cubs (1934-35)
- Boston Bruins (1935-36)
- Boston Cubs (1931-32 to 1932-33)
- Boston Tiger Cubs (1933-34)
- Boston Tigers (1926-27 to 1930-31)
- Bronx Tigers (1931-32)
- New Haven EaglesNew Haven EaglesThe New Haven Eagles were a professional ice hockey team that played in New Haven, Connecticut. The Eagles were one of five inaugural franchises in the Canadian American Hockey League, and a founding member of the American Hockey League.-History:...
(1926-27 to 1935-36; joins IAHL) - Newark Bulldogs (1928-29)
- Philadelphia ArrowsPhiladelphia ArrowsThe Philadelphia Arrows were a professional ice hockey team that played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1927, the club was Philadelphia's first professional hockey team and played in the Canadian-American Hockey League. The team changed its name to the Philadelphia Ramblers beginning...
(1927-28 to 1934-35) - Philadelphia RamblersPhiladelphia RamblersThe Philadelphia Ramblers were a minor professional ice hockey team based in the Philadelphia Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Ramblers played for six seasons during the infancy of the American Hockey League from 1935 to 1941.-History:...
(1935-36; joins IAHL) - Quebec CastorsQuebec CastorsThe Quebec Castors or Quebec Beavers were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec from 1926 until 1935. They were members of the Canadian-American Hockey League.-History:...
(Beavers) (1926-27 to 1927-28; 1932-33 to 1934-35) - Providence RedsProvidence RedsThe Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
(1926-27 to 1935-36; joins IAHL) - Springfield IndiansSpringfield IndiansThe Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
(1926-27 to 1932-33; 1935-36; joins IAHL)
Champions
| Season | Regular season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| 1935-36 | Philadelphia Ramblers | Philadelphia Ramblers |
| 1934-35 | Boston Bruin Cubs | Boston Bruin Cubs |
| 1933-34 | Providence Reds | Providence Reds |
| 1932-33 | Philadelphia Arrows | Boston Cubs |
| 1931-32 | Providence Reds | Providence Reds |
| 1930-31 | Springfield Indians | Springfield Indians |
| 1929-30 | Providence Reds | Providence Reds |
| 1928-29 | Boston Tigers | Boston Tigers |
| 1927-28 | Springfield Indians | Springfield Indians |
| 1926-27 | New Haven Eagles | Springfield Indians |