Aquitaynian Hockey League: Difference between revisions
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===1974 expansion=== | ===1974 expansion=== | ||
===1998-2000s expansion=== | ===1998-2000s expansion=== | ||
===2005 promotion and relegation=== | |||
Following the late 90's and early 2000's expansion teams joining the league, questions over promotion and relegation to the AHLC were given new energy. With 24 teams now in the first-division league and 20 teams in the lower leagues, many saw the opportunity to bring extra excitement and effort from both leagues for teams to have the opportunity to move up, or fight against going down every year. At the 2003 Board of Governors meeting, promotion and relegation was approved by a majority of the board. A working-group was established to best plan how to implement that strategy between both leagues. | |||
The group settled on a relegation playoff series between the two bottom clubs in each conference from the AHL, while the league champion of the AHLC would move up to the first division to take the place of whichever club lost the relegation playoff. At a board meeting in 2004, this plan was ratified and approved by the Board of Governors, with plans in place to implement it immediately at the start of the [[2005-06 AHL season|2005-06 season]]. | |||
==Organizational structure== | ==Organizational structure== | ||
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===Playoff structure=== | ===Playoff structure=== | ||
In the AHL, | In the AHL, the top four teams from the Northern and Southern conferences qualify for the playoffs. The Conference Champions (being the teams with the most points at the end of the season) retain home-ice advantage throughout the playoff series. Should both champions make it to the final, the team with the greater goal differential will take priority. The playoffs are run in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the higher seed getting home ice advantage for the first two games, and therefore the 5th and 7th games should they be needed. | ||
==Trophies and awards== | ==Trophies and awards== | ||
Latest revision as of 18:52, 24 March 2024
 Logo of the AHL | |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1931 |
| Inaugural season | 1932 |
| Commissioner | Juri Mangusson |
| No. of teams | 24 |
| Confederation | Lorecian Ice Hockey Confederation (LIHC) |
| TV partner(s) | ANN |
| Relegation to | AHL Championship |
| International cup(s) | Lorecian Hockey League |
 2023-24 AHL season | |
The Aquitaynian Hockey League is a professional ice hockey league in Aquitayne comprised of 24 teams. The Penington Cup, one of the oldest trophies in Aquitaynian sports, is awarded annually to the league playoff champion at the end of each season. The AHL is one of the major sports leagues in Aquitayne, and is considered to be one of the top ranked professional ice hockey leagues in Astyria.
History
1932 inaugural season
1940s-1950s expansion
1974 expansion
1998-2000s expansion
2005 promotion and relegation
Following the late 90's and early 2000's expansion teams joining the league, questions over promotion and relegation to the AHLC were given new energy. With 24 teams now in the first-division league and 20 teams in the lower leagues, many saw the opportunity to bring extra excitement and effort from both leagues for teams to have the opportunity to move up, or fight against going down every year. At the 2003 Board of Governors meeting, promotion and relegation was approved by a majority of the board. A working-group was established to best plan how to implement that strategy between both leagues.
The group settled on a relegation playoff series between the two bottom clubs in each conference from the AHL, while the league champion of the AHLC would move up to the first division to take the place of whichever club lost the relegation playoff. At a board meeting in 2004, this plan was ratified and approved by the Board of Governors, with plans in place to implement it immediately at the start of the 2005-06 season.
Organizational structure
The league is governed by a Board of Governors, which is the ruling body of the AHL. Each team is a member of the board and has one representative appointed to it, along with two alternates. The Board exists to establish the policies of the league and uphold its charter. Some of their responsibilities include:
- review and approve changes to the league's rules.
- hiring and firing of the league Commissioner.
- review and approve the purchase, sale or relocation of a member club.
- review and approve the league schedule.
Teams
| Conference | Team | City | Arena | Capacity | Founded | Joined | General manager | Head coach | Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern | Valhedge Vikings | Valhedge | Ilius Financial Arena | 21,500 | 1932 | 1932 | Tim Carlisle | Mike Hogan | Marcus Hamill |
| Esceos Firehounds | Esceos | Sponsor Arena | 18,250 | 1941 | 1943 | Ivan Gyles | Nikolay Rene | Fredrick Seitz | |
| Freyport Flyers | Freyport | Freyport Armory Arena | 19,250 | 1950 | 1952 | Chance Osbourne | Trace Faron | Celestine Royce | |
| Aesir Avalanche | Aesir | Sponsor Arena | 17,700 | 1950 | 1952 | Laurence Joby | Gareth Onni | Jurou Rain | |
| Falklas Gollems | Falklas | Sponsor Arena | 18,250 | 1932 | 1932 | Reino Kustaa | Rodney Solomon | Viljam Major | |
| Newford Nighthawks | Newford | Sponsor Arena | 18,500 | 1932 | 1932 | Erick Tarquinius | Leroy Garrick | Göte Carlton | |
| Sanuan Spartans | Sanuan | Sponsor Arena | 18,000 | 1932 | 1932 | Caden Juro | Allyn Eljas | Jack Rikhard | |
| Ceria Centurions | Ceria | Sponsor Arena | 18,250 | 1946 | 1947 | Sebastian Elliott | Colter Evanson | Lew Stanford | |
| Kavala Earthquakes | Kavala | Sponsor Arena | 17,200 | 2000 | 2001 | Augustus Nicholls | Sebastian Leighton | Ingemar Rinne | |
| Lagos Phantoms | Lagos | Sponsor Arena | 16,500 | 2000 | 2001 | Jem Fransson | Loukios Hall | Salvius Corey | |
| Grados Giants | Grados | Sponsor Arena | 16,400 | 1974 | 1975 | Tatsuya Matsumoto | Corbin Yamada | Ismo Ericson | |
| Sofia Angels | Sofia | Sponsor Arena | 16,000 | 2000 | 2001 | Lorrin Addison | Osborn Rose | Romilius Järvinen | |
| Southern | Telora Icelanders | Telora | Royal Ice Arena | 22,000 | 1932 | 1932 | Luke Wright | Ari Jurgensson | Matthew Thakkar |
| Helm Hurricanes | Helm | Sponsor Arena | 18,000 | 1946 | 1947 | Elliott Jayden | Merle Shiori | Ezra Iulius | |
| Cape Town Captains | Cape Town | Sponsor Arena | 20,000 | 1998 | 1999 | Albert Sakari | Jim Richard | Scott Harvey | |
| Agrias Sharks | Agrias | Sponsor Arena | 17,200 | 1998 | 1999 | Kaiden Thornton | Haruto Galen | Svante Lachlan | |
| Helvalius Gladiators | Helvalius | Sponsor Arena | 17,000 | 1946 | 1947 | Hadyn Troy | Luke Cory | Collins Richard | |
| Afreos Privateers | Afreos | Sponsor Arena | 17,900 | 1932 | 1932 | Kevin Luther | Takumi Isaksson | Goodwin Steffen | |
| Frini Mastadons | Frini | Sponsor Arena | 16,800 | 2010 | 2011 | Drew Hampton | Lucas Howe | Silvinus Mustonen | |
| Swacaea Swans | Swacaea | Sponsor Arena | 17,250 | 1945 | 1947 | Brayden Maddison | Gray Kynaston | Geordie Kamiya | |
| Asor Eagles | Asor | Sponsor Arena | 19,250 | 2000 | 2001 | Darriel Travers | Anderson Godfrey | Germanus Arvidsson | |
| Celaton Centaurs | Celaton | Sponsor Arena | 19,000 | 1942 | 1943 | Taisto Kimberley | Josef Bristol | Delano Lindström | |
| Agrias Warriors | Agrias | Sponsor Arena | 19,500 | 1974 | 1975 | Albie Tobin | River Ahlström | Kayden Mizutani | |
| Tyrisis Thunder | Tyrisis | Sponsor Arena | 19,250 | 1974 | 1975 | Brandt Tuff | Devon Royle | Ritchie Kuroda |
Season structure
During the regular season, teams play each other in a predetermined schedule. All teams play 69 games, at least one at home and one away against every other league member. The remaining 23 games are split evenly home and away for each team, with the opponents being the teams within their conference. For example, this means all teams from the Northern Conference will play all teams from the Southern Conference twice, while the teams in the Northern Conference will play each other 4 times throughout the season, and vice versa for the Southern Conference.
Additionally, in 2005 the AHL introduced limited promotion and relegation to the league structure. The bottom team from each conference play in a relegation playoff series to determine what side will be sent to the lower league. It is a 7-game series, with the winner being the first team to four wins. The losing side is then relegated to the AHLC for the next season, while the AHLC champion is moved up to the corresponding division the relegated team came from. Critics of this format state it does not promote equitable play in what is colloquially known as the Loser's Cup, and creates some geographic inconsistencies with conference structure depending on where the promoted team comes from.
Calls have been made to restructure the league into an association football-style single table to allow for greater promotion and relegation and ease of match making, though the board of governors has stated it's not considering this adjustment currently.
Playoff structure
In the AHL, the top four teams from the Northern and Southern conferences qualify for the playoffs. The Conference Champions (being the teams with the most points at the end of the season) retain home-ice advantage throughout the playoff series. Should both champions make it to the final, the team with the greater goal differential will take priority. The playoffs are run in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the higher seed getting home ice advantage for the first two games, and therefore the 5th and 7th games should they be needed.
Trophies and awards
Media coverage
International competitions
The Champions of the league as well as the runners-up and third-place match winners qualify for the Lorecian Hockey League annually, and compete there against the best teams from other leagues around Lorecia for the Continental Cup Trophy.
Popularity
Ice hockey is the second most popular sport in Aquitayne behind association football.