On Thursday, the American Hockey League confirmed that there would be no AHL playoffs in 2021 due to league COVID-19 protocols.
The AHL allowed its five divisions an opportunity to determine its own playoff format independently. Out of the five divisions, the Pacific Division will have a playoff format to determine who wins the John D. Chick Trophy. The rest of the divisions (Atlantic, North, Central, and Canadian) will crown their winners at the season’s end.
AHL President and Chief Executive Officer Scott Howson’s statement on the cancelation of the playoffs said. “While we are disappointed that we will not be able to award the Calder Cup this spring, we are grateful to have been able to provide a safe and competitive environment for more than 1,000 players to play AHL hockey and continue their development. We’re especially thankful for the work done by our athletic trainers, COVID-19 officers, and other front-line workers to ensure the health and safety of all of our players and staff throughout the league.”
In addition to canceling the playoffs, the league also announced that the AHL Board of Governors approved the 2021-22 season. The 86th AHL season will start on October 15th and conclude on April 24th. Division alignments and the schedule will be released in the offseason.
