A Western Hockey League (AHL) is think of a top professional hockey league outside the National Hockey League (NHL). It serves as a developmental league for the NHL, & completely of its Twenty-seven teams own affiliation agreements by owning NHL clubs.

A league traces its history back to 1926 by using a formation of the Canadian-American Hockey League and teams in Springfield, Boston, Quebec City, Providence and New Haven. Inside 1936, a "Can-Am" League merged by having a original International Hockey League (created inside 1929) to form a International-Our contries Hockey League. By using a withdrawal of its survive Our contries teams, a league was renamed a American Hockey League within 1941. A league gained 6 teams in a 2001-2002 year by using the folding of the International Hockey League.

League agents come inside West Springfield, Massachusetts, and the AHL's todays president is David Andrews.

A AHL's annual playoff champion is awarded a Calder Cup trophy.

Teams
(connected teams around brackets) Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
Albany River Rats (New Jersey Devils) Hartford Wolf Pack (New York Rangers) Lowell Lock Monsters (Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche) Manchester Monarchs (Los Angeles Kings) Portland Pirates (Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) Providence Bruins (Boston Bruins) Springfield Falcons (Tampa Bay Lightning)

East Division
Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators) Bridgeport Sound Tigers (New York Islanders) Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals) Norfolk Admirals (Chicago Blackhawks) Philadelphia Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Western Conference
North Division
Cleveland Barons (San Jose Sharks) Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings) Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens, Edmonton Oilers) Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks) Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres, Florida Panthers) Syracuse Crunch (Columbus Blue Jackets) Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs)

West Division
Chicago Wolves (Atlanta Thrashers) Houston Aeros (Minnesota Wild) Iowa Stars (Dallas Stars, Edmonton Oilers) Milwaukee Admirals (Nashville Predators) Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights (Calgary Flames) Peoria Rivermen (St. Louis Blues) San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes)

Defunct teams

Adirondack Red Wings (1979-1999) Baltimore Bandits (1995-1997; became Cincinnati Mighty Ducks) Baltimore Clippers (1962-1976) Baltimore Skipjacks (1982-1993; became Portland Pirates) Binghamton Dusters (1977-1997; renamed Binghamton Whalers in 1980, renamed Binghamton Rangers in 1990; became Hartford Wolf Pack) Boston Braves (1971-1974) Buffalo Bisons (1936) Buffalo Bisons (1940-1970) Cape Breton Oilers (1988-1996; became Hamilton Bulldogs) Capital District Islanders (1990-1993; became Albany River Rats) Carolina Monarchs (1995-1997) Cincinnati Mighty Ducks (1997-2005) Cincinnati Mohawks (1949-1952) Cincinnati Swords (1971-1974) Cleveland Barons (1937-1972; became Jacksonville Barons) Cleveland Falcons (1936-1937) Cornwall Aces (1993-1996) Edmonton Road Runners (2004-2005) Erie Blades (1981-1982) Fredericton Canadiens (1990-1999; became Quebec Citadelles) Fredericton Express (1981-1988; became Halifax Citadels) Halifax Citadels (1988-1993) Hamilton Canucks (1992-1994; became Syracuse Crunch) Hamilton Bulldogs (1996-2002; became Toronto Roadrunners) Hampton Gulls (1977-1978) Indianapolis Capitals (1939-1952) Jacksonville Barons (1972-1974) Kentucky Thoroughblades (1996-2001; became the present Cleveland Barons) Louisville Panthers (1999-2001; became Iowa Stars)

Maine Mariners (1977-1992; became Providence Bruins) Moncton Alpines (1982-1994; renamed Moncton Golden Flames in 1984, renamed Moncton Hawks in 1987) Montreal Voyageurs (1969-1971; became Nova Scotia Voyageurs) New Brunswick Hawks (1978-1982; became Moncton Alpines) Beast of New Haven (1997-1999) New Haven Eagles (1936-1943, 1945-1951, renamed New Haven Ramblers in 1946) New Haven Nighthawks (1972-1992) Newmarket Saints (1986-1991; became St. John's Maple Leafs) New Haven Senators (1992-1993; became Prince Edward Island Senators) Nova Scotia Oilers (1984-1988; became Cape Breton Oilers) Nova Scotia Voyageurs (1971-1984) Philadelphia Firebirds (1977-1979; became Syracuse Firebirds) Philadelphia Ramblers (1936-1940) Philadelphia Rockets (1940-1942, 1946-1949; became Cincinnati Mohawks) Pittsburgh Hornets (1936-1956; became Rochester Americans) Pittsburgh Hornets (1961-1967) Prince Edward Island Senators (1993-1996; became Binghamton Senators) Providence Reds (1936-1976; named Rhode Island Reds (1976-1977) became Binghamton Dusters) Quebec Aces (1959-1971) Quebec Citadelles (1999-2002; became Hamilton Bulldogs)

Richmond Robins (1971-1976) Saint John Flames (1993-2003; became Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights) Sherbrooke Canadiens (1984-1990; became Fredericton Canadiens) Sherbrooke Jets (1982-1984) Springfield Indians (1936-1942, 1946-1951; became Syracuse Warriors) Springfield Indians (1954-1994; named Springfield Kings (1967-1974), became Worcester IceCats) St. Catharines Saints (1982-1986; became Newmarket Saints) St. John's Maple Leafs (1991-2005; became Toronto Marlies) St. Louis Flyers (1944-1953) Syracuse Eagles (1974-1975) Syracuse Firebirds (1979-1980) Syracuse Stars (1936-1940; became Buffalo Bisons) Syracuse Warriors (1951-1954; became Springfield Indians) Tidewater Wings (1971-1972; named Virginia Wings (1972-1975) Toronto Roadrunners (2003-2004; became Edmonton Road Runners) Utah Grizzlies (2001-2005) Utica Devils (1987-1993) Washington Lions (1941-1943) Washington Lions (1947-1949; became Cincinnati Mohawks) Worcester IceCats (1994-2005; became Peoria Rivermen)