The 2000–01 IHL season was the 56th and final season of the International Hockey League, a North American minor professional league. Eleven teams participated in the regular season, and the Orlando Solar Bears won their first Turner Cup. Following the season, six teams (Admirals, Aeros, Griffins, Grizzles, Moose and Wolves) joined the American Hockey League as expansion teams. The Cyclones rejoined the East Coast Hockey League where they had previously played from 1990 to 1992. The remaining teams ceased operations.
| 2000-01 IHL season | |
|---|---|
| League | International Hockey League |
| Sport | Ice hockey |
| Duration | October 6, 2000 – May 26, 2001 |
| Number of games | 82 |
| Number of teams | 11 |
| Regular season | |
| Fred A. Huber Trophy | Grand Rapids Griffins |
| Season MVP | Norm Maracle (Solar Bears) |
| Top scorer | Steve Larouche (Wolves) Derek King (Griffins) |
| Playoffs | |
| Playoffs MVP | Norm Maracle (Solar Bears) |
| Turner Cup | |
| Champions | Orlando Solar Bears |
| Runners-up | Chicago Wolves |
Regular season
editEastern Conference
edit| GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids Griffins (OTT) | 82 | 53 | 22 | 7 | 279 | 196 | 113 |
| Orlando Solar Bears (ATL) | 82 | 47 | 28 | 7 | 241 | 193 | 101 |
| Cincinnati Cyclones (CAR) | 82 | 44 | 29 | 9 | 267 | 258 | 97 |
| Cleveland Lumberjacks (MIN) | 82 | 43 | 32 | 7 | 270 | 258 | 93 |
| Milwaukee Admirals (NSH) | 82 | 42 | 33 | 7 | 244 | 217 | 91 |
| Detroit Vipers (TBL) | 82 | 23 | 53 | 6 | 184 | 311 | 52 |
Western Conference
edit| GP | W | L | SOL | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Wolves (NYI) | 82 | 43 | 32 | 7 | 267 | 249 | 93 |
| Houston Aeros | 82 | 42 | 32 | 8 | 229 | 245 | 92 |
| Manitoba Moose (DET) | 82 | 39 | 31 | 12 | 222 | 230 | 90 |
| Utah Grizzlies (DAL) | 82 | 38 | 36 | 8 | 208 | 220 | 84 |
| Kansas City Blades (VAN) | 82 | 37 | 42 | 3 | 239 | 273 | 77 |
Turner Cup Playoffs
edit| Turner Cup-Quarterfinals | Turner Cup-Semifinals | Turner Cup-Final | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Grand Rapids | 4 | ||||||||||||
| E4 | Cleveland | 0 | ||||||||||||
| E1 | Grand Rapids | 2 | ||||||||||||
| Eastern Conference | ||||||||||||||
| E2 | Orlando | 4 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Orlando | 4 | ||||||||||||
| E3 | Cincinnati | 1 | ||||||||||||
| E2 | Orlando | 4 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Chicago | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||
| E5 | Milwaukee | 1 | ||||||||||||
| W1 | Chicago | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Western Conference | ||||||||||||||
| W3 | Manitoba | 2 | ||||||||||||
| W2 | Houston | 3 | ||||||||||||
| W3 | Manitoba | 4 | ||||||||||||
Quarterfinals
edit(E1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (E4) Cleveland Lumberjacks
edit| April 20 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 1–5 | Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | ||||
| April 21 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 4–7 | Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | ||||
| April 23 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 2–1 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| April 25 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 3–0 | Cleveland Lumberjacks | Gund Arena | ||||
| Grand Rapids wins series 4–0 | |
(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E3) Cincinnati Cyclones
edit| April 19 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 5–2 | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||||
| April 22 | Cincinnati Cyclones | 1–2 | OT | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | |||
| April 24 | Orlando Solar Bears | 4–2 | Cincinnati Cyclones | Firstar Center | ||||
| April 26 | Orlando Solar Bears | 4–2 | Cincinnati Cyclones | Firstar Center | ||||
| April 28 | Orlando Solar Bears | 4–2 | Cincinnati Cyclones | Firstar Center | ||||
| Orlando wins series 4–1 | |
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (E5) Milwaukee Admirals
edit| April 20 | Milwaukee Admirals | 2–4 | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | ||||
| April 21 | Milwaukee Admirals | 1–5 | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | ||||
| April 24 | Chicago Wolves | 2–3 | Milwaukee Admirals | Bradley Center | ||||
| April 26 | Chicago Wolves | 3–2 | Milwaukee Admirals | Bradley Center | ||||
| April 27 | Milwaukee Admirals | 2–5 | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | ||||
| Chicago wins series 4–1 | |
(W2) Houston Aeros vs. (W3) Manitoba Moose
edit| April 20 | Manitoba Moose | 1–5 | Houston Aeros | Compaq Center | ||||
| April 21 | Manitoba Moose | 2–1 | Houston Aeros | Compaq Center | ||||
| April 26 | Houston Aeros | 2–1 | Manitoba Moose | Winnipeg Arena | ||||
| April 27 | Houston Aeros | 3–2 | OT | Manitoba Moose | Winnipeg Arena | |||
| April 29 | Houston Aeros | 2–3 | OT | Manitoba Moose | Winnipeg Arena | |||
| May 1 | Manitoba Moose | 3–2 | OT | Houston Aeros | Compaq Center | |||
| May 2 | Manitoba Moose | 3–1 | Houston Aeros | Compaq Center | ||||
| Manitoba wins series 4–3 | |
Semifinals
edit(E1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (E2) Orlando Solar Bears
edit| May 3 | Orlando Solar Bears | 4–3 | OT | Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | |||
| May 5 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 4–2 | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||||
| May 6 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 3–5 | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||||
| May 9 | Orlando Solar Bears | 4–3 | OT | Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | |||
| May 10 | Orlando Solar Bears | 3–8 | Grand Rapids Griffins | Van Andel Arena | ||||
| May 12 | Grand Rapids Griffins | 0–2 | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||||
| Orlando wins series 4–2 | |
(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (W3) Manitoba Moose
edit| May 4 | Manitoba Moose | 4–1 | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | ||||
| May 5 | Manitoba Moose | 0–5 | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | ||||
| May 10 | Chicago Wolves | 3–4 | OT | Manitoba Moose | Winnipeg Arena | |||
| May 11 | Chicago Wolves | 4–1 | Manitoba Moose | Winnipeg Arena | ||||
| May 13 | Manitoba Moose | 0–1 | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | ||||
| May 15 | Chicago Wolves | 6–4 | Manitoba Moose | Winnipeg Arena | ||||
| Chicago wins series 4–2 | |
Turner Cup Final
edit(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (W1) Chicago Wolves
edit| May 19 | Chicago Wolves | 2–7 | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||||
| May 20 | Chicago Wolves | 1–5 | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||||
| May 23 | Orlando Solar Bears | 1–3 | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | ||||
| May 25 | Orlando Solar Bears | 2–1 | OT | Chicago Wolves | Allstate Arena | |||
| May 26 | Chicago Wolves | 1–5 | Orlando Solar Bears | TD Waterhouse Centre | ||||
| Orlando wins series 4–1 | |
Player statistics
editScoring leaders
editNote: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Derek King | Grand Rapids Griffins | 76 | 32 | 51 | 83 | 19 |
| Steve Larouche | Chicago Wolves | 75 | 31 | 52 | 83 | 78 |
| Brett Harkins | Houston Aeros | 81 | 16 | 64 | 80 | 51 |
| Brian Bonin | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 72 | 35 | 42 | 77 | 45 |
| Rob Brown | Chicago Wolves | 75 | 24 | 53 | 77 | 99 |
| Niklas Andersson | Chicago Wolves | 66 | 33 | 39 | 72 | 81 |
| Greg Koehler | Cincinnati Cyclones | 80 | 35 | 36 | 71 | 122 |
| Vyacheslav Butsayev | Grand Rapids Griffins | 75 | 33 | 35 | 68 | 65 |
| Christian Matte | Cleveland Lumberjacks | 58 | 38 | 29 | 67 | 59 |
| Gilbert Dionne | Cincinnati Cyclones | 80 | 23 | 43 | 66 | 46 |
Leading goaltenders
editNote: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
| Player | Team | GP | MIN | GA | GAA | W | L | T | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norm Maracle | Orlando Solar Bears | 51 | 2,963 | 100 | 2.02 | 33 | 13 | 3 | 8 |
| Richard Shulmistra | Kansas City Blades/Chicago Wolves | 33 | 1,855 | 64 | 2.07 | 21 | 11 | 0 | 4 |
| Mike Fountain | Grand Rapids Griffins | 52 | 3,005 | 104 | 2.08 | 34 | 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Chris Mason | Milwaukee Admirals | 37 | 2,226 | 87 | 2.35 | 17 | 14 | 5 | 5 |
| Rick Tabaracci | Utah Grizzlies | 30 | 1,648 | 67 | 2.44 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 1 |
Awards
edit| AHL Awards | |
|---|---|
| Turner Cup | Orlando Solar Bears |
| Fred A. Huber Trophy (Best regular-season record) |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
| Commissioner's Trophy (Best coach) |
Peter Horachek, Orlando Solar Bears |
| Leo P. Lamoureux Memorial Trophy (Player with most points) |
Steve Larouche, Chicago Wolves and Derek King, Grand Rapids Griffins |
| James Gatschene Memorial Trophy (Most valuable player, regular season) |
Norm Maracle, Orlando Solar Bears |
| Norman R. "Bud" Poile Trophy (Most valuable player, playoffs) |
Norm Maracle, Orlando Solar Bears |
| Gary F. Longman Memorial Trophy (Best first-year player) |
Brian Pothier, Orlando Solar Bears |
| Ken McKenzie Trophy (Best American-born first-year player) |
Brian Pothier, Orlando Solar Bears |
| Larry D. Gordon Trophy (Best defenceman) |
Brett Hauer, Manitoba Moose |
| James Norris Memorial Trophy (Goaltender(s) of team with fewest goals against) |
Norm Maracle and Scott Fankhouser, Orlando Solar Bears |
| John Cullen Award (Perseverance, Sportsmanship, and Dedication) |
Rusty Fitzgerald, Manitoba Moose |
| Ironman Award (Played all team's games while showing offensive and defensive skills) |
Brian Chapman, Manitoba Moose |
| IHL Man of the Year (Leadership and community activities) |
Wendell Young, Chicago Wolves |
All-Star teams
edit| First team | Position | Second team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norm Maracle, Orlando Solar Bears | G | C | Brian Bonin, Cleveland Lumberjacks |
| Curtis Murphy, Orlando Solar Bears | D | C | Greg Koehler, Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Brett Hauer, Manitoba Moose | D | LW | Derek King, Grand Rapids Griffins |
External links
edit- Season 2000/01 on hockeydb.com