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AHL NEWS:        
FROM AHL MEDIA RELEASES

HOUSTON AEROS WIN WESTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Will face Binghamton Senators in 2011 Calder Cup Finals beginning Friday

MAY 24, 2011 -- SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The Houston Aeros have won the Robert W. Clarke Trophy as the American Hockey League’s Western Conference champions for 2010-11, advancing to the Calder Cup Finals with a 4-3 victory over the Hamilton Bulldogs in the decisive Game 7 at Toyota Center in Houston on Tuesday evening.

Aeros captain Jon DiSalvatore scored the winning goal with 1:13 left in regulation as Houston regrouped after seeing a 3-0 series lead wiped out by the North Division champion Bulldogs.

The top affiliate of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, Houston was 46-28-1-5 for 98 points during the regular season, finishing second in the West Division and sixth in the overall league standings. Led by rookie head coach Mike Yeo, who won a Stanley Cup as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009, the Aeros defeated the Peoria Rivermen in the division semifinals (4-0), the Milwaukee Admirals in the division finals (4-3) and the Bulldogs in the conference finals (4-3) to reach the Calder Cup Finals for the first time since winning the championship in 2003.

The 2011 Calder Cup Finals – the AHL’s 75th championship series – will begin Friday in Houston, with the Aeros taking on the Eastern Conference champion Binghamton Senators. The complete series schedule is below.

Established in 1990, the AHL’s Western Conference championship trophy honors the late Robert W. Clarke. Mr. Clarke served as the Chairman of the AHL’s Board of Governors from 1967-94, and in 1956, he played an instrumental role in the formation of the Rochester Americans, one of the most successful franchises in AHL history and themselves a seven-time recipient of the Clarke Trophy.

2011 Calder Cup Finals (best-of-seven)
W2-Houston Aeros vs. E5-Binghamton Senators
Game 1 – Fri., May 27 – Binghamton at Houston, 7:35 CT
Game 2 – Sat., May 28 – Binghamton at Houston, 7:35 CT
Game 3 – Wed., June 1 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 ET
Game 4 – Fri., June 3 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 ET
*Game 5 – Sat., June 4 – Houston at Binghamton, 7:05 ET
*Game 6 – Tue., June 7 – Binghamton at Houston, 7:05 CT
*Game 7 – Thu., June 9 – Binghamton at Houston, 7:05 CT
   *if necessary

EAST:

BINGHAMTON SENATORS EAST CONF CHAMPS:
WIN AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUE’S RICHARD F. CANNING TROPHY
Advance to 2011 Calder Cup Finals as Eastern Conference champions

MAY 18, 2011 -- SPRINGFIELD, Mass. ... The Binghamton Senators have won the Richard F. Canning Trophy as the AHL’s Eastern Conference champions for 2010-11, claiming the title with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Charlotte Checkers in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, N.Y., on Wednesday night.

Team captain Ryan Keller scored the series-clinching goal at 13:05 of overtime, and Robin Lehner made 42 saves in the victory.

The top affiliate of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators, Binghamton finished fifth in the East Division with a record of 42-30-3-5 (92 points) and crossed over to the Atlantic Division playoff draw. The Senators, under head coach Kurt Kleinendorst in his first season with the club, defeated the Manchester Monarchs (4-3) in the division semifinals, the Portland Pirates (4-2) in the division finals and the Checkers (4-0) in the conference finals to become the city’s first team to reach the Calder Cup Finals since the Binghamton Whalers in 1982.

The Senators’ playoff run has been led by Ryan Potulny, the AHL’s leading postseason scorer with 14 goals and 25 points in 17 games. Potulny is one of 13 active Binghamton players who also saw NHL time with Ottawa in 2010-11.

Binghamton will face either the Houston Aeros or the Hamilton Bulldogs in the 2011 Calder Cup Finals. The Aeros currently lead the Western Conference Finals, three games to one.

Established in 1990, the AHL’s Eastern Conference championship trophy honors Richard F. Canning, who served the AHL for more than 50 years during his career, including a term as league president from 1958-61. Mr. Canning is recognized as the author of the AHL’s constitution, by-laws and regulations.


 

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