The All-American Hockey League (AAHL) was a minor professional hockey league formed in 1986 after the
Continental Hockey League (CnHL) ceased operations. The league was created by the CnHL teams Danville, Dayton, and Troy adding the
Downriver Stars and the
Jackson All-Americans. In 1987, the AAHL absorbed the two remaining teams from
Atlantic Coast Hockey League
The Atlantic Coast Hockey League (ACHL) was a minor league hockey organization that operated between 1981 and 1987. The league was founded by Bill Coffey. The Bob Payne Trophy was awarded to the team who won the league playoff championship.
Acc ...
. After a single season in the AAHL, Carolina, Johnstown, and Virginia left the league to form the
East Coast Hockey League
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The E ...
. The AAHL only lasted one more season and folded after the 1988–89 season.
Teams
AAHL teams
*
Carolina Thunderbirds
The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989. ...
(1987–88) – left league to become a founding team in the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The ...
.
*
Danville Fighting Saints
The Danville Dashers were a semi-professional ice hockey team that played in Danville, Illinois, United States, at the David S. Palmer Arena.
Originally, the Dashers played in the Continental Hockey League (CnHL) from 1981 to 1986. In their fi ...
(1986–89) – ceased operations after the 1988–89 AAHL season
*
Dayton Jets
The Dayton Jets were a team in the International Basketball League based in Dayton, Ohio. The team made the championship game their first year.
In the team's first season, the Jets were coached by former Ohio State University standout Mark Baker. ...
(1986–87) – merged with Troy Sabres to form
Miami Valley Sabres
The Miami Valley Sabres were a minor league ice hockey team located in Troy, Ohio, that played in the All-American Hockey League.
History
The team was founded in 1987 when the Troy Sabres and the nearby Dayton Jets merged their franchises to jo ...
*
Downriver Stars (1986–87) – became Michigan Stars the following season; folded due to bankruptcy during 1987–88 AAHL season after 14 games.
*
Jackson All-Americans (1986–89) – ceased operations after the 1988–89 season
*
Johnstown Chiefs
The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1987 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League (now "ECHL") when th ...
(1987–88) – left league to become a founding team in the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The ...
*
Lincoln Park Patriots
The Lincoln Park Patriots were an American minor pro ice hockey team in Lincoln Park, Michigan. They played in the All-American Hockey League
The All-American Hockey League (AAHL) was a minor professional hockey league formed in 1986 after th ...
(1988–89) – ceased operations after the 1988–89 AAHL season
*
Miami Valley Sabres
The Miami Valley Sabres were a minor league ice hockey team located in Troy, Ohio, that played in the All-American Hockey League.
History
The team was founded in 1987 when the Troy Sabres and the nearby Dayton Jets merged their franchises to jo ...
(1987–89) – ceased operations after the 1988–89 AAHL season
*
Port Huron Clippers
The Port Huron Clippers were an American minor pro ice hockey team in Port Huron, Michigan. They played in the All-American Hockey League
The All-American Hockey League (AAHL) was a minor professional hockey league formed in 1986 after the Co ...
(1987–88) – folded after the 1987–88 regular season
*
Troy Sabres
The Troy Sabres were an American semi-professional ice hockey team in Troy, Ohio. They played in the Continental Hockey League from 1982 to 1986, and the All-American Hockey League
The All-American Hockey League (AAHL) was a minor professional ...
(1986–87) – merged with Dayton Jets to form
Miami Valley Sabres
The Miami Valley Sabres were a minor league ice hockey team located in Troy, Ohio, that played in the All-American Hockey League.
History
The team was founded in 1987 when the Troy Sabres and the nearby Dayton Jets merged their franchises to jo ...
*
Virginia Lancers
The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people.
Atlantic Coast Hockey League (1983–1987)
The Virginia Lancers w ...
(1987–88) – left league to become a founding team in the
ECHL
The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).
The ...
*
Springfield Capitols
The Springfield Capitols were an American ice hockey team in Springfield, Illinois. They played in the All-American Hockey League
The All-American Hockey League (AAHL) was a minor professional hockey league formed in 1986 after the Continenta ...
(1988–89) – ceased operations after the 1988–89 AAHL season
Season standings
1986–87 season
1987–88 season
1988–89 season
Leaders
Goals
Points
* - stats incomplete
References
{{reflist
See also
*
List of ice hockey leagues
This is a list of ice hockey leagues, both professional and amateur, from around the world; parentheses denote year of establishment and, where applicable, year of disestablishment.
North America Major professional
* National Hockey League (1917 ...
Defunct ice hockey leagues in the United States