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American Hockey League Wikipedia the free encyclopediaAmerican Hockey LeagueFrom Wikipedia the free encyclopediaJump to navigation searchSee also American Hockey Association (19261942)American Hockey LeagueCurrent season or competition200910 AHL seasonAmerican Hockey League logoSportIce hockeyFounded1936No of teams29Country(ies) United States (25 teams) Canada (4 teams)Most recent champion(s)Hershey BearsMost championshipsHershey Bears (10)1Official websitewwwtheahlcom The alternate logo of the AHLThe American Hockey League (AHL) is a 29team professional ice hockey league based primarily in the United States that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League (NHL) During the 200910 season 29 of the 30 NHL teams have primary affiliation agreements with one of the AHLs active member clubs of which 25 are located in the United States and the remaining four are in Canada (With no primary AHL affiliate in 200910 the Anaheim Ducks prospects were distributed among a number of AHL clubs) The league offices are located in Springfield Massachusetts and its current president is David AndrewsThe annual playoff champion is awarded the Calder Cup named for Frank Calder the first President (19171943) of the NHL The current champions are the Hershey BearsContents hide1 Formation and growth of the AHL 11 Predecessor leagues (19261936) 12 A circuit of mutual convenience (193638) 13 Formal consolidation of the IAHL (June 28 1938) 14 Contraction resurrection and expansion (19672001) 15 Major expansion through absorption of the IHL (200102) 2 Teams 21 200910 Teams 22 Future teams 23 Inactive franchises 3 Timeline of teams 4 AHL AllStar Game 5 AHL Hall of Fame 6 Trophies and awards 61 Individual awards 62 Team awards 63 Other awards 7 See also 8 References 9 External links edit Formation and growth of the AHLedit Predecessor leagues (19261936)The AHL traces its origins directly to two predecessor professional leagues the CanadianAmerican Hockey League (aka CanAm League) founded in 1926 and the first International Hockey League established in 1929 Although the CanAm League never operated with more than six teams for the first time in its history it dropped after the 193536 season to just four member cities Springfield Philadelphia Providence and New Haven At the same time the then rival International Hockey League lost half of its eight members after the 193536 season leaving it as well with just four clubs located in Buffalo Syracuse Pittsburgh and Clevelandedit A circuit of mutual convenience (193638)With both leagues down to the barest minimum in membership needed to operate the governors of each recognized the necessity to take proactive steps to assure the longterm survival of their member clubs To that end they all decided the logical solution to their c...