1977–78 AHL season
Player Team GP G A Pts PIM
Gord Brooks Philadelphia Firebirds 81 42 56 98 40
Rick Adduono Rochester Americans 76 38 60 98 34
Al Hill Maine Mariners 80 32 59 91 118
Bob Collyard Philadelphia Firebirds 79 28 62 90 42
Andre Peloffy Springfield Indians 67 33 55 88 73
Gordie Clark Rochester Americans 75 37 51 88 18
Joe Hardy Binghamton Dusters 73 24 63 87 56
Tom Colley New Haven Nighthawks 80 32 54 86 17
Charlie Simmer Springfield Indians 75 42 41 83 100
Scoring leaders
The 1977-78 AHL season was the 42nd season of the American Hockey League. The season was in jeopardy when the last of the original eight franchises of the International-American Hockey League, the Rhode Island Reds (previously Providence Reds) folded in the offseason, and the AHL was left with five teams. The league increased its member teams by four, when the North American Hockey League and Southern Hockey Leagues both folded before the 1977-78 season. Two teams joined from the NAHL, and another from the SHL, along with one expansion team. North and south divisions were resumed. The F. G. Teddy Oke Trophy resumes as the regular season championship trophy for the north division, and the John D. Chick Trophy resumes as the regular season championship trophy for the south division. The Fred T. Hunt Memorial Award is first awarded to the player best exemplifying sportsmanship, determination and dedication to hockey. Nine teams were scheduled to play 80 games each, however the Hampton Gulls folded on February 10, 1978, playing 46 games. The Maine Mariners finished first overall in the regular season, and won the Calder Cup championship as a first year expansion team.