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.

Regular season

Eastern Conference

GPWLSOLGFGAPts
Grand Rapids Griffins (OTT)8253227279196113
Orlando Solar Bears (ATL)8247287241193101
Cincinnati Cyclones (CAR)824429926725897
Cleveland Lumberjacks (MIN)824332727025893
Milwaukee Admirals (NSH)824233724421791
Detroit Vipers (TBL)822353618431152

Western Conference

GPWLSOLGFGAPts
Chicago Wolves (NYI)824332726724993
Houston Aeros824232822924592
Manitoba Moose (DET)8239311222223090
Utah Grizzlies (DAL)823836820822084
Kansas City Blades (VAN)823742323927377

Turner Cup Playoffs

Turner Cup-QuarterfinalsTurner Cup-SemifinalsTurner Cup-Final
E1Grand Rapids4
E4Cleveland0
E1Grand Rapids2
Eastern Conference
E2Orlando4
E2Orlando4
E3Cincinnati1
E2Orlando4
W1Chicago1
W1Chicago4
E5Milwaukee1
W1Chicago4
Western Conference
W3Manitoba2
W2Houston3
W3Manitoba4

Quarterfinals

(E1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (E4) Cleveland Lumberjacks

April 20Cleveland Lumberjacks1–5Grand Rapids GriffinsVan Andel Arena
April 21Cleveland Lumberjacks4–7Grand Rapids GriffinsVan Andel Arena
April 23Grand Rapids Griffins2–1Cleveland LumberjacksGund Arena
April 25Grand Rapids Griffins3–0Cleveland LumberjacksGund Arena
Grand Rapids wins series 4–0

(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (E3) Cincinnati Cyclones

April 19Cincinnati Cyclones5–2Orlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
April 22Cincinnati Cyclones1–2OTOrlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
April 24Orlando Solar Bears4–2Cincinnati CyclonesFirstar Center
April 26Orlando Solar Bears4–2Cincinnati CyclonesFirstar Center
April 28Orlando Solar Bears4–2Cincinnati CyclonesFirstar Center
Orlando wins series 4–1

(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (E5) Milwaukee Admirals

April 20Milwaukee Admirals2–4Chicago WolvesAllstate Arena
April 21Milwaukee Admirals1–5Chicago WolvesAllstate Arena
April 24Chicago Wolves2–3Milwaukee AdmiralsBradley Center
April 26Chicago Wolves3–2Milwaukee AdmiralsBradley Center
April 27Milwaukee Admirals2–5Chicago WolvesAllstate Arena
Chicago wins series 4–1

(W2) Houston Aeros vs. (W3) Manitoba Moose

April 20Manitoba Moose1–5Houston AerosCompaq Center
April 21Manitoba Moose2–1Houston AerosCompaq Center
April 26Houston Aeros2–1Manitoba MooseWinnipeg Arena
April 27Houston Aeros3–2OTManitoba MooseWinnipeg Arena
April 29Houston Aeros2–3OTManitoba MooseWinnipeg Arena
May 1Manitoba Moose3–2OTHouston AerosCompaq Center
May 2Manitoba Moose3–1Houston AerosCompaq Center
Manitoba wins series 4–3

Semifinals

(E1) Grand Rapids Griffins vs. (E2) Orlando Solar Bears

May 3Orlando Solar Bears4–3OTGrand Rapids GriffinsVan Andel Arena
May 5Grand Rapids Griffins4–2Orlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
May 6Grand Rapids Griffins3–5Orlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
May 9Orlando Solar Bears4–3OTGrand Rapids GriffinsVan Andel Arena
May 10Orlando Solar Bears3–8Grand Rapids GriffinsVan Andel Arena
May 12Grand Rapids Griffins0–2Orlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
Orlando wins series 4–2

(W1) Chicago Wolves vs. (W3) Manitoba Moose

May 4Manitoba Moose4–1Chicago WolvesAllstate Arena
May 5Manitoba Moose0–5Chicago WolvesAllstate Arena
May 10Chicago Wolves3–4OTManitoba MooseWinnipeg Arena
May 11Chicago Wolves4–1Manitoba MooseWinnipeg Arena
May 13Manitoba Moose0–1Chicago WolvesAllstate Arena
May 15Chicago Wolves6–4Manitoba MooseWinnipeg Arena
Chicago wins series 4–2

Turner Cup Final

(E2) Orlando Solar Bears vs. (W1) Chicago Wolves

May 19Chicago Wolves2–7Orlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
May 20Chicago Wolves1–5Orlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
May 23Orlando Solar Bears1–3Chicago WolvesAllstate Arena
May 25Orlando Solar Bears2–1OTChicago WolvesAllstate Arena
May 26Chicago Wolves1–5Orlando Solar BearsTD Waterhouse Centre
Orlando wins series 4–1

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes

PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Derek KingGrand Rapids Griffins7632518319
Steve LaroucheChicago Wolves7531528378
Brett HarkinsHouston Aeros8116648051
Brian BoninCleveland Lumberjacks7235427745
Rob BrownChicago Wolves7524537799
Niklas AnderssonChicago Wolves6633397281
Greg KoehlerCincinnati Cyclones80353671122
Vyacheslav ButsayevGrand Rapids Griffins7533356865
Christian MatteCleveland Lumberjacks5838296759
Gilbert DionneCincinnati Cyclones8023436646

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts

PlayerTeamGPMINGAGAAWLTSO
Norm MaracleOrlando Solar Bears512,9631002.02331338
Richard ShulmistraKansas City Blades/Chicago Wolves331,855642.07211104
Mike FountainGrand Rapids Griffins523,0051042.08341066
Chris MasonMilwaukee Admirals372,226872.35171455
Rick TabaracciUtah Grizzlies301,648672.44141311

Awards

AHL Awards
Turner CupOrlando 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

First teamPositionSecond team
Norm Maracle, Orlando Solar BearsGCBrian Bonin, Cleveland Lumberjacks
Curtis Murphy, Orlando Solar BearsDCGreg Koehler, Cincinnati Cyclones
Brett Hauer, Manitoba MooseDLWDerek King, Grand Rapids Griffins

External links

  • on hockeydb.com