Richard F. Canning Trophy
The Richard F. Canning Trophy is presented annually to the team that advances to the AHL's Calder Cup Finals as the playoff winner of the Eastern Conference. Prior to 1996, it was given to the playoffs champion of the Northern Division/Conference.
The award is named after former AHL President Richard F. Canning, who served in that role from 1958 to 1961. He would serve the AHL in various roles for over five decades.
The current holders of the Canning Trophy are the St. John's IceCaps, who are in their first reign. The IceCaps captured the trophy by defeating the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in six games in the 2014 AHL Eastern Conference Championship series. With the elimination of the IceCaps from playoff contention for the 2014-15 season, a different team will claim the trophy at the conclusion of the 2015 Eastern Conference Championship series.
Winners
- Key
- † = Eventual Calder Cup champions
Eastern Conference playoffs champions (1998–present)
| Season | Team | Win |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–16 | Hershey Bears | 5 |
| 2014–15 | Manchester Monarchs | 1 |
| 2013–14 | St. John's IceCaps | 1 |
| 2012–13 | Syracuse Crunch | 1 |
| 2011–12 | Norfolk Admirals † | 1 |
| 2010–11 | Binghamton Senators † | 1 |
| 2009–10 | Hershey Bears † | 4 |
| 2008–09 | Hershey Bears † | 3 |
| 2007–08 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 2 |
| 2006–07 | Hershey Bears | 2 |
| 2005–06 | Hershey Bears † | 1 |
| 2004–05 | Philadelphia Phantoms † | 1 |
| 2003–04 | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins | 1 |
| 2002–03 | Hamilton Bulldogs | 2 |
| 2001–02 | Bridgeport Sound Tigers | 1 |
| 2000–01 | Saint John Flames † | 2 |
| 1999–00 | Hartford Wolf Pack † | 1 |
| 1998–99 | Providence Bruins † | 1 |
| 1997–98 | Saint John Flames | 1 |
Northern Conference playoffs champions (1996–1997)
| Season | Team | Win |
|---|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Hamilton Bulldogs | 1 |
| 1995–96 | Portland Pirates | 2 |
North Division playoffs champions (1990–1995)
| Season | Team | Win |
|---|---|---|
| 1994–95 | Albany River Rats † | 1 |
| 1993–94 | Portland Pirates † | 1 |
| 1992–93 | Springfield Indians | 3 |
| 1991–92 | Adirondack Red Wings † | 1 |
| 1990–91 | Springfield Indians † | 2 |
| 1989–90 | Springfield Indians † | 1 |