AHL Collection

The League behind The League

AHL story slide 1: the American Hockey League, where almost every NHL player went first - 87% of last season's NHL players are AHL alumni. This is the league behind the league. — photo 1 of 11
AHL story slide 2: it started as a survival pact - the Can-Am and the IHL were both running out of money and joined forces; eight teams signed up and Buffalo quit after 11 games. — photo 2 of 11
AHL story slide 3: two years later a chocolate town in Pennsylvania held on tighter than anyone - Hershey never moved, never renamed, and is thirteen Calder Cups in. — photo 3 of 11
AHL story slide 4: the league grew up loud - games ended 12-10, Cleveland won nine Cups, and Johnny Bower stopped pucks there for years before Toronto called. — photo 4 of 11
AHL story slide 5: then the big leagues came for its cities - NHL and WHA expansion moved into the AHL's best markets and by 1976-77 only six teams were left. — photo 5 of 11
AHL story slide 6: so it did what underdogs do - Portland, Binghamton, Moncton and Glens Falls stepped up, and the new Maine Mariners won the Calder Cup their first two seasons. — photo 6 of 11
AHL story slide 7: the NHL started trusting it with its future - today every NHL team has its own AHL farm club, where a first-round pick shares the ice with a 29-year-old fighting for his next contract. — photo 7 of 11
AHL story slide 8: doubt turned into belief - Martin St. Louis went undrafted for being too small, then won a Stanley Cup, an MVP trophy and a Hall of Fame spot. — photo 8 of 11
AHL story slide 9: then belief turned into a plan - in 2005 Anaheim sent Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry to the Portland Pirates to grow up together; two years later they lifted the Stanley Cup. — photo 9 of 11
AHL story slide 10: now it's simply how hockey works - the AHL isn't a step down anymore, it's the path. Oct 2nd 2026 a new season begins with the Marlies defending the Calder Cup. — photo 10 of 11
AHL story slide 11: every star you love started here - before the big arenas and the highlight reels, there was the AHL. Wear the league that made them. — photo 11 of 11
Filter
    Filter
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Hoodie Hockey Hoodie BenchClearers XS Red Polyester
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Hoodie Hockey Hoodie BenchClearers
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Hoodie
    $128.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Tank - back view
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Tank
    $94.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Springfield Thunderbirds "Full Fandom" T-Shirt - FRONT | BenchClearers Hockey Apparel
    Springfield Thunderbirds "Full Fandom" T-Shirt
    $44.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Jogger Pants - Front View | Official Hockey Hockey Jogger Pants by BenchClearers
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Jogger Pants - Back View | Official Hockey Hockey Apparel by BenchClearers
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Jogger Pants
    $108.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXL
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Shorts - front view
    Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Shorts - 3D FRONT
    Springfield Thunderbirds Hockey Shorts
    $72.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    Springfield Thunderbirds Women's Racerback Hockey Tank - FRONT | BenchClearers Hockey Apparel
    Springfield Thunderbirds Women's Racerback Hockey Tank - BACK | BenchClearers Hockey Apparel
    Springfield Thunderbirds Women's Racerback Hockey Tank
    $94.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXL
    New
    Youth model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Youth Hockey Hoodie - front view
    Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Youth Hockey Hoodie - 3D FRONT
    Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Youth Hockey Hoodie
    $108.00
    QUICK ADD
    YSYMYLYXL
    New
    Youth model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Youth Hockey Tank - front view, hand in pocket
    Youth model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Youth Hockey Tank - back view
    Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Youth Hockey Tank
    $72.00
    QUICK ADD
    YSYMYLYXL
    New
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Women's Racerback Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Women's Racerback Hockey Tank - back view
    Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Women's Racerback Hockey Tank
    $94.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXL
    New
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Shorts - front view
    Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Shorts - 3D FRONT
    Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Shorts
    $72.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    New
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Tank - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Tank - back view
    Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Tank
    $94.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL
    New
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Hoodie - front view
    Model wearing the Bench Clearers Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Hoodie - back view
    Springfield Thunderbirds Tie-Dye Hockey Hoodie
    $128.00
    QUICK ADD
    XSSMLXLXXLXXXLXXXXL