Much has been made of the “brutal” 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 playoff format looming over the Ontario Reign and the San Diego Gulls, starting this Thursday night.
“This is so minor league,” said Coach Mike Stothers. Now he was talking about another AHL scheduling quirk (Ontario had to open on the road in San Jose despite being the top seed), but he may as well have been commenting on the 1-1-1-1-1-1-1.
Reign-Gulls is the 34th 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 in the AHL’s 80-year history. This is so minor league, indeed.
Some other interesting 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 tidbits:
- This is just the third such series in 24 years (2009 Providence-Worcester, 2000 Rochester-Hamilton).
- From 1974-92, there were 27 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 series. In 1975, 1980, and 1992, there were four in each postseason.
- The three longest 1-1-1-1-1-1-1 commutes have been 1980 New Brunswick-Maine (389 miles), 1980/1978/1977 New Haven-Rochester (374), and 1975 Rochester-Springfield (310). All these series except 1980 New Haven-Rochester included at least one back-to-back. The commute for Ontario-San Diego is 110 miles.
- The shortest commute was 2009 Providence-Worcester (40 miles).
- Four Calder Cup Finals have been played with this format (1979 New Haven-Maine, 1975 New Haven-Springfield, 1957 Rochester-Cleveland, 1944 Buffalo-Cleveland).
- 1992 Fredericton-Moncton went seven games; four went to overtime.
- The Rochester Americans have been involved in the most 1-1-1-1-1-1-1’s with 11. Former Kings affiliate and now-defunct New Haven Nighthawks are right behind with 10.
- I can’t find 1984 Calder Cup playoffs home/away data, so 34 may not be exact.
- I’m only counting seven-game series. There have been plenty of five-game 1-1-1-1-1 sets.
Ontario Reign VS San Diego Gulls (2016)
Distance between Citizens Business Bank Arena (Ontario, CA) and Valley View Casino Center (San Diego, CA) via I-15: 1 h 38 min without traffic (110 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Providence Bruins VS Worcester Sharks (2009)
Distance between DCU Center (Worcester, MA) and Dunkin’ Donuts Center (Providence, RI) via MA-146 and RI-146: 43 min without traffic (40 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 6:19 OT, Jeremy Reich (4/28/09)
Rochester Americans VS Hamilton Bulldogs (2000)
Distance between FirstOntario Centre (Hamilton, ONT) and Blue Cross Arena (Rochester, NY) via I-90: 2 h 10 min without traffic (134 miles)
Back to backs? No
Springfield Indians VS Adirondack Red Wings (1992)
Distance between Springfield Civic Center (Springfield, MA) and Glens Falls Civic Center (Glen Falls, NY) via I-90 and I-87: 2 h 6 min without traffic (135 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Fredericton Canadiens VS Moncton Hawks (1992)
Distance between Aitken Centre (Fredericton, New Brunswick) and Moncton Coliseum (Moncton, New Brunswick) via Trans-Canada Hwy/NB-2: 1 h 31 min without traffic (106 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 21:06 2OT, Patrick Lebeau (4/7/92); 13:10 OT, Jesse Belanger (4/15/92); 00:58, Scott Levins (4/19/92); 3:03 OT, Dave MacIntyre(4/21/92)
Binghamton Rangers VS Utica Devils (1992)
Distance between Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY) and Utica Memorial Auditorium (Utica, NY) via I-88 and NY-8: 1 h 46 min without traffic (100 miles)
Back to backs? No
Overtime(s): 7:57 OT, Mike Stevens (4/12/92)
Binghamton Rangers VS Rochester Americans (1992, 1991)
Distance between Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY) and the War Memorial (Rochester, NY) via I-81 and I-90: 2 h 23 min without traffic (161 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 3:32 OT, Don Biggs (4/28/91)
Rochester Americans VS Utica Devils (1990)
Distance between Utica Memorial Auditorium (Utica, NY) and the War Memorial (Rochester, NY) via I-90: 1 h 59 min without traffic (137 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Hershey Bears VS Binghamton Whalers (1988)
Distance between Hersheypark Arena (Hershey, PA) and Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY) via I-81: 2 h 44 min without traffic (177 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 8:09 OT, Kevin Maxwell (4/6/88); 18:00 OT, Mark Lofthouse (4/9/88)
Maine Mariners VS Sherbrooke Canadiens (1985)
Distance between Cumberland County Civic Center (Portland, ME) and Palais des Sports (Sherbrooke, Quebec) via ME-26: 3 h 50 min without traffic (183 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 17:28 OT, John Newberry (5/8/85)
Binghamton Whalers VS Baltimore Skipjacks (1985)
Distance between Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY) and Baltimore Civic Center (Baltimore, MD) via I-81 and I-83: 3 h 57 min without traffic
Back to backs? No
Overtime(s): 1:38 OT, Andy Brickley (4/28/85)
Rochester Americans VS Binghamton Whalers (1983)
Distance between Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY) and the War Memorial (Rochester, NY) via I-81 and I-90: 2 h 23 min without traffic (161 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 4:14 OT, Sean McKenna (4/13/83)
Hershey Bears VS New Haven Nighthawks (1981, 1980)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and Hersheypark Arena (Hershey, PA) via I-78: 3 h 48 min without traffic (249 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 19:56 OT, Harvie Pozca (4/14/81)
New Haven Nighthawks VS Rochester Americans (1980)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and the War Memorial (Rochester, NY) via I-90: 5 h 23 min without traffic (374 miles)
Back to backs? No
New Brunswick Hawks VS Maine Mariners (1980)
Distance between Cumberland County Civic Center (Portland, ME) and Moncton Coliseum (Moncton, New Brunswick) via NB-1: 5 h 40 min without traffic (389 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 15:24 OT, Hilliard Graves (4/23/80); 6:01 OT, Darryl Sutter (5/6/80)
Hershey Bears VS Syracuse Firebirds (1980)
Distance between Onondaga County War Memorial (Syracuse, NY) and Hersheypark Arena (Hershey, PA) via I-81: 3 h 42 min without traffic (247 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Maine Mariners VS New Haven Nighthawks (1979)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and Cumberland County Civic Center (Portland, ME) via I-95: 3 h 29 min without traffic (236 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 3:45 OT, Yves Preston (5/5/79)
New Haven Nighthawks VS Binghamton Dusters (1979)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena (Binghamton, NY) via I-84 and NY-17: 3 h 27 min without traffic (212 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
New Haven Nighthawks VS Rochester Americans (1978, 1977)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and the War Memorial (Rochester, NY) via I-90: 5 h 23 min without traffic (374 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 4:39 OT, Jerry Byers (4/2/77)
Hershey Bears VS Richmond Robins (1976, 1975)
Distance between Hersheypark Arena (Hershey, PA) and Richmond Coliseum (Richmond, VA) via US-15 and I-95: 3 h 38 min without traffic (231 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 1:05 OT, Jean Payette (4/11/75); 8:46 OT, John Paddock (4/12/75)
Rochester Americans VS Springfield Kings (1975)
Distance between Springfield Civic Center (Springfield, MA) and the War Memorial (Rochester, NY) via I-90: 4 h 28 min without traffic (310 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 2:51 OT, Peter Harasym (4/20/75)
Springfield Kings VS New Haven Nighthawks (1975)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and Springfield Civic Center (Springfield, MA) via I-91: 1 h without traffic (64 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Hershey Bears VS New Haven Nighthawks (1975)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and Hersheypark Arena (Hershey, PA) via I-78: 3 h 48 min without traffic (249 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 2:23 OT, Harvey Bennett (4/19/75)
Providence Reds VS New Haven Nighthawks (1974)
Distance between New Haven Coliseum (New Haven, CT) and Providence Civic Center Providence, RI) via I-95: 1 h 33 min without traffic (103 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 15:39 OT, Andre Peloffy (4/19/74); 16:07 OT, Rick Middleton (4/23/74)
Baltimore Clippers VS Richmond Robins (1974)
Distance between Baltimore Civic Center (Baltimore, MD) and Richmond Coliseum (Richmond, VA) via I-95: 2 h 22 min without traffic (155 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 9:36 OT, Garry Swain (4/10/74); 1:28 OT, Barry Salovaara (4/12/74)
Baltimore Clippers VS Hershey Bears (1974)
Distance between Baltimore Civic Center (Baltimore, MD) and Hersheypark Arena (Hershey, PA) via I-83: 1 h 37 min without traffic (92 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Overtime(s): 1:31 OT, Jim Pearson (4/20/74)
Cleveland Barons VS Rochester Americans (1957)
Distance between Cleveland Arena (Cleveland, OH) and the War Memorial (Rochester, NY) via I-90: 3 h 48 min without traffic (258 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Cleveland Barons VS Buffalo Bisons (1951, 1945, 1944)
Distance between Cleveland Arena (Cleveland, OH) and Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (Buffalo, NY) via I-90: 2 h 50 min without traffic (189 miles)
Back to backs? Yes
Stats courtesy Google Maps, Wikipedia, HockeyDB, and the AHL.