In our Hockey News archive flashback from 1948, the Calder Cup-winning club could divide a pot of $28,000 among players; prize money totalled $74,600
By Jim Ellery
The players of the six American Hockey League teams which will compete in the coming playoffs, starting on March 23, will have a very lucrative prize of $74,600 to divide up.
It is quite possible for one of the teams to have as much as $28,000 to share among its players. This could occur if the leader of either the Western or Eastern Division during the regular season, should go on to annex the final championship title. The lowest amount a first-place finalist will receive is $24,000, even if eliminated in the final round.
Series A, between the two first-place teams in each division, will be played on a best-four-in-seven basis, with $14,000 going to the loser. The series will open in the home arena of the team having the most points for the regular season. That team will also have the benefit of home ice for games two, five and seven, should the series reach the maximum number of contests.
The two second-place clubs will play a best two-in-three set in Series B. The victor of this round will be the recipient of $5,000, with the conquered team receiving $4,000. This series will start at the home of the team with the lowest amount of points, with the second game, and third if necessary, going to the opponent.
Series C, between the two third-place finishers, also a best two in three round, will have the winner getting $3,600. and the eliminated club $3,000. This series will also begin on the ice of the team with the lower point standing, with the next two if needed, on the other’s ice.
All three of the preliminary rounds will begin on Tuesday, March 23, with games on the following Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, if three are needed in the case of Series B and C. Series A will then continue on the next Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, and then Tuesday for as long as necessary. The playing dates for either a Saturday or Sunday game will be determined by the city in which the game Is to be held.
The semi-finals or Series D, with two victories needed for advancement into the finals, will have $9,000 in the player pool, the winner having $5,000 to share and the loser $4,000. This series will start as soon as Series B and C are settled, with the winners of those two rounds participating. The Series C winner will be the host team for the opening game, with the second contest, and third if needed on the ice of the Series winner.
The winners of Series A and the Semi-Final D Series will then play in the final championship series, with the title winners getting $14,000 for their efforts and the defeated finalists $10,000. The finals will be a seven-game affair with the team winning four games being the champions and the winners of the Calder Cup.
The first two games will be contested on the ice of the club with the most points in the regular schedule. Games three and four will go to the other arena. If more than four games are necessary, games five and seven will be played on the original starting ice, with the in-between game six in the same city as games three and four.
All the playoff games will be played to a finish, with no ties. If at the end of the regulation 60 minutes a tie is the result, the teams will play a 10-minute overtime session.
If they fail to break the deadlock, a 20-minute “sudden death” period will start immediately. At the end of this, if a tie still prevails, the clubs will retire to the dressing room while a new ice surface is prepared. The 20-minute “sudden death” periods will then continue until either team scores.