| Fredericton Express | |
|---|---|
 | |
| City | Fredericton, New Brunswick |
| League | American Hockey League |
| Operated | 1981–1988 |
| Home arena | Aitken Centre |
| Affiliates | Quebec Nordiques Vancouver Canucks |
| Franchise history | |
| 1981–1988 | Fredericton Express |
| 1988–1993 | Halifax Citadels |
| 1993–1996 | Cornwall Aces |
| 1999–present | Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
| Championships | |
| Division titles | 2: (1982–83, 1983–84) |
The Fredericton Express were a professional ice hockey team based in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. They played in the American Hockey League between 1981 and 1988. The Express were affiliated with the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. Home games were played at the Aitken Centre on the University of New Brunswick campus.[1]
After the Canucks hired Brian Burke as Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations in 1987, tensions between the joint ownership by the two teams were beginning to show Burke visited Fredericton for the first time in October of that year. The previous season the Express had the 2nd worst record in the AHL and the team’s top five scorers were all sent down by the Canucks.[1]
Despite the internal conflict,in 1988 the Express played their best season yet, with a 42-21 Win-Loss record. The Express went on to play in the Calder Cup Finals, where they lost to the Hershey Bears, with a final score of 4-2. During the summer of that year, they moved to become the Halifax Citadels.[1]
| Season[2] | Games | Won | Lost | Tied | OTL | Points | Goals for |
Goals against |
Standing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–82 | 80 | 20 | 55 | 5 | — | 45 | 275 | 408 | 5th, North |
| 1982–83 | 80 | 45 | 27 | 8 | — | 98 | 348 | 284 | 1st, North |
| 1983–84 | 80 | 45 | 30 | 5 | — | 95 | 340 | 262 | 1st, North |
| 1984–85 | 80 | 36 | 36 | 8 | — | 80 | 279 | 301 | 2nd, North |
| 1985–86 | 80 | 35 | 37 | 8 | — | 78 | 319 | 311 | 4th, North |
| 1986–87 | 80 | 32 | 43 | — | 5 | 69 | 292 | 357 | 6th, North |
| 1987–88 | 80 | 42 | 27 | 8 | 3 | 95 | 370 | 318 | 2nd, North |
| Season | 1st round | 2nd round | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981–82 | Out of playoffs | ||
| 1982–83 | W, 4–2, Adirondack | L, 2–4, Maine | — |
| 1983–84 | L, 3–4, Nova Scotia | — | — |
| 1984–85 | L, 2–4, Sherbrooke | — | — |
| 1985–86 | L, 2–4, Adirondack | — | — |
| 1986–87 | Out of playoffs | ||
| 1987–88 | W, 4–2, Sherbrooke | W, 4–1, Maine | L, 0–4, Hershey |
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