High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1996 Calder Cup Playoffs of the American Hockey League began on April 19, 1996. The sixteen teams that qualified, eight from each conference, played best-of-5 series for division semifinals and best-of-7 series for division finals and conference finals. The conference champions played a best-of-7 series for the Calder Cup. The Calder Cup Final ended on June 13, 1996 with the Rochester Americans defeating the Portland Pirates four games to three to win the sixth Calder Cup in team history. Rochester`s Dixon Ward won the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP.