2015-16 AESHL Season

This is the 2015-16 Avalon East Senior Hockey League season. This is the league's 49th season dating back to its founding in 1967.

On September 20, 2015 upon completion of their fall meeting Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador announced that two leagues had been approved for the 2015-16 playing season, Avalon East Senior Hockey League and the Newfoundland & Labrador Senior A Hockey League. The two league champions will complete for the Herder Memorial Trophy and a berth as the provinces representative for the Atlantic regional championship for qualification for the 2017 Allan Cup which will be held in Kenora, Ontario. The tournament will have the two league champions play a best-of-five series to determine the winner. The champion of the NLSAHL will host games one and two on March 19 and 20, 2016. The Avalon East League champion will game 3 on March 25th and if needed games 4 and 5 on March 26 and 27. The release announcing the playoff also stated that "The Avalon East winning team will be permitted six (6) strengthening players from their own league for Herder competition."

The league semifinal series involving the Bell Island Blues and the Northeast Eagles has had several cancellations due to high winds causing issues with ferry service in the area.

Membership changes

 * The Conception Bay North CeeBee Stars were added back into the league after leaving the league in 2011 to join the Newfoundland Senior Hockey League (2011-2014).  The team was left without a league when the league disbanded in 2014 and the team was not accepted back in to the Avalon East Senior Hockey League.

Standings
notes:The overtime loss(es) column also includes Shootout loss(es).

One game between St. John's and Conception Bay January 18th was cancelled and not made up, another game between Northeast and Bell Island (unknown date) was also cancelled and not made up.

Playoffs
The league champion will advance to the 2016 Herder Memorial Trophy to compete against the champion of the Newfoundland & Labrador Senior A Hockey League for a spot in the 2017 Atlantic Regional qualifying for the 2017 Allan Cup.

Format
The fifth place team is elimated from the playoffs. The 1st place team plays the 4th place team and the 2nd place plays the third place teams in best-of-seven semifinal series. The semifinal series winners meet in the league championship series.

Semifinals

 * Northeast Eagles defeated Bell Island Blues 4 games to none (8-3, 6-1, 8-2, 4-2)
 * St. John's Capitals defeated Southern Shore Breakers 4 games to 1 (6-4, 2-5, 6-1. 5-3, 6-3)

Final
The St. John's Capitals advance to the 2016 Herder Memorial Trophy to compete against the Grand Falls-Windsor Cataracts;   champion of the Newfoundland & Labrador Senior A Hockey League for the Herder Memorial Trophy and a spot in the 2017 Atlantic Regional qualifying for the 2017 Allan Cup.
 * St. John's Capitals defeated Northeast Eagles 4 games to 3 (4-3, 4-1, 4-5 (ot). 3-5, 2-3, 5-2, 4-2)