AHL WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND HORIZONS.(SPORTS)

Byline: MATT GRAVES Staff writer

At age 64, the American Hockey League is alive and well -- and apparently getting bigger and better with age.

Despite the loss of an old friend in the Adirondack Red Wings after last season, the AHL is at an all-time high with 19 teams and will climb to 20 when Norfolk, Va., comes aboard next fall as an affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Louisville began play this year.

The AHL might add as many as two or three more teams for 2001-02, according to David Andrews, the league's president and CEO. Manchester, N.H., is expected to be among the expansion cities for 2001-02.

``We're …