The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States. It is generally regarded as a tier below the American Hockey League.
The ECHL and the AHL are the only minor leagues recognized by the collective bargaining agreement between the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association, meaning any player signed to an entry-level NHL contract and designated for assignment must report to a club either in the AHL or the ECHL.[1] Additionally, the league's players are represented by the Professional Hockey Players' Association in negotiations with the ECHL itself.
26 of the 30 National Hockey League teams have affiliations with the ECHL,[2] and 490 players have advanced from the ECHL to play in the NHL.[3]
The current ECHL Champion is the Florida Everblades.[4]
The league, which combined teams from the defunct Atlantic Coast Hockey League and All-American Hockey League, began play as the East Coast Hockey League in 1988 with 5 teams—the (Winston-Salem, North) Carolina Thunderbirds (now the Wheeling Nailers); the Erie Panthers (folded after 2011 as the Victoria Salmon Kings); the Johnstown Chiefs (now the Greenville Road Warriors); the Knoxville Cherokees (ceased operations as the Pee Dee Pride after 2005; folded after 2009 following failed relocation efforts); and the Virginia Lancers (now the Utah Grizzlies).
Teams currently in the ECHL. Dot colors correspond to division colors in the league chart. Not pictured are the
Alaska Aces of the Mountain Division.
In September 2002, the West Coast Hockey League ceased operations, and the ECHL Board of Governors approved membership applications from the Anchorage (now Alaska) Aces, the Bakersfield Condors, the Fresno Falcons, the Idaho Steelheads, the Las Vegas Wranglers, the Long Beach Ice Dogs and the San Diego Gulls as well as from teams in Ontario, California and Reno, Nevada. Alaska, Bakersfield, Fresno, Idaho, Las Vegas, Long Beach and San Diego began play in the 2003–04 season as expansion teams. In a change reflective of the league's now-nationwide presence, the East Coast Hockey League shortened its name to the orphan initialism ECHL on May 19, 2003. The ECHL reached its largest size to date (31 teams) that season before being reduced to 28 teams for the 2004–05 season.
The league, because of geographical anomalies, has used unbalanced conferences and divisions, making for some extremely varied playoff formats and limited interconference play. Due to travel costs, the league has attempted to placate owners in keeping those costs down, which has led to the sometimes-odd playoff structures.
The ECHL has attempted to be more tech-friendly to its fans. Some improvements on the league's website have included a new schedule and statistics engine powered by League Stat, Inc. (introduced in 2006), internet radio coverage for most teams, and pay-per view broadcasting of ECHL games through B2 Networks (a subsidiary of America One Broadcasting). In 2008, the league introduced the ECHL toolbar for internet browsers which gave users short cut access to statistics, scores, transactions, and news updates.[5]
At the annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting on June 15, 2010 in Henderson, Nevada, the Board of Governors approved changes to the names of the conferences and divisions. The former American Conference (comprising eleven East Coast and Midwest teams) was renamed the Eastern Conference, while the National Conference (consisting of 8 West Coast teams, including the league's only Canadian team at the time), was re-designated the Western Conference. Within the Eastern Conference, the East Division was renamed the Atlantic Division, and the Western Conference's former West Division was dubbed the Mountain Division.[6]
The league lost its only Canadian team with the folding of the Victoria Salmon Kings subsequent to the 2010–11 season.[7] The league increased to 20 teams for the 2011–12 season with the addition of the expansion franchise Chicago Express[8] and the Colorado Eagles who previously played in the Central Hockey League.[9]
Following suspension of the Trenton Devils by the parent club New Jersey Devils in early July 2011,[10] the league announced the return of the Trenton Titans (last seen in 2007) with a press conference that was made on July 28.[11][12]
With the folding of the Chicago Express at the close of the 2011–12 season and the announcement of expansion franchises in Orlando, San Francisco, Evansville and Fort Wayne (both in Indiana and both from the Central Hockey League) the league will begin the 2012–13 season with 23 teams.
League alignment as of conclusion of annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting on August 1, 2011.[13]
| Division |
Team |
City/Area |
Arena |
Founded |
Joined |
Head Coach |
NHL Affiliate(s) |
AHL Affiliate(s) |
| Eastern Conference |
| Atlantic |
Elmira Jackals |
Elmira, NY |
First Arena |
2000 |
2007 |
Pat Bingham |
Anaheim Ducks/Ottawa Senators |
Syracuse Crunch/Binghamton Senators |
| Reading Royals |
Reading, PA |
Sovereign Center |
1991* |
Larry Courville |
Boston Bruins/Toronto Maple Leafs |
Toronto Marlies |
| Trenton Titans |
Trenton, NJ |
Sun National Bank Center |
1999 |
Vince Williams |
Philadelphia Flyers |
Adirondack Phantoms |
| Wheeling Nailers |
Wheeling, WV |
WesBanco Arena |
1988* |
Stan Drulia |
Montreal Canadiens/Pittsburgh Penguins |
Hamilton Bulldogs/Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins |
| North |
Cincinnati Cyclones |
Cincinnati, OH |
U.S. Bank Arena |
1995* |
Jarrod Skalde |
Florida Panthers/Nashville Predators |
San Antonio Rampage/Milwaukee Admirals |
| Evansville IceMen |
Evansville, IN |
Ford Center |
1992* |
2012 |
Richard Kromm |
TBD |
TBD |
| Fort Wayne Komets |
Fort Wayne, IN |
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum |
1952 |
2012 |
Al Sims |
TBD |
TBD |
| Kalamazoo Wings |
Kalamazoo, MI |
Wings Stadium |
1974 |
2009 |
Nick Bootland |
New Jersey Devils/Vancouver Canucks |
Albany Devils |
| Toledo Walleye |
Toledo, OH |
Huntington Center |
1991 |
Nick Vitucci |
Chicago Blackhawks/Detroit Red Wings |
Grand Rapids Griffins/Rockford IceHogs |
| South |
Florida Everblades |
Estero, FL |
Germain Arena |
1998 |
Greg Poss |
Carolina Hurricanes/Tampa Bay Lightning |
Charlotte Checkers/Norfolk Admirals |
| Greenville Road Warriors |
Greenville, SC |
BI-LO Center |
1988* |
Dean Stork |
New York Rangers |
Connecticut Whale |
| Gwinnett Gladiators |
Duluth, GA |
Arena at Gwinnett Center |
1995* |
John Wroblewski |
Buffalo Sabres/Phoenix Coyotes |
Rochester Americans/Portland Pirates |
| Orlando Solar Bears |
Orlando, FL |
Amway Center |
2012 |
TBD |
Minnesota Wild |
Houston Aeros |
| South Carolina Stingrays |
N. Charleston, SC |
North Charleston Coliseum |
1993 |
Spencer Carbery |
Washington Capitals |
Hershey Bears |
| Western Conference |
| Mountain |
Alaska Aces |
Anchorage, AK |
Sullivan Arena |
1995 |
2003 |
Rob Murray |
Unaffiliated |
Unaffiliated |
| Colorado Eagles |
Loveland, CO |
Budweiser Events Center |
2003 |
2011 |
Chris Stewart |
Winnipeg Jets |
St. John's IceCaps |
| Idaho Steelheads |
Boise, ID |
CenturyLink Arena Boise |
1997 |
2003 |
Hardy Sauter |
Dallas Stars |
Texas Stars |
| Utah Grizzlies |
West Valley City, UT |
Maverik Center |
1988* |
Kevin Colley |
Calgary Flames |
Abbotsford Heat |
| Pacific |
Bakersfield Condors |
Bakersfield, CA |
Rabobank Arena |
1995 |
2003 |
Matt O'Dette |
Unaffiliated |
Unaffiliated |
| Las Vegas Wranglers |
Las Vegas, NV |
Orleans Arena |
2003 |
Ryan Mougenel |
Unaffiliated |
Unaffiliated |
| Ontario Reign |
Ontario, CA |
Citizens Business Bank Arena |
1993* |
Jason Christie |
Los Angeles Kings |
Manchester Monarchs |
| San Francisco Bulls |
Daly City, CA |
Cow Palace |
2012 |
Pat Curcio |
TBD |
TBD |
| Stockton Thunder |
Stockton, CA |
Stockton Arena |
1990* |
Matt Thomas |
Edmonton Oilers/San Jose Sharks |
Oklahoma City Barons/Worcester Sharks |
- Notes
- An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.
One team which was under suspension should resume operations in a new home arena for the 2013–14 season. Teams are being developed in two new markets, and considered in several markets that have hosted ECHL teams in the past. Representatives from all potential expansion franchises, markets that have been granted expansion franchises and franchises that have suspended operations must attend the league's annual Board of Governors Meeting between seasons and provide progress reports on their situations in order to keep their ECHL franchise rights. The Board of Governors then votes whether or not to extend the franchises' league licenses until the next Board of Governors Meeting.
Evansville and Fort Wayne will join the Eastern Conference in the North Division, Orlando will join the Eastern Conference in the South Division, and San Francisco will join the Western Conference in the Pacific division.[18]
- Columbia Inferno, earliest return to be announced; granted a one-year voluntary suspension while the team attempts to find a new home arena, then granted a one-year extension onto their voluntary suspension as they attempt to construct a new arena to host the franchise.[19]
While the ECHL has stated in recent years they would not grant voluntary suspensions of franchises for more than one year, both the Toledo Storm (now the Toledo Walleye) and Mississippi Sea Wolves (now defunct) were granted two-year suspensions—the Sea Wolves because of Hurricane Katrina and the Storm in order to demolish their present arena and construct a new one in downtown Toledo. The Mississippi Sea Wolves resumed play for the 2007–2008 season, while the Toledo Walleye resumed play in their new arena for the 2009–2010 season.
On March 30, 2009, the Dayton Bombers and Mississippi Sea Wolves announced that they would suspend operations for the 2009–10 season, while the Phoenix RoadRunners announced that they will cease operations at the end of the 2008–09 season.[20] Dayton would receive a franchise in the International Hockey League and Biloxi, MS would receive a team in the Southern Professional Hockey League the following year.
On February 15, 2010, the Tribune-Democrat reported that the Johnstown Chiefs, the only remaining founding franchise of the East Coast Hockey League to remain in its original city, would be relocating to Greenville, South Carolina, the former home of the Greenville Grrrowl (1998–2006) following the completion of the 2009-10 season.[21]
The Victoria Salmon Kings, the only Canadian franchise in league history, folded following their Western Conference finals loss in the 2011 Kelly Cup playoffs to make way for a Western Hockey League franchise at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. RG Properties opted to withdraw the franchise from the ECHL with full approval from the league's Board of Governors, folding the franchise instead of selling the club's ECHL rights to be moved to another market, marking the end of a franchise that began with the Erie Panthers, one of the ECHL charter teams.[7]
The league announced on April 6, 2012, that the expansion franchise Chicago Express had withdrawn from the ECHL, effective immediately.[22] The Express finished their inaugural season ninth in the Eastern Conference with a record of 34 wins, 26 losses, 8 overtime losses, and 4 losses in shootouts, eliminating them from playoff contention.[23] The team also finished last in the league for attendance, averaging 2,508 fans per game (compared to the league average of 4,282 fans per game).[24]
Four former ECHL franchises have been directly replaced in their respective markets by American Hockey League franchises. The Greensboro Monarchs were the first, being replaced by the Carolina Monarchs in 1995. The Hampton Roads Admirals were the second, giving way to the Norfolk Admirals in 2000. The Peoria Rivermen were the third. In their case, the replacement franchise retained the Worcester IceCats history but assumed the Rivermen identity for their first AHL season of 2005-06. The Charlotte Checkers were the fourth, yielding to a franchise that retained the Albany River Rats history following the club's move to Charlotte following the 2009-10 season and assumed the Checkers identity.[25] In each case, the ECHL franchise was relinquished to the league by its respective ownership group.
- Arkansas RiverBlades (1999–2003)
- Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (2001–2005; moved to Stockton, CA)
- Augusta Lynx (1998–2008; Suspended operations and relinquished their membership back to the ECHL after their ownership group were unable to continue to operate in 2008–09. The first ECHL team to fold in mid season.)
- Baton Rouge Kingfish (1996–2003; moved to Victoria, BC)
- Birmingham Bulls (1992–2001; moved to Atlantic City, NJ; now the Stockton Thunder)
- Charlotte Checkers (1993–2010; replaced by the Charlotte Checkers of the AHL)
- Chesapeake Icebreakers (played in Upper Marlboro, MD, 1997–1999; moved to Jackson, MS)
- Chicago Express (2011–12; membership relinquished to ECHL)
- Columbus (GA) Cottonmouths (2001–2004; team moved down to what is now the Southern Professional Hockey League; ECHL franchise moved to Bradenton-Sarasota, FL to play as Gulf Coast Swords, franchise revoked in summer 2006 after construction halted on proposed home arena)
- Columbus (OH) Chill (1991–1999; moved to Reading, PA)
- Dayton Bombers (1991–2009; relinquished their membership back to ECHL following failed drive for season tickets and managing partnership to resume play for the 2010-11 season)
- Erie Panthers (1988–1996; moved to Baton Rouge, LA)
- Fresno Falcons (2003–2008; Suspended operations and relinquished their membership back to the ECHL after their ownership group were unable to continue to operate in 2008–09. The second ECHL team to fold in mid season.)
- Greensboro Generals (1999–2004; team franchise revoked)
- Greensboro Monarchs (1989–1995; replaced by the Carolina Monarchs of the AHL)
- Greenville Grrrowl (1998–2006; franchise revoked)
- Hampton Roads Admirals (1989–2000; replaced by the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL)
- Huntington Blizzard (1993–2000; moved to Beaumont, TX, now the Ontario Reign)
- Huntsville Blast (1993–1994; moved to Tallahassee, FL)
- Jackson Bandits (1999–2003)
- Jacksonville Lizard Kings (1995–2000)
|
- Johnstown Chiefs (1988–2010; relocated to Greenville, SC)
- Knoxville Cherokees (1988–1997; moved to Florence, SC)
- Lexington Men O' War (2002–2003; moved to West Valley City, UT, now the Utah Grizzlies)
- Long Beach Ice Dogs (2003–2007; franchise revoked)
- Louisiana IceGators (1995–2005; franchise revoked)
- Louisville IceHawks (1990–1994; moved to Jacksonville, FL)
- Louisville River Frogs (1995–1998; moved to Miami, FL)
- Macon Whoopee (2001–2002; moved to Lexington, KY, now the Utah Grizzlies)
- Miami Matadors (1998–1999; moved to Cincinnati, OH)
- Mississippi Sea Wolves (1996–2009; now the Mississippi Surge)
- Mobile Mysticks (1995–2002; moved to Duluth, GA)
- Nashville Knights (1989–1996; moved to Pensacola, FL when NHL arrived)
- New Orleans Brass (1997–2002; team suspended operations after the arrival of the NBA's Hornets when arena lease was not given)
- Pee Dee Pride (1997–2005; team suspended operations after the 2004–05 season and planned to move to the Myrtle Beach, SC area, but relinquished their league membership after 2008–09 season.)
- Pensacola Ice Pilots (1996–2008) (franchise revoked.)
- Peoria Rivermen (1996–2005; replaced by the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL)
- Phoenix RoadRunners (2005–2009)
- Raleigh IceCaps (1991–1998; moved to Augusta, GA when NHL arrived)
- Richmond Renegades (1990–2003)
- Roanoke Express (1993–2004; franchise revoked)
- San Diego Gulls (2003–2006; franchise revoked)
- Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (1994–2001; moved to Macon, GA)
- Texas Wildcatters (2003–2008; Ceased operations at the end 2007–08 season due to a failure in securing a new arena lease and moved to Ontario, CA)
- Victoria Salmon Kings (2004–2011; replaced in market by WHL team)
- Virginia Lancers (1988–1993 in Vinton, VA; franchise later renamed the Roanoke Valley Rebels and Rampage; moved to Huntsville, AL)
|
<timeline> DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy ImageSize = width:1200 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:01/01/1988 till:07/01/2012 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal PlotArea = right:30 left:0 bottom:50 top:5
Colors =
id:barcolor value:rgb(0.95,0.5,0.4)
id:line value:black
id:bg value:white
PlotData=
width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
bar:1 color:barcolor from:07/01/1988 till:06/15/1992 text:Carolina Thunderbirds (1988-1992)
bar:1 color:red from:07/01/1992 till:end text:Wheeling Nailers (1992-present)
bar:2 color:barcolor from:07/01/1988 till:06/15/1996 text:Erie Panthers (1988-1996)
bar:2 color:barcolor from:07/01/1996 till:06/15/2004 text:Baton Rouge Kingfish (1996-2004)
bar:2 color:barcolor from:07/01/2004 till:07/01/2011 text:Victoria Salmon Kings (2004-2011)
bar:3 color:barcolor from:07/01/1988 till:06/15/2010 text:Johnstown Chiefs (1988-2010)
bar:3 color:red from:07/01/2010 till:end shift:(-90) text:Greenville Road Warriors (2010-present)
bar:4 color:barcolor from:07/01/1988 till:06/15/1997 text:Knoxville Cherokees (1988-1997)
bar:4 color:barcolor from:07/01/1997 till:07/01/2005 text:Pee Dee Pride (1997-2005)
bar:5 color:barcolor from:07/01/1988 till:06/15/1993 text:Virginia/Roanoke Lancers/Rebels/Rampage (88-93)
bar:5 color:barcolor from:07/01/1993 till:06/15/1994 text:Hsv (93-94)
bar:5 color:barcolor from:07/01/1994 till:06/15/2001 shift:(15) text:Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (1994-2001)
bar:5 color:barcolor from:07/01/2001 till:06/15/2002 text:Macon (01-02)
bar:5 color:barcolor from:07/01/2002 till:06/15/2003 shift:(25) text:Lexington (02-03)
bar:5 color:red from:07/01/2005 till:end text:Utah Grizzlies (2005-present)
bar:6 color:barcolor from:07/01/1989 till:07/01/1995 text:Greensboro Monarchs (1989-1995)
bar:7 color:barcolor from:07/01/1989 till:07/01/2000 text:Hampton Roads Admirals (1989-2000)
bar:8 color:barcolor from:07/01/1989 till:06/15/1996 text:Nashville Knights (1989-1996)
bar:8 color:barcolor from:07/01/1996 till:07/01/2008 text:Pensacola Ice Pilots (1996-2008)
bar:9 color:barcolor from:07/01/1990 till:06/15/1992 text:Cincinnati (1990-92)
bar:9 color:barcolor from:07/01/1992 till:06/15/2001 text:Birmingham Bulls (1992-2001)
bar:9 color:barcolor from:07/01/2001 till:06/15/2005 text:Atlantic City B'walk Bullies (2001-05)
bar:9 color:red from:07/01/2005 till:end text:Stockton Thunder (2005-present)
bar:10 color:barcolor from:07/01/1990 till:07/01/1994 text:Louisville IceHawks (1990-1994)
bar:10 color:barcolor from:07/01/1995 till:07/01/2000 text:Jacksonville Lizard Kings (1995-2000)
bar:11 color:barcolor from:07/01/1990 till:07/01/2003 text:Richmond Renegades (1990-2003)
bar:12 color:barcolor from:07/01/1991 till:06/15/1999 text:Columbus Chill (1991-1999)
bar:12 color:red from:07/01/1999 till:end text:Reading Royals (1999-present)
bar:13 color:barcolor from:07/01/1991 till:07/01/2007 text:Toledo Storm (1991-2007)
bar:13 color:red from:07/01/2009 till:end text:Toledo Walleye (2009-present)
bar:14 color:barcolor from:07/01/1991 till:07/01/2009 text:Dayton Bombers (1991-2009)
bar:15 color:barcolor from:07/01/1991 till:06/15/1998 text:Raleigh IceCaps (1991-1998)
bar:15 color:barcolor from:07/01/1998 till:12/02/2008 text:Augusta Lynx (1998-2008)
bar:16 color:barcolor from:07/01/1993 till:07/01/2010 text:Charlotte Checkers (1993-2010)
bar:17 color:barcolor from:07/01/1993 till:07/01/2000 text:Huntington Blizzard (1993-2000)
bar:17 color:barcolor from:07/01/2003 till:06/15/2008 text:Texas Wildcatters (2003-2008)
bar:17 color:red from:07/01/2008 till:end text:Ontario Reign (2008-present)
bar:18 color:barcolor from:07/01/1993 till:07/01/2004 text:Roanoke Express (1993-2004)
bar:19 color:red from:07/01/1993 till:end text:South Carolina Stingrays (1993-present)
bar:20 color:barcolor from:07/01/1995 till:07/01/2005 text:Louisiana IceGators (1995-2005)
bar:21 color:barcolor from:07/01/1995 till:06/15/1998 text:Louisville River Frogs (1995-98)
bar:21 color:barcolor from:07/01/1998 till:07/01/1999 shift:(10) text:Miami Matadors (1998-99)
bar:21 color:red from:07/01/2001 till:04/01/2004 text:Cincinnati Cyclones (2001-present)
bar:21 color:red from:04/21/2006 till:end
bar:22 color:barcolor from:07/01/1995 till:07/01/2002 text:Mobile Mysticks (1995-2002)
bar:22 color:red from:07/01/2003 till:end text:Gwinnett Gladiators (2003-present)
bar:23 color:barcolor from:07/01/1996 till:07/01/2009 text:Mississippi Sea Wolves (1996-2009)
bar:24 color:barcolor from:07/01/1996 till:07/01/2005 text:Peoria Rivermen (1996-2005)
bar:25 color:barcolor from:07/01/1997 till:06/15/1999 text:Chesapeake (1997-99)
bar:25 color:barcolor from:07/01/1999 till:07/01/2003 shift:(15) text:Jackson Bandits (1999-2003)
bar:26 color:barcolor from:07/01/1997 till:07/01/2002 text:New Orleans Brass (1997-2002)
bar:27 color:red from:07/01/1998 till:end text:Florida Everblades (1998-present)
bar:28 color:barcolor from:07/01/1998 till:07/01/2006 text:Greenville Grrrowl (1998-2006)
bar:29 color:barcolor from:07/01/1999 till:07/01/2003 text:Arkansas RiverBlades (1999-2003)
bar:30 color:barcolor from:07/01/1999 till:07/01/2004 text:Greensboro Generals (1999-2004)
bar:31 color:barcolor from:07/01/1999 till:06/15/2007 text:Trenton Titans (1999-2007)
bar:31 color:barcolor from:07/01/2007 till:07/01/2011 text:Trenton Devils (2007-2011)
bar:31 color:red from:07/28/2011 till:end text:Trenton Titans (2011-present)
bar:32 color:barcolor from:07/01/2001 till:07/01/2008 text:Columbia Inferno (2001-2008)
bar:33 color:barcolor from:07/01/2001 till:07/01/2004 text:Columbus Cottonmouths (2001-2004)
bar:34 color:red from:07/01/2003 till:end text:Alaska Aces (2003-present)
bar:35 color:red from:07/01/2003 till:end text:Bakersfield Condors (2003-present)
bar:36 color:barcolor from:07/01/2003 till:12/22/2008 text:Fresno Falcons (2003-2008)
bar:37 color:red from:07/01/2003 till:end text:Idaho Steelheads (2003-present)
bar:38 color:red from:07/01/2003 till:end text:Las Vegas Wranglers (2003-present)
bar:39 color:barcolor from:07/01/2003 till:07/01/2007 text:Long Beach Ice Dogs (2003-2007)
bar:40 color:barcolor from:07/01/2003 till:07/01/2006 text:San Diego Gulls (2003-2006)
bar:41 color:barcolor from:07/01/2005 till:07/01/2009 text:Phoenix RoadRunners (2005-2009)
bar:42 color:red from:07/01/2007 till:end text:Elmira Jackals (2007-present)
bar:43 color:red from:07/01/2009 till:end shift:(-10) text:Kalamazoo Wings (2009-present)
bar:44 color:barcolor from:07/01/2011 till:04/06/2012 shift:(-100) text:Chicago Express (2011-2012)
bar:45 color:red from:07/01/2011 till:end shift:(-100) text:Colorado Eagles (2011-present)
bar:46 color:red from:07/01/2012 till:end shift:(-150) text:Evansville IceMen (2012-present)
bar:47 color:red from:07/01/2012 till:end shift:(-150) text:Fort Wayne Komets (2012-present)
bar:48 color:red from:07/01/2012 till:end shift:(-150) text:Orlando Solar Bears (2012-present)
bar:49 color:red from:07/01/2012 till:end shift:(-150) text:San Fransisco Bulls (2012-present)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/1988
</timeline>
In the Western Conference, seven teams qualify: two division winners and the next five teams in the conference. The division winner with the best record (most points) receives a bye to the conference semifinal round while the other division winner is seeded second and plays the seventh ranked team in a best of five series. The third seed plays against the sixth while the fourth plays the fifth seed in a best of five series. The top seed then plays the winner of the fourth vs fifth seed series and the other two winners face each other in a best of seven series.
In the Eastern Conference, eight teams qualify: the three division winners plus the next five teams in the conference. Similar to the NHL the division winners are seeded as the top three seeds; the conference winner vs the eighth seed, second vs seventh, third vs sixth and fourth vs fifth in the best of five conference semifinal. The winner of the 1st/8th series plays the winner of the 4th/5th series while 2nd/7th winner plays against the 3rd/6th winner in a best of seven conference semifinal series.
The conference finals and the Kelly Cup final are best of seven series.[26]
In celebration of the league's 20th year of play, the ECHL Board of Governors created the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008, to recognize the achievements of players, coaches, and personnel who dedicated their careers to the league.
- ^ "Collective Bargaining Agreement between National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players' Association". NHL and NHLPA. July 22, 2005. http://www.nhl.com/cba/2005-CBA.pdf. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
- ^ http://www.echl.com/nhlahl-affiliations-s12375
- ^ http://www.echl.com/alumni-s12397
- ^ http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2012-05-23/Everblades-win-first-ever-Kelly-Cup
- ^ Press release (July 14, 2008). "ECHL Toolbar Available Now". ECHL. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080719145632/http://www.echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=15674. Retrieved July 15, 2008.
- ^ Press release (June 21, 2010). "Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting Concludes". ECHL. http://echl.com/annual-echl-board-of-governors-meeting-concludes-p166135. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ a b Dheenshaw, Cleve (May 7, 2011). "RG opts to fold Salmon Kings franchise". Times Colonist. http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/opts+fold+Salmon+Kings+franchise/4744719/story.html. Retrieved May 19, 2011.
- ^ Selvam, Ashok (June 19, 2010). "Sears Centre to house new hockey team". Daily Herald. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=388932. Retrieved June 20, 2010.
- ^ Press release (May 31, 2011). "Board of Governors approves expansion membership for Colorado". ECHL. http://echl.com/board-of-governors-approves-expansion-membership-for-colorado-p171230. Retrieved June 6, 2011.
- ^ Abdur-Rahman, Sulaiman (July 6, 2011). "ECHL's Trenton Devils suspend operations". The Trentonian. http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/07/06/sports/doc4e14ca3a86873929944249.txt?viewmode=fullstory. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ Rosenau, Joshua (July 27, 2011). "Trenton Titans minor league hockey team to be revived at Sun National Bank Center". The Times of Trenton. http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/07/trenton_titans_minor_league_ho.html. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
- ^ Press release (July 28, 2011). "ECHL Board of Governors approves membership for Trenton Titans". ECHL. http://echl.com/echl-board-of-governors-approves-membership-for-trenton-titans-p171962. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
- ^ Press release (August 1, 2011). "Annual ECHL Board of Governors meeting concludes". ECHL. http://echl.com/annual-echl-board-of-governors-meeting-concludes-p172058. Retrieved August 1, 2011.
- ^ Press release (September 21, 2011). "ECHL Board of Governors Approves Membership for San Francisco". ECHL. http://echl.com/URLechl-board-of-governors-approves-membership-for-san-francisco-p172792. Retrieved September 21, 2011.
- ^ Press release (November 16, 2011). "Orlando welcomes back the Solar Bears". ECHL. http://echl.com/orlando-welcomes-back-the-solar-bears-p174193. Retrieved November 16, 2011.
- ^ Press release (May 17, 2012). "Expansion membership approved for Evansville". ECHL. http://echl.com/expansion-membership-approved-for-evansville--p177538. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- ^ Press release (May 17, 2012). "Expansion membership approved for Fort Wayne". ECHL. http://echl.com/expansion-membership-approved-for-fort-wayne-p177542. Retrieved May 17, 2012.
- ^ "2012-13 ECHL League Alignment". Evansville IceMen. http://www.evansvilleicemen.com/3918/2011-12-echl-league-alignment. Retrieved 18 May 2012.
- ^ Press release (February 17, 2010). "ECHL Concludes Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting". ECHL. http://echl.com/echl-concludes-mid-season-br-board-of-governors-meeting-p165278. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
- ^ Press release (March 30, 2009). "ECHL Concludes Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting". ECHL. http://echl.com/echl-concludes-mid-season-br-board-of-governors-meeting-p162338. Retrieved November 19, 2009.
- ^ Mastovich, Mike (February 15, 2010). "Chiefs plan to move franchise to South Carolina". Tribune-Democrat. http://www.tribdem.com/local/local_story_045202110.html. Retrieved February 15, 2010.
- ^ Press release (April 6, 2012). "Chicago withdraws membership from ECHL". ECHL. http://echl.com/chicago-withdraws-membership-from-echl-p176989. Retrieved April 6, 2012.
- ^ "Standings 2011-12 Season - Conference". ECHL. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/66iy54Nou.
- ^ "Attendance Report". ECHL. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. http://www.webcitation.org/66iyH3VGP.
- ^ Scott, David (February 11, 2010). "Checkers moving up in world". Charlotte Observer. http://www.charlotteobserver.com/checkers/story/1238524.html. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
- ^ Press release (June 29, 2009). "Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting Concludes". ECHL. http://echl.com/annual-echl-board-of-governors-meeting-concludes-p163029. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
|
|
|
| Western Conference |
Eastern Conference |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eastern
Conference |
|
|
Western
Conference |
|
|
![ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones WIN 2007-2008 Kelly Cup! [PART 1]](http://web.archive.org./web/20130225001152im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/TgVyDu1eIvs/default.jpg "ECHL Cincinnati Cyclones WIN 2007-2008 Kelly Cup! [PART 1]")
