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. 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, and 490 players have advanced from the ECHL to play in the NHL.

The current ECHL Champion is the Florida Everblades.

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).

Ludwig Blomstrand (born March 8, 1993) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player who currently plays for Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Elitserien. He made his Elitserien debut on 27 September 2011 against Brynäs IF. He was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 4th round, 120th overall, of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.