1988–89 ECHL season
Encyclopedia
The 1988-89 ECHL season
was the inaugural season of the ECHL. The leagues first season consisted of five teams in Erie, Pennsylvania
, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
, Knoxville, Tennessee
, Vinton, Virginia
and Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. The 5 teams played 60 games each in the schedule. The Erie Panthers finished first overall in the regular season. The Carolina Thunderbirds won the first Riley Cup championship.
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
was the inaugural season of the ECHL. The leagues first season consisted of five teams in Erie, Pennsylvania
Erie Panthers
The Erie Panthers were a professional hockey team, and one of the founding members in the East Coast Hockey League. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1996, they were one of the most prolific teams in the ECHL. The Panthers were known for their ability to score goals quickly and often, as...
, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Johnstown Chiefs
The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed...
, Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville Cherokees
The Knoxville Cherokees were an East Coast Hockey League team based in Knoxville, Tennessee.-History:The franchise was formed in 1988 along with the ECHL...
, Vinton, Virginia
Virginia Lancers
The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people.-Atlantic Coast Hockey League :...
and Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Carolina Thunderbirds
The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989...
. The 5 teams played 60 games each in the schedule. The Erie Panthers finished first overall in the regular season. The Carolina Thunderbirds won the first Riley Cup championship.
Regular season
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L= Loses; OTL = Overtime loses; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points; Green shade = Clinched playoff spot| East Coast Hockey League | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie Panthers Erie Panthers The Erie Panthers were a professional hockey team, and one of the founding members in the East Coast Hockey League. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1996, they were one of the most prolific teams in the ECHL. The Panthers were known for their ability to score goals quickly and often, as... |
60 | 37 | 20 | 3 | 77 | 327 | 256 |
| Johnstown Chiefs Johnstown Chiefs The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed... |
60 | 32 | 22 | 6 | 70 | 295 | 251 |
| Knoxville Cherokees Knoxville Cherokees The Knoxville Cherokees were an East Coast Hockey League team based in Knoxville, Tennessee.-History:The franchise was formed in 1988 along with the ECHL... |
60 | 32 | 27 | 1 | 65 | 266 | 286 |
| Carolina Thunderbirds Carolina Thunderbirds The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989... |
60 | 27 | 32 | 1 | 55 | 266 | 329 |
| Virginia Lancers Virginia Lancers The Virginia Lancers were a minor league hockey team that played in several leagues from 1983 until 1990. Their home ice was the Vinton Sports Complex, which held 3400 people.-Atlantic Coast Hockey League :... |
60 | 22 | 30 | 8 | 52 | 266 | 298 |
Riley Cup Playoffs
Johnstown Chiefs vs. Carolina Thunderbirds
ECHL awards
| Jack Riley Cup: | Carolina Thunderbirds Carolina Thunderbirds The Carolina Thunderbirds were a professional ice hockey team located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. The Thunderbirds played their home games at the old Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum before the arena was demolished in 1989... |
| Henry Brabham Cup: | Erie Panthers Erie Panthers The Erie Panthers were a professional hockey team, and one of the founding members in the East Coast Hockey League. Based in Erie, Pennsylvania from 1988 to 1996, they were one of the most prolific teams in the ECHL. The Panthers were known for their ability to score goals quickly and often, as... |
| John Brophy Award: | Ron Hansis (Erie) |
| ECHL Most Valuable Player: | Daryl Harpe (Erie) |
| Riley Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Nick Vitucci Nick Vitucci Nick Vitucci is a former professional ice hockey goaltender. Currently, he is the head coach of the ECHL's Toledo Walleye.... (Carolina) |
| ECHL Rookie of the Year: | Tom Sasso (Johnstown Johnstown Chiefs The Johnstown Chiefs were a minor league ice hockey team located in Johnstown, Pennsylvania that played in the ECHL. The team was founded in 1988 in the All-American Hockey League, and moved to the East Coast Hockey League when that league was formed... ) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | Kelly Szauter (Erie) |
| Leading Scorer: | Daryl Harpe (Erie) |
See also
- ECHLECHLThe ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
- ECHL All-Star GameECHL All-Star GameThe ECHL All-Star Game is an exhibition ice hockey game that traditionally marks the midway point of the ECHL's regular season, with many of the league's star players playing against each other. The starting lineup for the two teams, including the starting goaltender, is voted on by the coaches,...
- Kelly CupKelly CupThe Patrick J. Kelly Cup goes to the play-off champion of the ECHL. The Kelly Cup has been awarded to teams since 1997. Prior to 1997, the playoff winner was awarded the Riley Cup. The current cup is named after Patrick J. Kelly, the league's first commissioner. The cup is loaned to the winning...
- List of ECHL seasons