2009–10 ECHL season
Encyclopedia
The 2009–10 ECHL season was the 22nd season of the ECHL. It ran from October, 2009 until April, 2010, followed by the Kelly Cup playoffs
which lasted until May 21, 2010 as the Cincinnati Cyclones
won their second Kelly Cup championship in three years by defeating the Idaho Steelheads
in five games. The league welcomed two franchises to the league for the 2009–10 season with the return of the Toledo Walleye
, who will play in the Lucas County Arena
in Toledo, Ohio
, after a two-year suspension of the Toledo franchise to allow for the construction of their new arena, and the admission of the Kalamazoo Wings
as an expansion franchise who will play in Wings Stadium
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
. The ECHL held its annual All-Star Game and Skills Challenge on January 19–20 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California
, home of the Ontario Reign
.
.
The current economic crisis has forced the ECHL to allow one-year extensions on voluntary suspensions for two teams in South Carolina, one in Columbia
and one in Myrtle Beach
. Both franchises await approvals for their new arenas in Irmo
and Conway
, respectively, as neither arena has begun construction.
The Dayton Bombers
and the Mississippi Sea Wolves
announced that they would be suspending operations for the 2009–10 season and must present new business plans to the league in June 2009. Dayton owner Costa Papista cited declining support as the reason for the team being forced to suspend operations. Dayton averaged 3,679 fans per home game in 2008–09 (up slightly from 3,663 in 2007–08), but the Bombers would consistently fall short of the league's average attendance each year (4,218 in 2008–09). Papista stated that it is hard to sell hockey at the Bombers primary arena, the Nutter Center
on the campus of Wright State University
in Fairborn
as the seating capacity is upwards of 9,500 and has proposed building a $30 million, 5,500-seat arena in downtown Dayton that would house professional hockey in Dayton. The proposal is being explored by the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan. The suspension ends Dayton's run of 18 seasons in the ECHL, the second longest to league founder Johnstown Chiefs
' 21-year run. With a team in Cincinnati
and the return of a team to Toledo
, ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna has said that he would like to see Dayton return to the league, stating "We very much would like to back in Dayton and, hopefully, some day we will be." However, Two Fort Wayne, Indiana
-based businessmen gained approval from the International Hockey League
to revive the Dayton Gems franchise. With the new IHL franchise in place and a failed drive for season tickets and managing partnership to resume play for the 2010-11 season, the Bombers owners relinquished their team's membership in the ECHL at the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting in Las Vegas in June 2009.
Mississippi owner Mike Rogers and team president Bill Yates also announced that their team would suspend operations due to economic troubles that included travel expenses and low ticket sales. Mississippi became the latest team on the Interstate 10
corridor to cease operations which over the years has included the Baton Rouge Kingfish
, Louisiana IceGators, Mobile Mysticks
and Pensacola Ice Pilots
. Team president Bill Yates stated that the team still intends to continue operations in the ECHL, including possibly playing in 2010–11, but may move the team to a new city or a different league, most notably the Central Hockey League
It was announced in May 2009 that Biloxi and Pensacola are expected to receive Southern Professional Hockey League
franchises for the 2009–10 seasons. The SPHL announced also Lafayette, Louisiana will also move to the SPHL With the new SPHL franchise in place, the Sea Wolves former owners relinquished their team's membership in the ECHL at the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting.
The Phoenix RoadRunners
told the Board of Governors that the team would not participate in the 2009–10 season and would cease operations effective immediately following the 2008–09 season. At the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting, Phoenix officially relinquished their membership in the ECHL.
After sitting out from the league for four seasons on voluntary suspension, the potential Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
franchise (formerly the Pee Dee/Florence Pride
) relinquished their franchise's membership in the league at the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting.
) will return to the ECHL and compete at the Lucas County Arena
in downtown Toledo. The Walleye will bring back former Storm boss Nick Vitucci
as the team's inaugural head coach and while Joe Napoli will serve as the team's general manager. Napoli also serves as the general manager and vice president of the Toledo Mud Hens
minor league baseball club, which owns the Walleye, their co-anchor tenant Toledo Bullfrogs
arena football team and Lucas County Arena under the Mud Hens subsidiary, Toledo Arena Sports, Inc.
On June 9, 2009, the ECHL welcomed the Kalamazoo Wings as an expansion member for the 2009–10 season. The Wings will join the American Conference's North Division where it will renew old rivalries from the original IHL with Toledo and Cincinnati. The Wings became the second team in three years to jump from the new International Hockey League
to the ECHL, following the Elmira Jackals
who transferred from the IHL to the ECHL in time for the 2007–08 season. Kalamazoo's move to the ECHL was expected after the club announced they were leaving the IHL on June 3, 2009.
and Trenton Devils were forced to move from the North Division to the South Division. The Pacific and West Divisions of the National Conference will remain the same with the exception of the Phoenix Roadrunners and the Fresno Falcons
who folded mid-way through the 2008-09 season.
On June 9, 2009, the ECHL announced that the newly admitted Kalamazoo Wings would compete in the American Conference's North Division bring the total number of teams in the North Division to six and the total number of teams in the American Conference to twelve.
Following the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting in June, the ECHL announced that it would establish a third division in the American Conference consisting of the Elmira, Johnstown, Reading and Trenton franchises. The move slightly balances the league as all five divisions have four members.
The conference quarterfinals will be a best-of-five game series with the remaining rounds being best-of-seven game series. The best-of-five series will be a 2-3 format with the higher seed choosing if it wishes to host Games 1-2 or Games 3-5. Teams that are less than 350 miles apart may choose to play a 2-2-1 format.
In the National Conference, postseason berths will be awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winner with the best record in the conference will receive a bye in the first round, the other division winner will play the 7th seed, and so on. The semifinals will put the Conference champion against the winner of the 4-5 seed games, and the other two series winners aainst each other.
In the American Conference, postseason berths will be awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points, with the division winners being the top three seeds. The winners of the 1-8 matchup will play the winner of the 4-5 matchup in the first Conference semifinal series, and the other two winners will meet in the other semifinal.
and 2006
, the only person in league history to win the award multiple times.
With the four team difference between the American and National Conferences, the league revised its expansion policy. After having a membership as high as 40 during the ECHL-WCHL
merger, the league capped the number of teams the league would allow to 24, with a priority of putting teams in the South
and West
. The league currently has 20 active members and two inactive members in Columbia, SC
and Reno, NV
.
The league received updates from the inactive Columbia Inferno
and Reno, Nevada franchises who were granted a one-year extension to their voluntary suspensions. Columbia advised the Board that construction is scheduled to begin later in the Summer on the Lexington County Events Center and that the Inferno plan to return to the ice for the 2010-11 season. The team also announced that it retained the nucleus of its staff and plans to increase its preparation for 2010-11 in October. The Board unanimously approved a request from Reno for a one-year extension to its Home Arena Pending as the ownership group continues its work toward an arena project. The Reno franchise has been on voluntary suspension since the team was granted expansion rights in 2004
.
Finally, the league announced the creation of the Playing Schedule Committee. The committee was created to examine the overall scheduling process. The committee will report to the Board at the Preseason Meeting in September regarding the timing and release of the schedule in coming seasons as well as the criteria to be used in creating the schedule.
x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, z - clinched best conference record, e - eliminated from playoff contention
* – division leader
x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, b - clinched Brabham Cup
, best record in the conference and first round bye, e - eliminated from playoff contention
* – division leader
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; SOL = Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
National Conference
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; SOL = Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; PTS = Points; +/– = Plus/minus
; PIM = Penalty minutes; † = Player no longer with listed team
Statistics current as of: April 5, 2010
and save percentage
with at least one game played (Note: List is sorted by goals against average).
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes)
Statistics current as of: April 5, 2010
2010 Kelly Cup playoffs
The 2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs of the ECHL began April 5, 2010. 15 teams qualified, eight from the American Conference and seven from the National Conference. In the American conference, the winners of each of the three divisions plus the five teams with the highest point totals from the teams...
which lasted until May 21, 2010 as the Cincinnati Cyclones
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
won their second Kelly Cup championship in three years by defeating the Idaho Steelheads
Idaho Steelheads
The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003....
in five games. The league welcomed two franchises to the league for the 2009–10 season with the return of the Toledo Walleye
Toledo Walleye
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL...
, who will play in the Lucas County Arena
Lucas County Arena
The Huntington Center is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Toledo, Ohio It was completed in 2009 and cost between $80 and 105 million to build. It replaced the demolished Toledo Sports Arena...
in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
, after a two-year suspension of the Toledo franchise to allow for the construction of their new arena, and the admission of the Kalamazoo Wings
Kalamazoo Wings
The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
as an expansion franchise who will play in Wings Stadium
Wings Stadium
Wings Stadium is a 5,113-seat multi-purpose arena, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The arena opened in 1974 and is home to the Kalamazoo Wings, an ice hockey team in the ECHL....
in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kalamazoo, Michigan
The area on which the modern city stands was once home to Native Americans of the Hopewell culture, who migrated into the area sometime before the first millennium. Evidence of their early residency remains in the form of a small mound in downtown's Bronson Park. The Hopewell civilization began to...
. The ECHL held its annual All-Star Game and Skills Challenge on January 19–20 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California
Ontario, California
Ontario is a city located in San Bernardino County, California, United States, 35 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Located in the western part of the Inland Empire region, it lies just east of the Los Angeles county line and is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area...
, home of the Ontario Reign
Ontario Reign
The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
.
Departures
Following the league's Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting on March 27, 2009, the league announced that two teams had been granted one-year extensions to voluntary suspensions because of arena issues, two teams would suspend operations for the season and that one team would cease operations following the conclusion of the 2008–09 ECHL season2008–09 ECHL season
The 2008-09 ECHL season was the 21st of the ECHL. The league welcomed one new franchise, the Ontario Reign, which will relocate from Beaumont, Texas and will play at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Two teams, the Columbia Inferno and the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz, will voluntary...
.
The current economic crisis has forced the ECHL to allow one-year extensions on voluntary suspensions for two teams in South Carolina, one in Columbia
Columbia Inferno
The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the...
and one in Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
. Both franchises await approvals for their new arenas in Irmo
Irmo, South Carolina
Irmo is a town in Lexington and Richland counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina and a suburb of Columbia. It is 12 miles outside of the city center of Columbia and is part of the Columbia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and Conway
Conway, South Carolina
Conway is a city in Horry County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 16,317 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Horry County and is part of the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area. It is the home of Coastal Carolina University....
, respectively, as neither arena has begun construction.
The Dayton Bombers
Dayton Bombers
The Dayton Bombers were an ECHL ice hockey team located in Dayton, Ohio. The team most recently was in the North Division of the ECHL's American Conference....
and the Mississippi Sea Wolves
Mississippi Sea Wolves
The Mississippi Sea Wolves were a professional hockey team based in Biloxi, Mississippi and playing in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. The Sea Wolves were members of the ECHL....
announced that they would be suspending operations for the 2009–10 season and must present new business plans to the league in June 2009. Dayton owner Costa Papista cited declining support as the reason for the team being forced to suspend operations. Dayton averaged 3,679 fans per home game in 2008–09 (up slightly from 3,663 in 2007–08), but the Bombers would consistently fall short of the league's average attendance each year (4,218 in 2008–09). Papista stated that it is hard to sell hockey at the Bombers primary arena, the Nutter Center
Nutter Center
The Wright State University Nutter Center is a multi-purpose arena located at Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio. In addition to hosting the Wright State Raiders basketball team, the Nutter Center serves as a music venue for touring concerts and shows...
on the campus of Wright State University
Wright State University
Wright State University is a comprehensive public university with strong doctoral, research, and undergraduate programs, rated among the 260 Best National Universities listed in the annual "America's Best Colleges" rankings by U.S. News and World Report. Wright State is located in Fairborn, Ohio,...
in Fairborn
Fairborn, Ohio
Fairborn is a city in Greene County, Ohio, United States, near Dayton and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The population was 32,352 at the 2010 census...
as the seating capacity is upwards of 9,500 and has proposed building a $30 million, 5,500-seat arena in downtown Dayton that would house professional hockey in Dayton. The proposal is being explored by the Greater Downtown Dayton Plan. The suspension ends Dayton's run of 18 seasons in the ECHL, the second longest to league founder 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...
' 21-year run. With a team in Cincinnati
Cincinnati Cyclones
The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
and the return of a team to Toledo
Toledo Walleye
The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL...
, ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna has said that he would like to see Dayton return to the league, stating "We very much would like to back in Dayton and, hopefully, some day we will be." However, Two Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
-based businessmen gained approval from the International Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
to revive the Dayton Gems franchise. With the new IHL franchise in place and a failed drive for season tickets and managing partnership to resume play for the 2010-11 season, the Bombers owners relinquished their team's membership in the ECHL at the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting in Las Vegas in June 2009.
Mississippi owner Mike Rogers and team president Bill Yates also announced that their team would suspend operations due to economic troubles that included travel expenses and low ticket sales. Mississippi became the latest team on the Interstate 10
Interstate 10
Interstate 10 is the fourth-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, after I-90, I-80, and I-40. It is the southernmost east–west, coast-to-coast Interstate Highway, although I-4 and I-8 are further south. It stretches from the Pacific Ocean at State Route 1 in Santa Monica,...
corridor to cease operations which over the years has included the Baton Rouge Kingfish
Baton Rouge Kingfish
The Baton Rouge Kingfish were a minor professional ice hockey team in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the East Coast Hockey League. The franchise arrived in Baton Rouge in 1996 after relocating from Erie, Pennsylvania, where they had played as the Erie Panthers since 1988 as one of the...
, Louisiana IceGators, Mobile Mysticks
Gwinnett Gladiators
The Gwinnett Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Gladiators play their home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center....
and Pensacola Ice Pilots
Pensacola Ice Pilots
The Pensacola Ice Pilots were a minor league ice hockey team located in Pensacola, Florida. The team was previously affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Islanders , and the Chicago Blackhawks. They have also had a working agreement with the Houston Aeros of the...
. Team president Bill Yates stated that the team still intends to continue operations in the ECHL, including possibly playing in 2010–11, but may move the team to a new city or a different league, most notably the Central Hockey League
Central Hockey League
The Central Hockey League is a mid-level professional hockey league, owned by Global Entertainment Corporation. Its current champions are the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, which defeated the Colorado Eagles four games to three in the 2011 playoffs....
It was announced in May 2009 that Biloxi and Pensacola are expected to receive Southern Professional Hockey League
Southern Professional Hockey League
The Southern Professional Hockey League is a low-level professional ice hockey league based in Charlotte, North Carolina, with teams located in the southeastern United States.- History :...
franchises for the 2009–10 seasons. The SPHL announced also Lafayette, Louisiana will also move to the SPHL With the new SPHL franchise in place, the Sea Wolves former owners relinquished their team's membership in the ECHL at the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting.
The Phoenix RoadRunners
Phoenix RoadRunners
The Phoenix RoadRunners were a minor league ice hockey team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They played in the ECHL, beginning in the 2005–2006 season and ceasing operations at the end of the 2008-2009 season...
told the Board of Governors that the team would not participate in the 2009–10 season and would cease operations effective immediately following the 2008–09 season. At the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting, Phoenix officially relinquished their membership in the ECHL.
After sitting out from the league for four seasons on voluntary suspension, the potential Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Myrtle Beach is a coastal city on the east coast of the United States in Horry County, South Carolina. It is situated on the center of a large and continuous stretch of beach known as the Grand Strand in northeastern South Carolina. It is considered to be a major tourist destination in the...
franchise (formerly the Pee Dee/Florence Pride
Pee Dee Pride
The Pee Dee Pride was a minor-league hockey organization housed in Florence, South Carolina, where they played from 1997 until 2005. The organization, which is one of the five charter members of the East Coast Hockey League , was originally housed in Knoxville, Tennessee and was known as the...
) relinquished their franchise's membership in the league at the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting.
Additions
Following their two year voluntary suspension due to construction of a new arena, the Toledo Walleye (formerly Toledo StormToledo Storm
The Toledo Storm was a minor league professional ice hockey team in the ECHL from 1991 to 2007. The Storm played their home games at the venerable Toledo Sports Arena along the southern banks of the Maumee River in Toledo, Ohio. The team colors were red and white, similar to the Detroit Red Wings,...
) will return to the ECHL and compete at the Lucas County Arena
Lucas County Arena
The Huntington Center is an 8,000-seat multi-purpose arena in downtown Toledo, Ohio It was completed in 2009 and cost between $80 and 105 million to build. It replaced the demolished Toledo Sports Arena...
in downtown Toledo. The Walleye will bring back former Storm boss 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....
as the team's inaugural head coach and while Joe Napoli will serve as the team's general manager. Napoli also serves as the general manager and vice president of the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
minor league baseball club, which owns the Walleye, their co-anchor tenant Toledo Bullfrogs
Toledo Bullfrogs
The Toledo Bullfrogs are a professional arena football team based at the Lucas County Arena in Toledo, Ohio. They were scheduled to begin play in the af2, the developmental league of the Arena Football League, in 2010, until that league folded in 2009. The team will not play in 2010 and are...
arena football team and Lucas County Arena under the Mud Hens subsidiary, Toledo Arena Sports, Inc.
On June 9, 2009, the ECHL welcomed the Kalamazoo Wings as an expansion member for the 2009–10 season. The Wings will join the American Conference's North Division where it will renew old rivalries from the original IHL with Toledo and Cincinnati. The Wings became the second team in three years to jump from the new International Hockey League
United Hockey League
The United Hockey League was a low-level professional ice hockey league , with teams in the United States...
to the ECHL, following the Elmira Jackals
Elmira Jackals
The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
who transferred from the IHL to the ECHL in time for the 2007–08 season. Kalamazoo's move to the ECHL was expected after the club announced they were leaving the IHL on June 3, 2009.
League realignment
With Phoenix ceasing operations, Dayton and Mississippi suspending operations for the season and Toledo being added, the ECHL found itself with 19 teams and in need for a realigniment of its teams. Following the Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting, the ECHL announced a new divisional alignment of 11 teams in the American Conference and 8 teams in the National Conference. In the American Conference, the expansion Toledo Walleye would move into the North Division, while the Reading RoyalsReading Royals
The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania...
and Trenton Devils were forced to move from the North Division to the South Division. The Pacific and West Divisions of the National Conference will remain the same with the exception of the Phoenix Roadrunners and the Fresno Falcons
Fresno Falcons
The Fresno Falcons are a defunct minor league hockey team. They were once members of the ECHL . They were located in Fresno, California.-Early history:...
who folded mid-way through the 2008-09 season.
On June 9, 2009, the ECHL announced that the newly admitted Kalamazoo Wings would compete in the American Conference's North Division bring the total number of teams in the North Division to six and the total number of teams in the American Conference to twelve.
Following the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting in June, the ECHL announced that it would establish a third division in the American Conference consisting of the Elmira, Johnstown, Reading and Trenton franchises. The move slightly balances the league as all five divisions have four members.
East Division
- Elmira JackalsElmira JackalsThe Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"...
- Johnstown ChiefsJohnstown ChiefsThe 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...
- Reading RoyalsReading RoyalsThe Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania...
- Trenton Devils
North Division
- Cincinnati CyclonesCincinnati CyclonesThe Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena....
- Kalamazoo WingsKalamazoo WingsThe Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium....
- Toledo WalleyeToledo WalleyeThe Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL...
- Wheeling NailersWheeling NailersThe Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL....
South Division
- Charlotte Checkers
- Florida EverbladesFlorida EverbladesThe Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998...
- Gwinnett GladiatorsGwinnett GladiatorsThe Gwinnett Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Gladiators play their home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center....
- South Carolina StingraysSouth Carolina StingraysThe South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in...
Pacific Division
- Bakersfield CondorsBakersfield CondorsThe Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League...
- Las Vegas WranglersLas Vegas WranglersThe Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL...
- Ontario ReignOntario ReignThe Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:...
- Stockton ThunderStockton ThunderThe Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans...
West Division
- Alaska Aces
- Idaho SteelheadsIdaho SteelheadsThe Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003....
- Utah GrizzliesUtah GrizzliesThe Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :...
- Victoria Salmon KingsVictoria Salmon KingsThe Victoria Salmon Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL, debuting in the 2004–05 ECHL season and folding after the 2010–11 ECHL season as the Chilliwack Bruins WHL franchise...
2010 Kelly Cup Playoffs format
At the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting unanimously approved a new format for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in 2010 as follows:The conference quarterfinals will be a best-of-five game series with the remaining rounds being best-of-seven game series. The best-of-five series will be a 2-3 format with the higher seed choosing if it wishes to host Games 1-2 or Games 3-5. Teams that are less than 350 miles apart may choose to play a 2-2-1 format.
In the National Conference, postseason berths will be awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points. The division winner with the best record in the conference will receive a bye in the first round, the other division winner will play the 7th seed, and so on. The semifinals will put the Conference champion against the winner of the 4-5 seed games, and the other two series winners aainst each other.
In the American Conference, postseason berths will be awarded to the first-place team in each division and the next five teams in the conference, based on points, with the division winners being the top three seeds. The winners of the 1-8 matchup will play the winner of the 4-5 matchup in the first Conference semifinal series, and the other two winners will meet in the other semifinal.
Player roster revision
As well as the newly approved playoff format, the league also stated that the Injured Reserve would be abolished during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. Instead, the teams will have a maximum roster of 23 players for the postseason with 20 active players and up to three inactive players.Other league business
During the Annual Board of Governors' Meeting in June, the league announced a few decisions set to try to stabilize the league. The first of which was the Board of Governors' unanimously reelecting Steve Chapman of the Gwinnett Gladiators as the Chairman of the Board of Governors for a fourth straight term. Chapman had been awarded the ECHL Executive of the Year Award in 20052004-05 ECHL season
The 2004-05 ECHL season was the 17th season of the ECHL. This season marked uncharted territory for the ECHL as they established their first Canadian franchise, the Victoria Salmon Kings....
and 2006
2005-06 ECHL season
The 2005–06 ECHL season is the 18th season of the East Coast Hockey League, ECHL, a professional ice-hockey league based in the United States. The season ran from late October, 2005 to early June, 2006...
, the only person in league history to win the award multiple times.
With the four team difference between the American and National Conferences, the league revised its expansion policy. After having a membership as high as 40 during the ECHL-WCHL
West Coast Hockey League
The West Coast Hockey League was a professional minor ice hockey league active in the western United States from 1995 to 2003. The number of teams ranged from six to nine. The teams were located in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Washington...
merger, the league capped the number of teams the league would allow to 24, with a priority of putting teams in the South
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
and West
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
. The league currently has 20 active members and two inactive members in Columbia, SC
Columbia Inferno
The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the...
and Reno, NV
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
.
The league received updates from the inactive Columbia Inferno
Columbia Inferno
The Columbia Inferno are an ECHL team based in Columbia, South Carolina. The team is currently on voluntary suspension awaiting construction of a new arena in suburban Lexington County. They played their home games at the Carolina Coliseum. They planned on playing in a new arena during the...
and Reno, Nevada franchises who were granted a one-year extension to their voluntary suspensions. Columbia advised the Board that construction is scheduled to begin later in the Summer on the Lexington County Events Center and that the Inferno plan to return to the ice for the 2010-11 season. The team also announced that it retained the nucleus of its staff and plans to increase its preparation for 2010-11 in October. The Board unanimously approved a request from Reno for a one-year extension to its Home Arena Pending as the ownership group continues its work toward an arena project. The Reno franchise has been on voluntary suspension since the team was granted expansion rights in 2004
2004-05 ECHL season
The 2004-05 ECHL season was the 17th season of the ECHL. This season marked uncharted territory for the ECHL as they established their first Canadian franchise, the Victoria Salmon Kings....
.
Finally, the league announced the creation of the Playing Schedule Committee. The committee was created to examine the overall scheduling process. The committee will report to the Board at the Preseason Meeting in September regarding the timing and release of the schedule in coming seasons as well as the criteria to be used in creating the schedule.
Conference standings
| American Conference | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z-Charlotte Checkers |
72 | 43 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 253 | 223 | 94 |
| y-Kalamazoo Wings Kalamazoo Wings The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium.... |
72 | 42 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 273 | 243 | 94 |
| y-Elmira Jackals Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... |
72 | 37 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 275 | 231 | 83 |
| x-South Carolina Stingrays South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in... |
72 | 41 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 248 | 216 | 94 |
| x-Cincinnati Cyclones Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena.... |
72 | 44 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 235 | 200 | 91 |
| x-Florida Everblades Florida Everblades The Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998... |
72 | 38 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 234 | 221 | 85 |
| x-Reading Royals Reading Royals The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania... |
72 | 37 | 29 | 1 | 5 | 254 | 275 | 80 |
| x-Toledo Walleye Toledo Walleye The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL... |
72 | 35 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 254 | 274 | 77 |
| e-Trenton Devils | 72 | 33 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 244 | 252 | 75 |
| e-Wheeling Nailers Wheeling Nailers The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.... |
72 | 33 | 32 | 2 | 5 | 240 | 249 | 73 |
| e-Gwinnett Gladiators Gwinnett Gladiators The Gwinnett Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Gladiators play their home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.... |
72 | 31 | 33 | 5 | 3 | 243 | 277 | 70 |
| e-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... |
72 | 18 | 43 | 7 | 4 | 215 | 307 | 47 |
| National Conference | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b-Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... |
72 | 48 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 260 | 191 | 103 |
| y-Bakersfield Condors Bakersfield Condors The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League... |
72 | 38 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 232 | 243 | 81 |
| x-Alaska Aces | 72 | 36 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 232 | 240 | 80 |
| x-Utah Grizzlies Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :... |
72 | 34 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 260 | 253 | 77 |
| x-Las Vegas Wranglers Las Vegas Wranglers The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL... |
72 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 234 | 257 | 76 |
| x-Stockton Thunder Stockton Thunder The Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans... |
72 | 33 | 29 | 2 | 7 | 235 | 241 | 76 |
| x-Victoria Salmon Kings Victoria Salmon Kings The Victoria Salmon Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL, debuting in the 2004–05 ECHL season and folding after the 2010–11 ECHL season as the Chilliwack Bruins WHL franchise... |
72 | 34 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 230 | 243 | 74 |
| e-Ontario Reign Ontario Reign The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:... |
72 | 31 | 31 | 3 | 7 | 214 | 229 | 72 |
x - clinched playoff spot, y - clinched division title, b - clinched Brabham Cup
Brabham Cup
The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season...
, best record in the conference and first round bye, e - eliminated from playoff contention
Divisional standings
American Conference| East Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Elmira Jackals Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... (OTT Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 37 | 26 | 6 | 3 | 275 | 231 | 83 |
| x-Reading Royals Reading Royals The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania... (TOR Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 37 | 29 | 1 | 5 | 254 | 275 | 80 |
| e-Trenton Devils (NJD New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 33 | 30 | 4 | 5 | 244 | 252 | 75 |
| e-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... (MIN Minnesota Wild The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... ) |
72 | 18 | 43 | 7 | 4 | 215 | 307 | 47 |
| North Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Kalamazoo Wings Kalamazoo Wings The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium.... (PHI Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... /SJ San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 42 | 20 | 6 | 4 | 273 | 243 | 94 |
| x-Cincinnati Cyclones Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena.... (MON Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... /NSH Nashville Predators The Nashville Predators are a professional ice hockey team based in Nashville, Tennessee. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 44 | 25 | 1 | 2 | 235 | 200 | 91 |
| x-Toledo Walleye Toledo Walleye The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL... (DET Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... /CHI Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... ) |
72 | 35 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 254 | 274 | 77 |
| e-Wheeling Nailers Wheeling Nailers The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.... (PIT Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... ) |
72 | 33 | 32 | 2 | 5 | 240 | 249 | 73 |
| South Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z-Charlotte Checkers (COL Colorado Avalanche The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise... /NYR New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... ) |
72 | 43 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 253 | 223 | 94 |
| x-South Carolina Stingrays South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in... (WSH Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... ) |
72 | 41 | 19 | 6 | 6 | 248 | 216 | 94 |
| x-Florida Everblades Florida Everblades The Florida Everblades are an ECHL ice hockey team playing in the Southeast Division. The team is based in Estero, Florida and plays at Germain Arena . The team has existed since 1998... (CAR Carolina Hurricanes The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center... /FLA Florida Panthers The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the... ) |
72 | 38 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 234 | 221 | 85 |
| e-Gwinnett Gladiators Gwinnett Gladiators The Gwinnett Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Gladiators play their home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.... (ATL Atlanta Thrashers The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season... /CBJ Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 31 | 33 | 5 | 3 | 243 | 277 | 70 |
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; SOL = Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
National Conference
| Pacific Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y-Bakersfield Condors Bakersfield Condors The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League... (ANA Anaheim Ducks The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 38 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 232 | 243 | 81 |
| x-Las Vegas Wranglers Las Vegas Wranglers The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL... (PHX Phoenix Coyotes The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena.... ) |
72 | 34 | 30 | 4 | 4 | 234 | 257 | 76 |
| x-Stockton Thunder Stockton Thunder The Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans... (EDM Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... ) |
72 | 33 | 29 | 2 | 7 | 235 | 241 | 76 |
| e-Ontario Reign Ontario Reign The Ontario Reign is a ice hockey team from Ontario, California that play in the ECHL. Their home arena is the Citizens Business Bank Arena. They are a minor league affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League.-Team History:... (LA Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 31 | 31 | 3 | 7 | 214 | 229 | 72 |
| West Division | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | GF | GA | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| b-Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... (DAL Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The... ) |
72 | 48 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 260 | 191 | 103 |
| x-Alaska Aces (STL) | 72 | 36 | 28 | 4 | 4 | 232 | 240 | 80 |
| x-Utah Grizzlies Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :... (NYI New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... ) |
72 | 34 | 29 | 4 | 5 | 260 | 253 | 77 |
| x-Victoria Salmon Kings Victoria Salmon Kings The Victoria Salmon Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL, debuting in the 2004–05 ECHL season and folding after the 2010–11 ECHL season as the Chilliwack Bruins WHL franchise... (VAN Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... ) |
72 | 34 | 32 | 4 | 2 | 230 | 243 | 74 |
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; OTL = Overtime loss; SOL = Shootout loss; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
Leading skaters
These are the top ten skaters based on points.GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; PTS = Points; +/– = Plus/minus
Plus/minus
Plus–minus is an ice hockey statistic that measures a player's goal differential. With the exclusion of penalty shot goals, when an even-strength or shorthanded goal is scored, the plus–minus statistic is increased by one for those players on the ice for the team scoring the goal; the plus–minus...
; PIM = Penalty minutes; † = Player no longer with listed team
| Player | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | +/– | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Donati | Elmira Jackals Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... |
67 | 38 | 76 | 114 | +21 | 52 |
| Justin Donati Justin Donati Justin Donati is an ice hockey forward, currently of the Elmira Jackals in Elmira, NY of the ECHL. Justin played with his identical twin brother Tyler Donati on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL, but this was ended when Tyler was traded to the Belleville Bulls. Justin is the younger of... |
Elmira Jackals Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... |
65 | 42 | 62 | 104 | +13 | 48 |
| Ryan Kinasewich | Utah Grizzlies Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :... |
59 | 48 | 55 | 103 | -11 | 70 |
| Mark Derlago | Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... |
60 | 42 | 50 | 82 | +34 | 36 |
| Adam Miller | Las Vegas Wranglers Las Vegas Wranglers The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL... |
72 | 33 | 53 | 86 | +3 | 102 |
| AJ Perry | Utah Grizzlies Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :... |
67 | 30 | 48 | 78 | -10 | 62 |
| Evan Barlow | Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... |
58 | 32 | 43 | 75 | +30 | 65 |
| James Bates | Stockton Thunder Stockton Thunder The Stockton Thunder are a minor league professional ice hockey team from Stockton, California. The Thunder are a member of the ECHL, and began playing in the 2005–06 season. The Stockton Arena is their home ice, providing a capacity for 9,737 fans... |
60 | 27 | 46 | 73 | +18 | 24 |
| Andrew Fournier | Kalamazoo Wings Kalamazoo Wings The Kalamazoo Wings, nicknamed the K-Wings, are a mid-level professional ice hockey team in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A member of the ECHL's Eastern Conference, North Division, they play in the 5,113-seat Wings Stadium.... |
70 | 27 | 44 | 71 | +11 | 40 |
| Ryan Cruthers Ryan Cruthers Ryan Cruthers is a professional ice hockey player. Cruthers is currently playing for the Reading Royals. During Cruthers pre-collegiate career he won an EJHL Championship with the New York Apple Core and a New York State Championship with St Marys High School... |
Reading Royals Reading Royals The Reading Royals are a professional ice hockey team that currently plays in the ECHL. The team participates in the Atlantic Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Royals play their home games at the Sovereign Center located in downtown Reading, Pennsylvania... |
60 | 22 | 49 | 71 | +5 | 71 |
Statistics current as of: April 5, 2010
Leading goaltenders
These are the top five goaltenders based on both goals against averageGoals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
and save percentage
Save percentage
Save percentage is an ice hockey and lacrosse statistic that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops...
with at least one game played (Note: List is sorted by goals against average).
GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; SA = Shots against; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; SV% = Save percentage; SO = Shutouts; TOI = Time on ice (in minutes)
| Player | Team | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richard Bachman Richard Bachman (ice hockey) Richard Bachman is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He is a member of the Dallas Stars organization of the National Hockey League... |
Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... |
35 | 22 | 11 | 852 | 77 | 2.28 | .910 | 4 | 2028 |
| Jeremy Smith Jeremy Smith (ice hockey) Jeremy Smith is an American professional ice hockey goaltender now playing for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He has also played for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He is a top goaltender prospect of the Nashville Predators... |
Cincinnati Cyclones Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena.... |
42 | 23 | 17 | 1074 | 108 | 2.28 | .899 | 2 | 2468 |
| Rejean Beauchemin | Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... |
39 | 25 | 13 | 930 | 100 | 2.63 | .892 | 2 | 2279 |
| Ryan Munce | Charlotte Checkers | 44 | 26 | 17 | 1139 | 116 | 2.77 | .913 | 1 | 2511 |
| Todd Ford | South Carolina Stingrays South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in... |
28 | 18 | 9 | 859 | 77 | 2.79 | .910 | 1 | 1658 |
Statistics current as of: April 5, 2010
ECHL awards
| Patrick Kelly Cup Kelly Cup The 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... : |
Cincinnati Cyclones Cincinnati Cyclones The Cincinnati Cyclones are a professional hockey team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The team is a member of the ECHL. Founded in 1990, the team first played their games in the Cincinnati Gardens and now play at U.S. Bank Arena.... |
| Henry Brabham Cup Brabham Cup The Henry Brabham Cup is the trophy awarded annually by the ECHL to the team which finishes with the most points in the league during the regular season... : |
Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... |
| Gingher Memorial Trophy: | Cincinnati Cyclones |
| Bruce Taylor Trophy: | Idaho Steelheads |
| John Brophy Award: | Derek Laxdal Derek Laxdal Derek Laxdal is a former professional ice hockey right winger. Currently, he is the head coach of the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings. He led the Idaho Steelheads to the Kelly Cup as ECHL champions in the 2006–07 season.... (Idaho Steelheads) |
| CCM U+ Most Valuable Player: | Tyler Donati Tyler Donati Tyler Donati is an ice hockey right wing, currently of the Elmira Jackals in Elmira, NY of the ECHL. Tyler played with his identical twin brother Justin Donati on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL, but this was ended when Tyler was traded to the Belleville Bulls. Tyler is the older of... (Elmira Jackals Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... ) |
| Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player: | Robert Mayer Robert Mayer (ice hockey) Robert Mayer is a Czech professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs in the American Hockey League. He signed a three-year entry-level contract by the Montreal Canadiens in 2008-External links:... and Jeremy Smith Jeremy Smith (ice hockey) Jeremy Smith is an American professional ice hockey goaltender now playing for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He has also played for the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. He is a top goaltender prospect of the Nashville Predators... (Cincinnati Cyclones) |
| Reebok Hockey Goaltender of the Year: | Todd Ford Todd Ford Todd Ford is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Heilbronner Falken of Germany's 2nd Eishockey Bundesliga... (South Carolina Stingrays South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in... ) |
| CCM Rookie of the Year: | Justin Donati Justin Donati Justin Donati is an ice hockey forward, currently of the Elmira Jackals in Elmira, NY of the ECHL. Justin played with his identical twin brother Tyler Donati on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL, but this was ended when Tyler was traded to the Belleville Bulls. Justin is the younger of... (Elmira Jackals) |
| Defenseman of the Year: | J.C. Sawyer (Toledo Walleye Toledo Walleye The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL... ) |
| Leading Scorer: | Tyler Donati Tyler Donati Tyler Donati is an ice hockey right wing, currently of the Elmira Jackals in Elmira, NY of the ECHL. Tyler played with his identical twin brother Justin Donati on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL, but this was ended when Tyler was traded to the Belleville Bulls. Tyler is the older of... (Elmira Jackals) |
| Reebok Plus Performer Award: | Mark Derlago Mark Derlago Mark Derlago is an Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL.-Awards and honours:*WHL Most Goals with 46 *ECHL Performer of the Year... (Idaho Steelheads) |
| Sportsmanship Award: | Barret Ehgoetz Barret Ehgoetz Barret Ehgoetz is an Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Cincinnati Cyclones in the ECHL.-External links:... (Cincinnati Cyclones) |
| Birmingham Memorial Award: |
All-ECHL Teams
| All-ECHL First Team |
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 F Mark DerlagoMark Derlago Mark Derlago is an Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL.-Awards and honours:*WHL Most Goals with 46 *ECHL Performer of the Year... (Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... ) F Tyler DonatiTyler Donati Tyler Donati is an ice hockey right wing, currently of the Elmira Jackals in Elmira, NY of the ECHL. Tyler played with his identical twin brother Justin Donati on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL, but this was ended when Tyler was traded to the Belleville Bulls. Tyler is the older of... (Elmira Jackals Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... ) F Ryan KinasewichRyan Kinasewich Ryan Kinasewich is a Croatian-Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with Croatian team, KHL Medveščak Zagreb, in the Austrian Hockey League.-Playing career:... (Utah Grizzlies Utah Grizzlies The Utah Grizzlies are a professional ice hockey team in the ECHL. They play out of West Valley City, Utah, United States, with their home games at the Maverik Center.- Franchise history :... ) D Eric ReganEric Regan Eric Regan is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Hannover Scorpions in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga .On September 22, 2008, he was signed as a free agent by the Anaheim Ducks... (Bakersfield Condors Bakersfield Condors The Bakersfield Condors are a minor league ice hockey team based in Bakersfield, California. The team plays in the Pacific Division of the ECHL's Western Conference. The Condors join the Houston Aeros as an affiliate of the Minnesota Wild in the National Hockey League... ) D J.C. Sawyer (Toledo WalleyeToledo Walleye The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL... ) G Todd FordTodd Ford Todd Ford is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing for the Heilbronner Falken of Germany's 2nd Eishockey Bundesliga... (South Carolina Stingrays South Carolina Stingrays The South Carolina Stingrays are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in North Charleston, South Carolina. The Stingrays play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. They play their home games at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Carolina Ice Palace, also located in... ) |
| All-ECHL Second Team |
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| F Justin Donati Justin Donati Justin Donati is an ice hockey forward, currently of the Elmira Jackals in Elmira, NY of the ECHL. Justin played with his identical twin brother Tyler Donati on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL, but this was ended when Tyler was traded to the Belleville Bulls. Justin is the younger of... (Elmira Jackals Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... )  F Adam Miller (Las Vegas WranglersLas Vegas Wranglers The Las Vegas Wranglers are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wranglers are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL... ) F Tyler SpurgeonTyler Spurgeon Tyler Spurgeon is a centre in the Dallas Stars organization for the Idaho Steelheads of the East Coast Hockey League.... (Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... ) D Mitch Ganzak (Wheeling NailersWheeling Nailers The Wheeling Nailers are an ECHL ice hockey team based in Wheeling, West Virginia. They are the ECHL affiliate of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Montreal Canadiens of the NHL and the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL.... ) D Jimmy Sharrow (Victoria Salmon KingsVictoria Salmon Kings The Victoria Salmon Kings were a professional ice hockey team based in Victoria, British Columbia. They were members of the Mountain Division of the Western Conference of the ECHL, debuting in the 2004–05 ECHL season and folding after the 2010–11 ECHL season as the Chilliwack Bruins WHL franchise... ) G Richard BachmanRichard Bachman Richard Bachman is a pseudonym used by horror fiction author Stephen King.-Origin:At the beginning of Stephen King's career, the general view among publishers was such that an author was limited to a book every year, since publishing more would not be acceptable to the public... (Idaho Steelheads Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... ) |
ECHL All-Rookie Team
The selections of two players from the Gwinnett Gladiators and Idaho Steelheads marked the eighth and ninth times that multiple players from the same team had been voted to the All-Rookie Team and the first time since the 2001-02 season.| ECHL-All Rookie Team |
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| F Evan Barlow Evan Barlow Evan Barlow is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward, who plays for Idaho Steelheads in the ECHL.- Early career :He started his career with the BCHL team Salmon Arm Silverbacks in 2003... (Idaho Idaho Steelheads The Idaho Steelheads are an American professional minor league ice hockey team based in Boise, Idaho. The team began playing in 1997 and has been a member of the ECHL since 2003.... ) F Justin DonatiJustin Donati Justin Donati is an ice hockey forward, currently of the Elmira Jackals in Elmira, NY of the ECHL. Justin played with his identical twin brother Tyler Donati on the Toronto St. Michael's Majors of the OHL, but this was ended when Tyler was traded to the Belleville Bulls. Justin is the younger of... (Elmira Elmira Jackals The Elmira Jackals are an ice hockey team that play in the ECHL. Their home games are played in First Arena in Elmira, New York and they refer to themselves as "the beasts of the east"... ) F Maxime TanguayMaxime Tanguay Maxime Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Utah Grizzlies in the ECHL... (Toledo Toledo Walleye The Toledo Walleye are a professional ice hockey team based in Toledo, Ohio. The Walleye are members of the North Division of the Eastern Conference of the ECHL... ) D Drew Paris (GwinnettGwinnett Gladiators The Gwinnett Gladiators are a professional minor league ice hockey team based in Duluth, Georgia. The Gladiators play in the South Division of the ECHL's Eastern Conference. The Gladiators play their home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.... ) D Sam Roberts (Gwinnett) G Richard BachmanRichard Bachman (ice hockey) Richard Bachman is an American professional ice hockey goaltender. He is a member of the Dallas Stars organization of the National Hockey League... (Idaho) |