ECHL
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The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States and Canada, generally regarded as a tier below the American Hockey League.
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 Carolina Thunderbirds (now the Wheeling Nailers), the Erie Panthers (now the Victoria Salmon Kings), the Johnstown Chiefs, the Knoxville Cherokees (the franchise, as the Pee Dee Pride, is currently suspended, to resume play in Conway, South Carolina in 2007-08), and the Virginia Lancers (now the Utah Grizzlies).
Since that time, the ECHL has met with great success, reaching its largest size in 2003 of 31 teams before being reduced to 28 teams for the 2004 season. 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 2003-04 season as expansion teams.
The teams from the defunct WCHL, along with Las Vegas, joined as expansion teams for the ECHL’s 16th season in 2003-04. In a change reflective of the nationwide presence of the ECHL, the East Coast Hockey League changed its name to simply ECHL on May 19, 2003.
Future Expansion Teams
- Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz (2007-08; awaiting construction of Atlantic Center Arena on the campus of Coastal Carolina University). Will be located in Conway, South Carolina.
- Gulf Coast Swords will play in Bradenton, Florida (pending arena completion, which is mired in lawsuits and financial problems-the ECHL has given the ownership group one last chance to get an arena going, otherwise the franchise will be revoked)
- Mississippi Sea Wolves of Biloxi-Gulfport, MS (2007-08; franchise suspended on request in 2005 as a result of damage to the community and arena caused by Hurricane Katrina.)
- Reno Raiders (2008-09, pending arena construction, franchise suspended after the 1997-98 West Coast Hockey League season)
Teams
(2005-06 NHL affiliates in parentheses)National Conference
West Division
- Alaska Aces (STL)
- Idaho Steelheads (DAL)
- Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY)
- Phoenix Roadrunners (TBD)
- Utah Grizzlies (TBD)
- Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN)
Pacific Division
- Bakersfield Condors (Independent)
- Fresno Falcons (SJ)
- Long Beach Ice Dogs (MTL)
- Stockton Thunder (PHX)
American Conference
North Division
- Cincinnati Cyclones (TBD)
- Dayton Bombers (CLB)
- Johnstown Chiefs (TB)
- Reading Royals (LA)
- Toledo Storm (DET/SJ)
- Trenton Titans (PHI/NYI)
- Wheeling Nailers (PIT)
South Division
- Augusta Lynx (Independent)
- Charlotte Checkers (NYR/OTT)
- Columbia Inferno (VAN)
- Florida Everblades (CAR/FLA)
- Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL)
- Pensacola Ice Pilots (TOR)
- South Carolina Stingrays (WSH)
- Texas Wildcatters (TBD)
2005-2006 Season
For regular season final standings and other stats, see 2005-06 ECHL season
Kelly Cup Playoffs
Quarterfinals
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Division Semifinals
American Conference
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National Conference
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Division Finals
American Conference
| valign="top" | |}National Conference
| valign="top" | |}Conference Finals
| valign="top" | |}Kelly Cup Finals
Defunct teams
Like any minor league, the ECHL has its share of defunct teams. Teams that no longer play within the ECHL are listed below. All of the teams, except for the Greensboro Generals and the Roanoke Express, which were terminated by the ECHL, and the teams which have relocated, are considered to have suspended operations and the franchises placed for sale. Also excepted are the Mississippi Sea Wolves, which were suspended by request from team ownership and the ECHL because of the impact of Hurricane Katrina. The Sea Wolves are due to resume play in 2007-08.
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See also
- Kelly Cup
- ECHL All-Star Game
- List of ECHL seasons
- Developmental and minor sports leagues
- List of ice hockey leagues
- Sports league attendances
External links
| ECHL | |
| 2006-07 teams: Alaska Aces | Augusta Lynx | Bakersfield Condors | Charlotte Checkers | Cincinnati Cyclones | Columbia Inferno | Dayton Bombers | Florida Everblades | Fresno Falcons | Gwinnett Gladiators | Idaho Steelheads | Johnstown Chiefs | Las Vegas Wranglers | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Pensacola Ice Pilots | Phoenix RoadRunners | Reading Royals | South Carolina Stingrays | Stockton Thunder | Texas Wildcatters | Toledo Storm | Trenton Titans | Utah Grizzlies | Victoria Salmon Kings | Wheeling Nailers | |
| Planned 2007-08 teams: Mississippi Sea Wolves | Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz | Reno Raiders | |
| Trophies and Awards: Patrick J. Kelly Cup | |
| Related Articles: NHL | AHL | UHL | CHL | SPHL | World Cup | |
| Current arenas in the ECHL | ||
| American Conference | National Conference | |
|---|---|---|
| Arena at Gwinnett Center | Augusta Civic Center | Bi-Lo Center | Cambria County War Memorial Arena | Carolina Coliseum | St. Lawrence Homes Home Ice | Ford Arena1 | Germain Arena | North Charleston Coliseum | Nutter Center | Pensacola Civic Center | Sovereign Bank Arena | Sovereign Center | Toledo Sports Arena | U.S. Bank Arena2 | WesBanco Arena | E Center | iPayOne Center | Long Beach Sports Arena | Orleans Arena | Qwest Arena | Rabobank Arena | Save Mart Center | Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre| Stockton Arena | Sullivan Arena | US Airways Center | |
| 1 * The Ford Bank Arena will be the home of the Texas Wildcatters starting in 2006. | ||
| 2 The U.S. Bank Arena will be the home of the Cincinnati Cyclones starting in 2006. | ||
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