ECHL
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The ECHL is a professional hockey minor league based in the United States and Canada, generally regarded as being 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, becoming the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz in 2006-07), and the Virginia Lancers (the team is currently defunct, last playing as the Lexington Men O' War in 2003).
Since that time, the League 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 as expansion teams in the league. 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.
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Future Expansion Teams
- Burlington, Vermont (2006-07; waiting arena completion -- franchise currently operating as Utah Grizzlies)
- Gulf Coast Swords will play in Bradenton, Florida (2006-07; waiting arena completion)
- Mississippi Sea Wolves of Biloxi-Gulfport, MS (2006-07; franchise suspended on request in 2005 as a result of damage to the community and arena caused by Hurricane Katrina.)
- Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz will play in Conway, South Carolina (2006-07; waiting arena completion)
- Reno, Nevada (waiting arena completion)
Teams
(2005-06 NHL affiliates in parentheses)
National Conference
West Division
- Alaska Aces play in Anchorage (St. Louis Blues)
- Idaho Steelheads play in Boise (Dallas Stars)
- Las Vegas Wranglers (Calgary Flames)
- Phoenix Roadrunners
- Utah Grizzlies play in Salt Lake City
- Victoria Salmon Kings (independent)
Pacific Division
- Bakersfield Condors (independent)
- Fresno Falcons (San Jose Sharks)
- Long Beach Ice Dogs (Montreal Canadiens)
- San Diego Gulls (Colorado Avalanche)
- Stockton Thunder (Phoenix Coyotes)
American Conference
North Division
- Dayton Bombers (Columbus Blue Jackets)
- Johnstown Chiefs (Tampa Bay Lightning)
- Reading Royals (Los Angeles Kings)
- Toledo Storm (Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks)
- Trenton Titans (Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders)
- Wheeling Nailers (Pittsburgh Penguins)
South Division
- Augusta Lynx (independent)
- Charlotte Checkers (New York Rangers and Ottawa Senators)
- Columbia Inferno (Vancouver Canucks)
- Florida Everblades play in Estero, FL (Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers)
- Greenville Grrrowl (Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers)
- Gwinnett Gladiators play in Duluth, GA (Atlanta Thrashers)
- Pensacola Ice Pilots (Toronto Maple Leafs)
- South Carolina Stingrays play in North Charleston, SC (Washington Capitals)
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 and Texas Wildcatters, which were suspended by request from team ownership and the ECHL because of the impact of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, and will resume play in 2006-07.
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See also
External links
- Official ECHL site
- Archive of ECHL standings and statistics - at Internet Hockey Database
| ECHL | |
| 2005-06 teams: Alaska Aces | Augusta Lynx | Bakersfield Condors | Charlotte Checkers | Columbia Inferno | Dayton Bombers | Florida Everblades | Fresno Falcons | Greenville Grrrowl | Gwinnett Gladiators | Idaho Steelheads | Johnstown Chiefs | Las Vegas Wranglers | Long Beach Ice Dogs | Pensacola Ice Pilots | Phoenix Roadrunners | Reading Royals | San Diego Gulls | South Carolina Stingrays | Stockton Thunder | Toledo Storm | Trenton Titans | Utah Grizzlies | Victoria Salmon Kings | Wheeling Nailers | |
| Trophies and Awards: Patrick J. Kelly Cup | |
| Related Articles: NHL | AHL | UHL | World Cup | |
