العربية
中国
Français
Deutsch
Ελληνική
हिन्दी
Italiano
日本語
Português
Русский
EspañolECHL
(Redirected from East Coast Hockey League)
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 ECHL's official website lists the league as "The Premier AA" league of hockey in North America, because most teams serve as feeder teams for American Hockey League teams. Hockey generally does not use letter-designations to define their league's levels, but the ECHL has tried for years to establish such a pecking order, with some success.
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 2008-09), and the Virginia Lancers (now the Utah Grizzlies).
Since that time, the ECHL has met with a mixture of failures and successes, 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 lower-level 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.
The league, because of geographical anomalies, continues to use unbalanced conferences and divisions, which has in the past made for some extremely varied playoff formats. Due to travel costs, the league has attempted to placate owners in keeping those costs down, which has led to the sometimes-odd playoff structures.
''(2007-08 NHL/AHL affiliates in parentheses)''
★ Alaska Aces (STL/PEO)
★ Idaho Steelheads (DAL/IOW)
★ Phoenix RoadRunners (PHX/SA)
★ Utah Grizzlies (NYI/BRI)
★ Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN/MTB)
★ Bakersfield Condors (Independent)
★ Fresno Falcons (SJS/WOR)
★ Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY/QC)
★ Stockton Thunder (EDM/SPR)
★ Cincinnati Cyclones (MTL/HAM)
★ Dayton Bombers (CLB/SYR)
★ Elmira Jackals (TBD)
★ Johnstown Chiefs (COL/LE)
★ Reading Royals (LA/MCH)
★ Trenton Devils (NJD/LOW)
★ Wheeling Nailers (PHI/PHI & PIT/WBS)
★ Augusta Lynx (ANA/POR)
★ Charlotte Checkers (NYR/HAR)
★ Columbia Inferno (TOR/TOR)
★ Florida Everblades (CAR & FLA/ALB)
★ Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL/CHI)
★ Mississippi Sea Wolves (TBL/NOR)
★ Pensacola Ice Pilots (CHI/RFD)
★ South Carolina Stingrays (WSH/HER)
★ Texas Wildcatters (MIN/HOU)
Two teams under suspension are planned to return in 2008 and 2009, respectively, as new arenas in their respective areas are slated to open.
★ Florence/Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area franchise previously known as the Pee Dee Pride (which had played in Florence, 1997-2005), 2008-09; pending completion of YRT2 Arena on the campus of Coastal Carolina University) in Conway, South Carolina, between Florence and Myrtle Beach.
[1]
★ Toledo, Ohio, area franchise previously known as the Toledo Storm (which had played from 1991-2007), 2009-10; The Toledo Sports Arena is being demolished, and a new arena on the site is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2009 season. A new nickname is expected from the owners. [2]
Teams that no longer play within the ECHL are listed below. Many of the former teams which had not moved are considered to have suspended operations and the franchises placed for sale, but in reality are and were simply financial failures, similar to defunct teams in all other minor league sports histories.
While the ECHL stated in recent years they would not grant voluntary suspensions of franchises for more than one year, both the Toldeo Storm and Mississippi Sea Wolves have had two-year suspensions -- the Sea Wolves because of Hurricane Katrina and the Storm in order to demolish their present arena and construct a new arena on the site. The new owners of the Toledo franchise, the businessmen who own the area AAA-baseball team the Toledo Mud Hens, have stated they will choose a new name for the team but none has been picked yet.
★ Kelly Cup
★ ECHL All-Star Game
★ List of ECHL seasons
★ List of developmental and minor sports leagues
★ List of ice hockey leagues
★ Sports league attendances
★ ECHL website
★ PHPA website
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 ECHL's official website lists the league as "The Premier AA" league of hockey in North America, because most teams serve as feeder teams for American Hockey League teams. Hockey generally does not use letter-designations to define their league's levels, but the ECHL has tried for years to establish such a pecking order, with some success.
| Contents |
| League History |
| Teams |
| National Conference |
| West Division |
| Pacific Division |
| American Conference |
| North Division |
| South Division |
| Future Teams |
| Defunct and relocated teams |
| See also |
| External links |
League History
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 2008-09), and the Virginia Lancers (now the Utah Grizzlies).
Since that time, the ECHL has met with a mixture of failures and successes, 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 lower-level 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.
The league, because of geographical anomalies, continues to use unbalanced conferences and divisions, which has in the past made for some extremely varied playoff formats. Due to travel costs, the league has attempted to placate owners in keeping those costs down, which has led to the sometimes-odd playoff structures.
Teams
''(2007-08 NHL/AHL affiliates in parentheses)''
National Conference
West Division
★ Alaska Aces (STL/PEO)
★ Idaho Steelheads (DAL/IOW)
★ Phoenix RoadRunners (PHX/SA)
★ Utah Grizzlies (NYI/BRI)
★ Victoria Salmon Kings (VAN/MTB)
Pacific Division
★ Bakersfield Condors (Independent)
★ Fresno Falcons (SJS/WOR)
★ Las Vegas Wranglers (CGY/QC)
★ Stockton Thunder (EDM/SPR)
American Conference
North Division
★ Cincinnati Cyclones (MTL/HAM)
★ Dayton Bombers (CLB/SYR)
★ Elmira Jackals (TBD)
★ Johnstown Chiefs (COL/LE)
★ Reading Royals (LA/MCH)
★ Trenton Devils (NJD/LOW)
★ Wheeling Nailers (PHI/PHI & PIT/WBS)
South Division
★ Augusta Lynx (ANA/POR)
★ Charlotte Checkers (NYR/HAR)
★ Columbia Inferno (TOR/TOR)
★ Florida Everblades (CAR & FLA/ALB)
★ Gwinnett Gladiators (ATL/CHI)
★ Mississippi Sea Wolves (TBL/NOR)
★ Pensacola Ice Pilots (CHI/RFD)
★ South Carolina Stingrays (WSH/HER)
★ Texas Wildcatters (MIN/HOU)
Future Teams
Two teams under suspension are planned to return in 2008 and 2009, respectively, as new arenas in their respective areas are slated to open.
★ Florence/Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area franchise previously known as the Pee Dee Pride (which had played in Florence, 1997-2005), 2008-09; pending completion of YRT2 Arena on the campus of Coastal Carolina University) in Conway, South Carolina, between Florence and Myrtle Beach.
[1]
★ Toledo, Ohio, area franchise previously known as the Toledo Storm (which had played from 1991-2007), 2009-10; The Toledo Sports Arena is being demolished, and a new arena on the site is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2009 season. A new nickname is expected from the owners. [2]
Defunct and relocated teams
Teams that no longer play within the ECHL are listed below. Many of the former teams which had not moved are considered to have suspended operations and the franchises placed for sale, but in reality are and were simply financial failures, similar to defunct teams in all other minor league sports histories.
While the ECHL stated in recent years they would not grant voluntary suspensions of franchises for more than one year, both the Toldeo Storm and Mississippi Sea Wolves have had two-year suspensions -- the Sea Wolves because of Hurricane Katrina and the Storm in order to demolish their present arena and construct a new arena on the site. The new owners of the Toledo franchise, the businessmen who own the area AAA-baseball team the Toledo Mud Hens, have stated they will choose a new name for the team but none has been picked yet.
★ Arkansas RiverBlades (1999-2003) ★ Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies (2001-2005; moved to Stockton, CA) ★ Baton Rouge Kingfish (1996-2003; moved to Victoria, BC) ★ Birmingham Bulls (1992-2001; moved to Atlantic City, NJ) ★ Chesapeake Icebreakers (played in Upper Marlboro, MD, 1997-1999; moved to Jackson, MS) ★ Columbus Chill (1991-1999; moved to Reading, PA) ★ Columbus Cottonmouths (GA) (2001-2004; replaced by SPHL franchise) ★ Erie Panthers (1988-1996; moved to Baton Rouge, LA) ★ Greensboro Generals (1999-2004; team franchise revoked) ★ Greensboro Monarchs (1989-1995; replaced by the Carolina Monarchs of the AHL) ★ Greenville Grrrowl (1998-2006) (franchise revoked) ★ Hampton Roads Admirals (1989-2000; replaced by the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL) ★ Huntington Blizzard (1993-2000; now in Beaumont as Texas Wildcatters) ★ Huntsville Blast (1993-1994; moved to Tallahassee, FL) ★ Jackson Bandits (1999-2003) ★ Jacksonville Lizard Kings (1995-2000) ★ Knoxville Cherokees (1988-1997; moved to Florence, SC) ★ Lexington Men O' War (2002-2003; moved to West Valley City, UT) ★ Long Beach Ice Dogs (1993-2007) (franchise revoked) ★ Louisiana IceGators (1995-2005) (franchise revoked) ★ Louisville IceHawks (1990-1994; moved to Jacksonville, FL) ★ Louisville River Frogs (1995-1998; moved to Miami, FL) | ★ Macon Whoopee (2001-2002; moved to Lexington, KY) ★ Miami Matadors (1998-1999; moved to Cincinnati, OH) ★ Mobile Mysticks (1995-2002; moved to Duluth, GA) ★ Nashville Knights (1989-1996; moved to Pensacola, FL when NHL arrived) ★ New Orleans Brass (1997-2002; team suspended operations after the arrival of the NBA's Hornets when arena lease was not given) ★ Pee Dee Pride (1997-2005; team suspended operations after the 2004-05 season and will become the Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz once a new arena is completed in nearby Conway, SC) ★ Peoria Rivermen (1996-2005; replaced by the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL) ★ Raleigh IceCaps (1991-1998; moved to Augusta, GA when NHL arrived) ★ Richmond Renegades (1990-2003; Replaced by UHL Richmond RiverDogs whom were replaced by the Richmond Renegades of the SPHL) ★ Roanoke Express (1993-2004; franchise revoked) ★ San Diego Gulls (2003-2006) (franchise revoked) ★ Tallahassee Tiger Sharks (1994-2001; moved to Macon, Georgia) ★ Virginia Lancers (1988-1993 in Vinton, VA; franchise later renamed the Roanoke Valley Rebels and Rampage; moved to Huntsville, AL) ★ Winston-Salem Thunderbirds (1988-1992; originally called Carolina before reverting to city name; moved to Wheeling, WV, and eventually become the Nailers in 1995) |
See also
★ Kelly Cup
★ ECHL All-Star Game
★ List of ECHL seasons
★ List of developmental and minor sports leagues
★ List of ice hockey leagues
★ Sports league attendances
External links
★ ECHL website
★ PHPA website
This article provided by Wikipedia. To edit the contents of this article, click here for original source.
psst.. try this: add to faves
