2020-21 ECHL season

	2020–21 ECHL season
League	ECHL
Sport	Ice hockey
Duration	December 11, 2020 – June 6, 2021
Regular season
Brabham Cup	Florida Everblades
Season MVP	Anthony Beauregard (Wichita)
Top scorer	Aaron Luchuk (Orlando)
Playoffs
Eastern champions	South Carolina Stingrays
Eastern runners-up	Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Western champions	Fort Wayne Komets
Western runners-up	Allen Americans

This is the 2020-21 ECHL season. This is the league's 33rd season.

Resumption of Play[]

Under the split-season guidelines, the following 13 teams will begin a 72-game season on December 11th - Allen, Florida, Greenville, Indy, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Orlando, Rapid City, South Carolina, Tulsa, Utah, Wheeling and Wichita. Additionally, remaining ECHL teams will begin their Season on January 15, 2021, competing in a 62-game season upon jurisdictional approval.^[1]

Membership changes[]

The Atlanta Gladiators voluntarily suspended operations for the 2020-21 season.

On October 20th the Norfolk Admirals opted out of the 2020-21 season under the ECHL's COVID-19 voluntary suspension policy.^[2]

On November 18th the entire North Division (Adirondack Thunder, Brampton Beast, Maine Mariners, Newfoundland Growlers, Reading Royals and Worcester Railers) announced they sit out the 2020-21 season and would return for the 2021-22 season.^[3]

On December 7th the league announced that the Cincinnati Cyclones, Idaho Steelheads, and Kalamazoo Wings had elected to to suspend play for the 2020-21 season under the league's policy for COVID-19.^[4]

On January 5th the league announced a finalized schedule for the balance of the season and it had announced that the Toledo Walleye had announced they were voluntarily suspending operations for the 2020-21 season.

On January 12, 2021 the league's Board of Governors has approved expansion applications for Coralville, Iowa and Trois-Rivières, Quebec to begin play for the 2021-22. The Coralville team will be based out of the Xtream Arena and the Trois-Rivieres team will be based out of the Le Nouveau Colisée.^[5]On June 10, 2021, the team name was announced as the Trois-Rivières Lions, named after the only previous professional team to play in the city, the Trois-Rivières Lions, from 1955 to 1960.^[6]

On January 27, 2021 the league announced the addition of a expansion team to be based out of the New Savannah Arena in Savannah, Georgia for the 2022-23 ECHL season.^[7]

On February 18, 2021 the league announced as part of its mid-season Board of Governors meeting that the Brampton Beast had withdrawn from the league effective the end of the season (after already sitting out the 2020-21 season.^[8]

Teams[]

Standings[]

Due to the imbalanced schedule during the pandemic, teams are ranked on points percentage.

Final standings^[9]

Eastern Conference	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	GF	GA	Pts	Pts%
z — Florida Everblades (NSH)	69	42	19	5	3	233	193	92	.667
x — Greenville Swamp Rabbits (FLA)	72	38	19	12	3	210	204	91	.632
x — Indy Fuel (CHI)	69	37	24	8	0	204	199	82	.594
x — South Carolina Stingrays (WSH)	70	34	23	10	3	216	212	81	.579
Orlando Solar Bears (TB)	72	36	29	6	1	218	232	79	.549
Jacksonville Icemen (WPG)	71	34	30	3	4	205	212	75	.528
Wheeling Nailers (PIT)	68	22	39	6	1	196	241	51	.375

Western Conference	GP	W	L	OTL	SOL	GF	GA	Pts	Pts%
y — Allen Americans (MIN)	72	45	23	3	1	236	196	94	.653
x — Wichita Thunder (EDM)	71	41	22	6	2	218	190	90	.634
x — Fort Wayne Komets (VGK)	51	29	17	3	2	170	136	63	.618
x — Utah Grizzlies (COL)	72	35	26	5	6	207	219	81	.563
Tulsa Oilers (ANA)	72	30	28	11	3	180	203	74	.514
Kansas City Mavericks (CGY)	72	31	31	8	2	205	226	72	.500
Rapid City Rush (ARI)	71	32	35	3	1	197	232	68	.479

x – clinched playoff spot; y – clinched regular season conference title; z – Brabham Cup (regular season) champion

2021 Kelly Cup playoffs[]

Main article: 2021 Kelly Cup playoffs

Format[]

The top four teams in each division qualify. Division based format with 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3 with winners advancing to division final. Division winners meet for Kelly Cup. All rounds are best-of-five.

Due to the North Charleston Coliseum being unavailable for the playoffs, the South Carolina Stingrays play at the Carolina Ice Palace.^[10]

Bracket[]

As of July 2, 2021.^[11]

Conference Semifinals

Conference Finals

Kelly Cup Finals

E1

Florida Everblades

2

E4

South Carolina Stingrays

3

E4

South Carolina Stingrays

3

Eastern Conference

E2

Greenville Swamp Rabbits

1

E2

Greenville Swamp Rabbits

3

E3

Indy Fuel

1

E4

South Carolina Stingrays

1

W3

Fort Wayne Komets

3

W1

Allen Americans

3

W4

Utah Grizzlies

0

W1

Allen Americans

1

Western Conference

W3

Fort Wayne Komets

3

W2

Wichita Thunder

2

W3

Fort Wayne Komets

3

Awards[]

See also: ECHL awards

Award	Winner
Patrick Kelly Cup:	Fort Wayne Komets
Henry Brabham Cup:	Florida Everblades
Gingher Memorial Trophy:	South Carolina Stingrays
Bruce Taylor Trophy:	Fort Wayne Komets
John Brophy Award:	Bruce Ramsay, Wichita^[12]
Most Valuable Player:	Anthony Beauregard, Wichita^[13]
Kelly Cup Playoffs Most Valuable Player:
Goaltender of the Year:	Jake Hildebrand, Florida^[14]
Rookie of the Year:	Matthew Boucher, Utah^[15]
Defenseman of the Year:	Les Lancaster, Allen^[16]
Leading Scorer:	Aaron Luchuk, Orlando^[17]
Plus Performer Award:	John McCarron, Florida^[18]
Sportsmanship Award:	Aaron Luchuk, Orlando^[19]
Community Service Award:

All-ECHL teams[]

First Team[]

Jake Hildebrand (G) – Florida^[20]
Samuel Jardine (D) – Greenville^[20]
Les Lancaster (D) – Allen^[20]
Anthony Beauregard (F) – Wichita^[20]
Aaron Luchuk (F) – Orlando^[20]
John McCarron (F) – Florida^[20]

Second Team[]

Evan Buitenhuis (G) – Wichita^[20]
Matt Register (D) – Allen^[20]
Dean Stewart (D) – Wichita^[20]
Tyler Coulter (F) – Rapid City^[20]
Peter Quenneville (F) – Rapid City^[20]
Cole Ully (F) – South Carolina^[20]

All-Rookie[]

Evan Weninger (G) – Wichita^[21]
Ben Finkelstein (D) – Greenville^[21]
Dean Stewart (D) – Wichita^[21]
Matthew Boucher (F) – Utah^[21]
Jay Dickman (F) – Wichita^[21]
Joseph Garreffa (F) – Orlando^[21]

References[]

External links[]

ECHL website

ECHL seasons
1988-89 · 1989-90 · 1990-91 · 1991-92 · 1992-93 · 1993-94 · 1994-95 · 1995-96 · 1996-97 · 1997-98 · 1998-99
1999-00 · 2000-01 · 2001-02 · 2002-03 · 2003-04 · 2004-05 · 2005-06 · 2006-07 · 2007-08 · 2008-09 · 2009-10 · 2010-11 · 2011-12 · 2012-13 · 2013-14 · 2014-15 · 2015-16 · 2016-17 · 2017-18 · 2018-19 · 2019-20 · 2020-21 · 2021-22

[1] ttps://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/echl-confirms-start-date-for-2020-21-season/n-5646931

[2] ttps://www.dailypress.com/sports/norfolk-admirals/vp-sp-norfolk-admirals-20201020-bs3ud7ssbnc4ffa7slbkyllrmu-story.html

[3] ttps://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/echl-north-division-elects-suspension-of-play-mariners-issue-statement/n-5652772

[4] ttps://www.echl.com/en/news/2020/12/cincinnati-idaho-and-kalamazoo-elect-suspension-of-play-for-2020-21-season

[5] ttps://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/1/echl-approves-two-expansion-memberships

[6] INTRODUCING THE TROIS-RIVIÈRES LIONS (June 10, 2021).

[7] ttps://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/1/echl-approves-expansion-membership-for-savannah

[8] ttps://www.echl.com/en/news/2021/2/updates-from-midseason-meeting-of-echl-board-of-governors

[9] 2020–21 Conference Standings.

[10] ttps://www.postandcourier.com/sports/minor_leagues/s-c-stingrays-earn-playoff-berth-but-not-at-north-charleston-coliseum/article_1c87ad10-c6fe-11eb-a16e-4bef377d8945.html

[11] 2021 playoff schedule.

[Ramsay-12] WICHITA'S RAMSAY RECEIVES JOHN BROPHY AWARD AS ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR (June 8, 2021).

[13] Wichita's Beauregard Named 2020-21 Warrior Hockey/ECHL Most Valuable Player (June 11, 2021).

[14] FLORIDA'S HILDEBRAND NAMED WARRIOR HOCKEY/ECHL GOALTENDER OF THE YEAR (June 10, 2021).

[15] Utah's Boucher Named ECHL Rookie of the Year (June 7, 2021).

[16] Allen's Lancaster Named ECHL Defenseman of the Year (June 9, 2021).

[17] ORLANDO'S LUCHUK WINS 2020-21 ECHL SCORING TITLE (June 6, 2021).

[18] FLORIDA'S MCCARRON IS AMI GRAPHICS/ECHL PLUS PERFORMER OF THE YEAR (June 6, 2021).

[19] ORLANDO'S LUCHUK RECEIVES 2020-21 ECHL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (June 4, 2021).

[2021_1st2nd-20] 20.00 ^20.01 ^20.02 ^20.03 ^20.04 ^20.05 ^20.06 ^20.07 ^20.08 ^20.09 ^20.10 ^20.11 All-ECHL First and Second Teams Announced (June 3, 2021).

[2021Rookie-21] 21.0 ^21.1 ^21.2 ^21.3 ^21.4 ^21.5 ECHL Announces 2020-21 All-Rookie Team (June 2, 2021).

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Division	Team	City	Arena
Eastern Conference
North	Adirondack Thunder	Glens Falls, New York	Cool Insuring Arena
	Brampton Beast	Brampton, Ontario	Powerade Centre
	Maine Mariners	Portland, Maine	Cross Insurance Arena
	Newfoundland Growlers	St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador	Mile One Centre
	Reading Royals	Reading, Pennsylvania	Santander Arena
	Worcester Railers	Worcester, Massachusetts	DCU Center
South	Atlanta Gladiators	Duluth, Georgia	Infinite Energy Arena
	Florida Everblades	Estero, Florida	Germain Arena
	Greenville Swamp Rabbits	Greenville, South Carolina	Bon Secours Wellness Arena
	Jacksonville Icemen	Jacksonville, Florida	Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
	Norfolk Admirals	Norfolk, Virginia	Norfolk Scope
	Orlando Solar Bears	Orlando, Florida	Amway Center
	South Carolina Stingrays	North Charleston, South Carolina	North Charleston Coliseum
Western Conference
Central	Cincinnati Cyclones	Cincinnati, Ohio	U.S. Bank Arena
	Fort Wayne Komets	Fort Wayne, Indiana	Allen County War Memorial Coliseum
	Indy Fuel	Indianapolis, Indiana	Indiana Farmers Coliseum
	Kalamazoo Wings	Kalamazoo, Michigan	Wings Event Center
	Toledo Walleye	Toledo, Ohio	Huntington Center
	Wheeling Nailers	Wheeling, West Virginia	WesBanco Arena
Mountain	Allen Americans	Allen, Texas	Allen Event Center
	Idaho Steelheads	Boise, Idaho	Century Link Arena
	Kansas City Mavericks	Independence, Missouri	Silverstein Eye Centers Arena
	Rapid City Rush	Rapid City, South Dakota	Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
	Tulsa Oilers	Tulsa, Oklahoma	BOK Center
	Utah Grizzlies	West Valley City, Utah	Maverik Center
	Wichita Thunder	Wichita, Kansas	Intrust Bank Arena