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=== List of Hall of Famers ===
  
=== List of Hall of Famers ===
  +
== List of Hall of Famers ==
−
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 85%; text-align: center; width: 25%;" border="1"
  
  +
  +
{| class="wikitable"
 
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
  
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
 
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
  
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
 
! style="background:#efefef;" | Name
  
! style="background:#efefef;" | Name
 
! style="background:#efefef;" | Position/role
  
! style="background:#efefef;" | Position/role
  +
! style="backgroune:#efefef;" | ECHL Team(s)
 
|-
  
|-
 
| rowspan="4"|2008
  
| rowspan="4"|2008
 
| [[Henry Brabham]]
  
| [[Henry Brabham]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2008">{{cite web | url = http://www.stingrayshockey.com/news/teamnews/index.html?article_id=487 | title = Inaugural ECHL Hall Of Fame Class Announced | author=ECHL Press Release | language= | publisher = ECHL.com | date = January 23, 2008 | accessdate = April 28, 2013}}</ref>
 
| ECHL founder
  
| ECHL founder
  +
| League Executive
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Patrick J. Kelly]]
  
| [[Patrick J. Kelly]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2008" />
−
| Commissioner
 +
| Commissioner (1988–96)
  +
| League Executive
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Chris Valicevic]]
  
| [[Chris Valicevic]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2008" />
−
| Defenceman
  
  +
| Defenseman
  +
| [[Greensboro Monarchs]], [[Louisiana IceGators]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Nick Vitucci]]
  
| [[Nick Vitucci]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2008" />
 
| Goaltender
  
| Goaltender
  +
| [[Greensboro Monarchs]], [[Hampton Roads Admirals]], [[Toledo Storm]], [[Charlotte Checkers (1993–2010)|Charlotte Checkers]], [[Greenville Grrrowl]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| rowspan="4"|2009
  
| rowspan="4"|2009
 
| [[John Brophy]]
  
| [[John Brophy]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2009">{{cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3744433 | title = 2009 ECHL Hall Of Fame Class is Brophy, Cullen, Nemeth, Taylor| author= ECHL Press Release | publisher = [[ECHL]] | date = November 5, 2008 | accessdate = May 6, 2013}}</ref>
 
| Head coach
  
| Head coach
  ⚫
| [[Hampton Roads Admirals]], [[Wheeling Nailers]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Blake Cullen]]
  
| [[Blake Cullen]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2009" />
⚫
| Owner ([[Hampton Roads Admirals|Hampton Roads]])
  
  +
| Owner
  +
| [[Hampton Roads Admirals]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Tom Nemeth]]
  
| [[Tom Nemeth]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2009" />
−
| Defenceman
  
  +
| Defenseman
  +
|[[Dayton Bombers]], [[South Carolina Stingrays]], [[Toledo Storm]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Rod Taylor]]
  
| [[Rod Taylor]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2009" />
 
| Left winger
  
| Left winger
  +
| [[Hampton Roads Admirals]], [[Richmond Renegades]], [[Roanoke Express]], [[South Carolina Stingrays]], [[Peoria Rivermen (ECHL)|Peoria Rivermen]], [[Toledo Storm]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| rowspan="4"|2010
  
| rowspan="4"|2010
 
| [[Cam Brown]]
  
| [[Cam Brown]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2010">{{cite web | url = http://www.insidesocal.com/reign/2009/12/03/2010-echl-hall-of-fame-class-a/ | title = 2010 ECHL Hall Of Fame announced| author= J.P. Hoornstra | publisher = ''Inside SoCal'' | date = December 3, 2009 | accessdate = May 6, 2013}}</ref>
 
| Left winger
  
| Left winger
  +
| [[Columbus Chill]], [[Erie Panthers]], [[Baton Rouge Kingfish]], [[Gwinnett Gladiators]]
 
|-
  
|-
−
| [[E.A. Bud Gingher]]
 +
| [[E.A. "Bud" Gingher]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2010" />
⚫
| Board of Governors Chairman (1992-95) and Owner ([[Dayton Bombers|Dayton]])
  
  +
| Owner; Chairman
  ⚫
| Board of Governors Chairman (1992–95); [[Dayton Bombers]] owner
 
|-
  
|-
−
| [[Olaf Kölzig]]
 +
| [[Olaf Kolzig]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2010" />
 
| Goaltender
  
| Goaltender
  +
| [[Hampton Roads Admirals]]
 
|-
  
|-
 
| [[Darryl Noren]]
  
| [[Darryl Noren]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2010" />
−
| Centre
  
  +
| Center
  +
| [[Greensboro Monarchs]], [[Charlotte Checkers]]
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="4"|2011
  +
| [[Phil Berger]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2011">{{cite web | url = http://arenadigest.com/201011193116/hockey/minor-league-hockey/echl-announces-2011-hall-of-fame-class | title = ECHL Announces 2011 ECHL Hall Of Fame Class | author=ECHL Press Release | language= | publisher = ''Arena Digest'' | date = November 19, 2010 | accessdate = May 6, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Right winger
  +
| [[Greensboro Monarchs]], [[Charlotte Checkers]], [[Raleigh IceCaps]], [[Hampton Roads Admirals]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Richard Adams]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2011" />
  +
| President/CEO (1995–02)
  +
| League Executive
  +
|-
  +
| [[Luke Curtin]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2011" />
  +
| Left winger
  +
| [[Baton Rouge Kingfish]], [[Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies]], [[Fresno Falcons]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Joe Ernst]]
  +
<ref name="HOF2011" />
  +
| Referee
  +
| League Official
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="5"|2012
  +
| [[Bob Woods]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.echl.com/echl-alumni-profile-bob-woods-p175553 | title =ECHL Alumni Profile - Bob Woods| author= Mike Ashmore | publisher = [[ECHL]] | date = January 19, 2012 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Defenseman
  +
| [[Johnstown Chiefs]], [[Hampton Roads Admirals]], [[Mobile Mysticks]], [[Tallahassee Tiger Sharks]], [[Mississippi Sea Wolves]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Bill Coffey]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4326352 | title = 2012 ECHL Hall of Fame is Coffey, Gorski, Marks, Seitz, and Woods| author= | publisher = [[ECHL]] | date = December 1, 2011 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Founder
  +
| League Executive
  +
|-
  +
| [[Sheldon Gorski]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.echl.com/2012-echl-hall-of-fame-class-is-coffey-gorski-marks-seitz-and-woods-p174593 | title =2012 ECHL Hall Of Fame is Coffey, Gorski, Marks, Seitz, and Woods| author= ECHL Press Release | publisher = [[ECHL]] | date = December 1, 2011 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Right Winger
  +
| [[Louisville Icehawks]], [[Louisville RiverFrogs]], [[Miami Matadors]], [[Pensacola Ice Pilots]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[John Marks (ice hockey)|John Marks]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://fargoforce.com/team-news/head-coach-john-marks-to-be-inducted-into-the-2012-echl-hall-of-fame/ | title = Head Coach Marks To Be Inducted Into The 2012 ECHL Hall Of Fame| author= Whitney Baumgartner | publisher = [[Fargo Force]] | date = December 4, 2011 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Coach
  +
| [[Charlotte Checkers]], [[Greenville Grrrowl]], [[Pensacola Ice Pilots]], [[Augusta Lynx]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Dave Seitz]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stingrayshockey.com/news/teamnews/?article_id=1946 | title = Seitz to Enter ECHL Hall of Fame| author=ECHL Press Release | language= | publisher = ECHL.com | date = January 18, 2013 | accessdate = April 28, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Center
  +
| [[South Carolina Stingrays]]
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="4"|2013
  +
| [[Dave Craievich]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.coloradoeagles.com/news.php?nid=1480 | title = ECHL Announces 2013 Hall Of Fame Class| publisher = [[Colorado Eagles]] | date = December 3, 2012 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Defenseman
  +
| [[Cincinnati Cyclones]], [[Birmingham Bulls]], [[Mobile Mysticks]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Marc Magliarditi]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2012/dec/25/former-las-vegas-wrangers-goalie-marc-magliarditi/ | title = Former Wranglers goalie made Las Vegas his home, shined in last stop of career| author=Paul De Los Santos | publisher = [[Las Vegas Sun]] | date = December 25, 2012 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Goaltender
  +
| [[Columbus Chill]], [[Florida Everblades]], [[Louisiana IceGators]], [[Richmond Renegades]], [[Las Vegas Wranglers]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Steve Poapst]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.icehogs.com/news/icehogs/?article_id=3583 | title = Poapst among 2013 ECHL Hall Of Fame Class| author=Nate Haeni | publisher = [[Rockford IceHogs]] | date = December 3, 2012 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Defenseman
  +
| [[Hampton Roads Admirals]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Darren Schwartz]]
  +
<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/578144/Schwartz-A-Worthy-Choice.html?nav=524 | title = Schwartz A Worthy Choice| author=Shawn Rine | publisher = ''The Intelligencer'' | date = December 4, 2012 | accessdate = May 5, 2013}}</ref>
  +
| Left Winger
  +
| [[Johnstown Chiefs]], [[Winston-Salem Thunderbirds]], [[Tallahassee Tiger Sharks]], Wheeling Thunderbirds/Nailers
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="4"|2014
  +
| [[James Edwards]]
  +
| President; Chairman
  +
| [[Johnstown Chiefs]] president, Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors (1999–2003)
  +
|-
  +
| [[Wes Goldie]]
  +
| Right Winger
  +
| [[Pee Dee Pride]], [[Victoria Salmon Kings]], and [[Alaska Aces (ECHL)|Alaska Aces]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Al MacIsaac]]
  +
| Defense; GM/Coach
  +
| [[Hampton Roads Admirals]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[John Spoltore]]
  +
| Center
  +
| [[Louisiana IceGators]]
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="4"|2015
  +
| [[Darren Colbourne]]
  +
| Right Winger
  +
| [[Dayton Bombers]], [[Richmond Renegades]], [[Raleigh IceCaps]], [[Augusta Lynx]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Louis Dumont (ice hockey)|Louis Dumont]]
  +
| Center
  +
| [[Tallahassee Tiger Sharks]], [[Wheeling Thunderbirds]], [[Louisiana IceGators]], [[Augusta Lynx]], [[Pensacola Ice Pilots]], [[Mississippi Sea Wolves]], and [[Utah Grizzlies]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Scott Sabatino]]
  +
| Executive Vice President; COO
  +
| League Executive
  +
|-
  +
| [[Carl Scheer]]
  +
| Owner; Chairman
  +
| [[Charlotte Checkers (1993–2010)|Charlotte Checkers]] owner, Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors, [[Greenville Grrrowl]] owner
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="3"|2016
  +
| [[Daniel Berthiaume]]
  +
| Goaltender
  +
| [[Wheeling Thunderbirds]], [[Roanoke Express]] and [[Greensboro Generals]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Craig Brush]]
  +
| General Manager
  +
| [[Florida Everblades]]
  +
|-
  +
| [[Allan Sirois]]
  +
| Left winger
  +
| [[Baton Rouge Kingfish]], [[Jacksonville Lizard Kings]], [[Pee Dee Pride]], [[Pee Dee Pride]], [[Greenville Grrrowl]], [[Texas Wildcatters]]
 
|}
  
|}
   

Revision as of 23:16, 11 July 2016

ECHL
ECHLLogo
Sport Ice hockey
Founded 1988
No. of teams 28
Country(ies) United States (27 teams)
Canada (1 team)
Most recent champion(s) Allen Americans
Most championship(s) (tie) Alaska Aces, Hampton Roads Admirals and
South Carolina Stingrays (3)
Official website www.echl.com

The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level 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 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 ECHL, along with the AHL, are the only minor leagues recognized by the collective bargaining agreement between the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players' Association, meaning any player signed to an entry-level NHL contract and designated for assignment must report to a club either in the AHL or the ECHL.[1]

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 2009–10), 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 the 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, continued to use unbalanced conferences and divisions, which has in the past made for some extremely varied playoff formats and limited interconference play. 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. The league as of 2008; consisted of nine West Coast-based teams in the National Conference, and twelve eastern, midwestern and southern teams in the American Conference.

In the past several years, the ECHL has attempted to be more tech-friendly to its fans. Some improvements on the league's website have included a new schedule and statistics engine powered by League Stat, Inc. (introduced in 2006), internet radio coverage for most teams, and pay-per view broadcasting of ECHL games through B2 Networks. In 2008, the league introduced the ECHL toolbar for internet browsers which gave users short cut access to statistics, scores, transactions, and news updates.[2]

The annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting was held on Tuesday, June 15, 2010 in Henderson, Nevada. The Board of Governors approved changes to the names of the conferences and divisions. The American Conference gets changed to the Eastern Conference and the National Conference gets changed to the Western Conference. The East Division gets changed to the Atlantic Division and the West Division gets changed to the Mountain Division. [3]

Addition of Central Hockey League teams (for 2014-15 season)

The league held a Board of Governors Meeting on October 7, 2014 and at this meeting the league added the seven remaining members of the Central Hockey League as expansion teams for the 2014-15 ECHL season.  This gave the league a balanced, 28 team league with 2 conferences with 2-seven team divisions.  On October 9th, the league approved a new realignment and playoff format for the 2014-15 season.  The schedule was released on October 13th with the former CHL teams now playing a 72-game schedule.

Fallout from formation of AHL's Pacific Division

The ECHL lost and gained several cities when the AHL added a Pacific Division for the 2015-16 season.  The league lost teams in Bakersfield, Stockton, and Ontario, California. The league gained teams in Manchester, New Hampshire, Glens Falls, New York, and returned to Norfolk, Virginia.

On February 9th, 2016 the league annouced the addition of a team to be based out of the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.  The team will take to the ice for the 2017-18 season.

2016-17 changes

The Evansville IceMen announced they would relocate to Owensboro, Kentucky for the 2016-17 season.  The team needed to put in extensive repairs to the arena that they will be playing in the Owensboro Sports Center.  The team later decided to take the 2016-17 season off in order to complete the renovations.  The ownership of the arena in Evansville immediately began working on obtaining an expansion franchise in the Southern Professional Hockey League which came to fruition on March 16th.

As part of the fall out from the Arizona Coyotes moving their AHL affiliate to Tucson, Arizona from Springfield, Massachusetts and then the Portland Pirates being sold to a group that is trying to move the team to Springfield for the 2016-17 season;  The soon to be former owner of the AHL's Pirates announced that he was planning on bringing an ECHL team to Portland, Maine for the 2017-18 season. No word on wether it would be an expansion team or a relocated team.

2016-17 League alignment

Division Team City/Area Arena Est. Join Head Coach NHL Affiliate(s) AHL Affiliate(s)
Eastern Conference
North
Adirondack Thunder Glens Falls, New York Glens Falls Civic Center 1990* Cail MacLean Calgary Flames Stockton Heat
Brampton Beast Brampton, ON Powerade Centre 2013 2014 Brent Hughes Montreal Canadiens St. John's IceCaps
Elmira Jackals Elmira, NY First Arena 2000 2007 vacant (as of July 11, 2016) Buffalo Sabres Rochester Americans
Manchester Monarchs Manchester, New Hampshire Verizon Wireless Arena 1993* Richard Seeley Los Angeles Kings Ontario Reign
Reading Royals Reading, PA Santander Arena 1991* Larry Courville Philadelphia Flyers Lehigh Valley Phantoms
Wheeling Nailers Wheeling, WV WesBanco Arena 1981* David Gove Pittsburgh Penguins Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
South
Atlanta Gladiators Duluth, GA Arena at Gwinnett Center 1995* Andy Brandt Boston Bruins Providence Bruins
Cincinnati Cyclones Cincinnati, OH U.S. Bank Arena 1995* Matt Macdonald Nashville Predators Milwaukee Admirals
Florida Everblades Estero, FL Germain Arena 1998 Vacant (as of July 11, 2016) Carolina Hurricanes Charlotte Checkers
Greenville Swamp Rabbits Greenville, SC Bon Secours Wellness Arena 1988* Brian Gratz New York Rangers Hartford Wolf Pack
Norfolk Admirals Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk Scope 1995* Rod Aldoff Edmonton Oilers Bakersfield Condors
Orlando Solar Bears Orlando, FL Amway Center 2012 Anthony Noreen Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Marlies
South Carolina Stingrays N. Charleston, SC North Charleston Coliseum 1993 Ryan Warsofsky Washington Capitals Hershey Bears
Western Conference
Central
Fort Wayne Komets Fort Wayne, IN Allen County War Memorial Coliseum 1952 2012 Gary Graham Colorado Avalanche San Antonio Rampage
Indy Fuel Indianapolis, IN Indiana Farmers Coliseum 2014 Bernie John Chicago Blackhawks Rockford IceHogs
Kalamazoo Wings Kalamazoo, MI Wings Stadium 1974 2009 Nick Bootland Tampa Bay Lightning Syracuse Crunch
Quad City Mallards Moline, IL iWireless Center 2009 2014 Terry Ruskowski Minnesota Wild Iowa Wild
Toledo Walleye Toledo, OH Huntington Center 1991 Dan Watson Detroit Red Wings Grand Rapids Griffins
Tulsa Oilers Tulsa, OK BOK Center 1992 2014 Jason Christie Winnipeg Jets Manitoba Moose
Wichita Thunder Wichita, KS Intrust Bank Arena 1992 2014 Malcolm Cameron Independent Independent
Mountain
Alaska Aces Anchorage, AK Sullivan Arena 1989 2003 Rob Murray Vancouver Canucks Utica Comets
Allen Americans Allen, TX Allen Event Center 2009 2014 Steve Martinson San Jose Sharks San Jose Barracuda
Colorado Eagles Loveland, CO Budweiser Events Center 2003 2011 Vacant (as of July 11, 2016) Calgary Flames Adirondack Flames
Idaho Steelheads Boise, ID CenturyLink Arena Boise 1997 2003 Neil Graham Dallas Stars Texas Stars
Missouri Mavericks Independence, MO Independence Events Center 2009 2014 John-Scott Dickson New York Islanders Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Rapid City Rush Rapid City, SD Rushmore Plaza Civic Center 2008 2014 Mark DeSantis Arizona Coyotes Springfield Thunderbirds
Utah Grizzlies West Valley City, UT Maverik Center 1981* Tim Branham Anaheim Ducks San Diego Gulls
On Hiatus 2016-17
N/A
Owensboro Owensboro, Kentucky Owensboro Sports Center 1992* 2012 TBD TBD TBD
Expansion 2017-18
N/A
Worcester Railers Worcester, Massachusetts DCU Center 2016 2017 TBD TBD TBD

Expansion/Hiatus

Team City/Area Arena Founded Joining Head Coach NHL Affiliate(s) AHL Affiliate(s)
Worcester Railers HC Worcester, MA DCU Center 2016 2017 TBD TBD TBD
Owensboro ECHL team (former Evansville IceMen) Owensboro, Kentucky Owensboro Sports Center 1992* 2017 or 2018 TBD TBD TBD
Notes
  1. An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.

2015 Kelly Cup playoff format

With the addition of the teams from the CHL the division alignment was changed to Eastern and Western Conferences (each containing two-seven team divisions (North and East in the Eastern Conference and Central and Pacific in the Western Conference). The top four teams in each division qualify for the playoffs.  The first two rounds of the playoffs would be within the division with the match ups being 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. with the first round winners meeting in the diviosion final. The two division champions meet for the conference championship and the conference champions meeting for the Kelly Cup.  All four rounds of the playoffs are best-of-seven.

Future teams

  • Columbia Inferno, the franchise was granted a one-year voluntary suspension while the team attempted to find a new home arena, then were repeatedly granted a one-year extension onto their voluntary suspension as they attempted to construct a new arena to host the franchise.  The franchise apparently stopped paying the franchise fee to keep the team inactive and they have been removed from the leagues website as a future market during the 2014 off-season.[4]
  • Reno, Nevada, start date unknown; no announcement of arena construction has been mad some reports have listed the teams name as being the Reno Raiders. The rights to the franchise were purchased by a man named Larry Leasure of Boise, ID in 2000.  He retained the rights to the franchise when the league was absorbed by the ECHL.  He was hoping to secure a lease at a suitable arena.  The previous team played at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center, which functions more so as a convention/meeting facility than a sports venue. The University of Nevada, Reno has the Lawlor Events Center which seats over 11,000 for basketball but makes no mention of events with ice so and the facility would require major renovations for use as a hockey rink. No progress has been made on a new arena.  As of the 2014-15 season the franchise is still "inactive".
  • The Las Vegas Wranglers lease was not renewed with the Orleans Arena.  The team had tried to arrange for a new venue but were unsuccessful in their efforts.  Among their efforts included building a temporary rink in a parking lot and an rink on top of a hotel.  The franchise ownership has stating they are hoping to return to the league in a new facility hopefully in Las Vegas.  The effort to relaunch the Wranglers came to an end on January 30, 2015 as the team was still searching for a new home and the NHL having an interest in relocating or expanding to Las Vegas caused the ownership to fold and withdraw from the ECHL.

In an article in the summer of 2009, Commissioner Brian McKenna said "There are some other ones in places like...Richmond, VA, Greensboro, NC, San Diego, CA, Fresno, CA some of those markets make sense. If there’s an interested ownership group, if there’s a good business plan and proper lead time, I think all those markets would be of interest to us in the future."[5]

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 has stated in recent years they would not grant voluntary suspensions of franchises for more than one year, both the Toledo Storm (now the Toledo Walleye) and Mississippi Sea Wolves (now defunct) were granted two-year suspensions—the Sea Wolves because of Hurricane Katrina and the Storm in order to demolish their present arena and construct a new one in downtown Toledo. The Mississippi Sea Wolves resumed play for the 2007–2008 season, while the Toledo Walleye resumed play in their new arena for the 2009–2010 season.

On March 30, 2009, the Dayton Bombers and Mississippi Sea Wolves announced that they would suspend operations for the 2009–10 season, while the Phoenix RoadRunners announced that they will cease operations at the end of the 2008–09 season.[6] Dayton would receive a franchise in the International Hockey League and Biloxi, MS would receive a team in the Southern Professional Hockey League the following year.

On February 15, 2010, the Tribune-Democrat reported that the Johnstown Chiefs, the only remaining founding franchise of the East Coast Hockey League to remain in its original city, would be relocating to Greenville, South Carolina, the former home of the Greenville Grrrowl (1998-2006) following the completion of the 2009-10 season.[7]

Six former ECHL franchises have moved up to the American Hockey League. The Hampton Roads Admirals were the first, becoming the Norfolk Admirals in 2000, the Peoria Rivermen were the second, assuming the Worcester IceCats history but maintaining the Rivermen identity for their first AHL season of 2005-06, and the Charlotte Checkers were the third, assuming the Albany River Rats history following the club's move to Charlotte following the 2009-10 season. The new Charlotte AHL team will retain the Checkers identity. The fomation of a west coast division in the AHL for the 2015-16 season added three more teams that were replacing former ECHL teams (Bakersfield Condors, Ontario Reign, Stockton Thunder (renamed Heat))

ECHL Hall of Fame

In celebration of the league's 20th year of play, the ECHL Board of Governors created the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2008, to recognize the achievements of players, coaches, and personnel who dedicated their careers to the league. Hall of Fame members are selected in four categories: Player, Developmental Player, Builder, and Referee/Linesman. Players must have concluded their career as an active player for a minimum of three playing seasons, though not continuous or full seasons. Development Players must have begun their career in the ECHL and went on to a distinguished career in the NHL, playing a minimum of 260 regular season games in the NHL, AHL and ECHL. Builders may be active or inactive whereas Referee/Linesman must have concluded their active officiating career for a minimum of three playing seasons.

No more than five candidates are elected to the Hall of Fame each year with no more than three Players, one Developmental Player, two Builders and one Referee/Linesman. The Builder and the Referee/Linesman categories are dependent upon the number of candidates in the Player category.

The nomination and subsequent selection of candidates is determined by the ECHL Hall of Fame Selection Committee which is appointed by the ECHL.

The ECHL Hall of Fame Inaugural Class was inducted during the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game festivities at Stockton Arena in Stockton, California and included ECHL founder Henry Brabham, the ECHL's first commissioner Patrick J. Kelly, and former players Nick Vitucci and Chris Valicevic

List of Hall of Famers

List of Hall of Famers

Year Name Position/role ECHL Team(s)
2008 Henry Brabham

[8]

ECHL founder League Executive
Patrick J. Kelly

[8]

Commissioner (1988–96) League Executive
Chris Valicevic

[8]

Defenseman Greensboro Monarchs, Louisiana IceGators
Nick Vitucci

[8]

Goaltender Greensboro Monarchs, Hampton Roads Admirals, Toledo Storm, Charlotte Checkers, Greenville Grrrowl
2009 John Brophy

[9]

Head coach Hampton Roads Admirals, Wheeling Nailers
Blake Cullen

[9]

Owner Hampton Roads Admirals
Tom Nemeth

[9]

Defenseman Dayton Bombers, South Carolina Stingrays, Toledo Storm
Rod Taylor

[9]

Left winger Hampton Roads Admirals, Richmond Renegades, Roanoke Express, South Carolina Stingrays, Peoria Rivermen, Toledo Storm
2010 Cam Brown

[10]

Left winger Columbus Chill, Erie Panthers, Baton Rouge Kingfish, Gwinnett Gladiators
E.A. "Bud" Gingher

[10]

Owner; Chairman Board of Governors Chairman (1992–95); Dayton Bombers owner
Olaf Kolzig

[10]

Goaltender Hampton Roads Admirals
Darryl Noren

[10]

Center Greensboro Monarchs, Charlotte Checkers
2011 Phil Berger

[11]

Right winger Greensboro Monarchs, Charlotte Checkers, Raleigh IceCaps, Hampton Roads Admirals
Richard Adams

[11]

President/CEO (1995–02) League Executive
Luke Curtin

[11]

Left winger Baton Rouge Kingfish, Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, Fresno Falcons
Joe Ernst

[11]

Referee League Official
2012 Bob Woods

[12]

Defenseman Johnstown Chiefs, Hampton Roads Admirals, Mobile Mysticks, Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, Mississippi Sea Wolves
Bill Coffey

[13]

Founder League Executive
Sheldon Gorski

[14]

Right Winger Louisville Icehawks, Louisville RiverFrogs, Miami Matadors, Pensacola Ice Pilots
John Marks

[15]

Coach Charlotte Checkers, Greenville Grrrowl, Pensacola Ice Pilots, Augusta Lynx
Dave Seitz

[16]

Center South Carolina Stingrays
2013 Dave Craievich

[17]

Defenseman Cincinnati Cyclones, Birmingham Bulls, Mobile Mysticks
Marc Magliarditi

[18]

Goaltender Columbus Chill, Florida Everblades, Louisiana IceGators, Richmond Renegades, Las Vegas Wranglers
Steve Poapst

[19]

Defenseman Hampton Roads Admirals
Darren Schwartz

[20]

Left Winger Johnstown Chiefs, Winston-Salem Thunderbirds, Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, Wheeling Thunderbirds/Nailers
2014 James Edwards President; Chairman Johnstown Chiefs president, Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors (1999–2003)
Wes Goldie Right Winger Pee Dee Pride, Victoria Salmon Kings, and Alaska Aces
Al MacIsaac Defense; GM/Coach Hampton Roads Admirals
John Spoltore Center Louisiana IceGators
2015 Darren Colbourne Right Winger Dayton Bombers, Richmond Renegades, Raleigh IceCaps, Augusta Lynx
Louis Dumont Center Tallahassee Tiger Sharks, Wheeling Thunderbirds, Louisiana IceGators, Augusta Lynx, Pensacola Ice Pilots, Mississippi Sea Wolves, and Utah Grizzlies
Scott Sabatino Executive Vice President; COO League Executive
Carl Scheer Owner; Chairman Charlotte Checkers owner, Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors, Greenville Grrrowl owner
2016 Daniel Berthiaume Goaltender Wheeling Thunderbirds, Roanoke Express and Greensboro Generals
Craig Brush General Manager Florida Everblades
Allan Sirois Left winger Baton Rouge Kingfish, Jacksonville Lizard Kings, Pee Dee Pride, Pee Dee Pride, Greenville Grrrowl, Texas Wildcatters

See also

References

  1. ↑ Press Release (October 13, 2008). Did You Know?. ECHL.
  2. ↑ Press Release (July 14, 2008). ECHL Toolbar Available Now. ECHL.
  3. ↑ | url = http://echl.com/cgi-bin/mpublic.cgi?action=show_news&cat=1&id=22265}
  4. ↑ Press release (February 17, 2010). ECHL Concludes Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting. ECHL.
  5. ↑ Carroll, Alex (July 12, 2009). Q&A with ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. Shorthanded Breakaway.
  6. ↑ Press Release (March 30, 2009). ECHL Concludes Mid-Season Board of Governors Meeting. ECHL.
  7. ↑ Mastovich, Mike (February 15, 2010). Chiefs plan to move franchise to South Carolina. Tribune-Democrat.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 ECHL Press Release (January 23, 2008). Inaugural ECHL Hall Of Fame Class Announced. ECHL.com. Retrieved on April 28, 2013.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 ECHL Press Release (November 5, 2008). 2009 ECHL Hall Of Fame Class is Brophy, Cullen, Nemeth, Taylor. ECHL. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 J.P. Hoornstra (December 3, 2009). 2010 ECHL Hall Of Fame announced. Inside SoCal. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 ECHL Press Release (November 19, 2010). ECHL Announces 2011 ECHL Hall Of Fame Class. Arena Digest. Retrieved on May 6, 2013.
  12. ↑ Mike Ashmore (January 19, 2012). ECHL Alumni Profile - Bob Woods. ECHL. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  13. ↑ 2012 ECHL Hall of Fame is Coffey, Gorski, Marks, Seitz, and Woods. ECHL (December 1, 2011). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  14. ↑ ECHL Press Release (December 1, 2011). 2012 ECHL Hall Of Fame is Coffey, Gorski, Marks, Seitz, and Woods. ECHL. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ Whitney Baumgartner (December 4, 2011). Head Coach Marks To Be Inducted Into The 2012 ECHL Hall Of Fame. Fargo Force. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  16. ↑ ECHL Press Release (January 18, 2013). Seitz to Enter ECHL Hall of Fame. ECHL.com. Retrieved on April 28, 2013.
  17. ↑ ECHL Announces 2013 Hall Of Fame Class. Colorado Eagles (December 3, 2012). Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  18. ↑ Paul De Los Santos (December 25, 2012). Former Wranglers goalie made Las Vegas his home, shined in last stop of career. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  19. ↑ Nate Haeni (December 3, 2012). Poapst among 2013 ECHL Hall Of Fame Class. Rockford IceHogs. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.
  20. ↑ Shawn Rine (December 4, 2012). Schwartz A Worthy Choice. The Intelligencer. Retrieved on May 5, 2013.

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