2022–23 ECHL season

2022–23 ECHL season
LeagueECHL
SportIce hockey
DurationOctober 21, 2022 – April 16, 2023
Regular season
Brabham CupIdaho Steelheads
Season MVPHank Crone (Allen)
Top scorerHank Crone (Allen)
Playoffs
Eastern championsFlorida Everblades
  Eastern runners-upNewfoundland Growlers
Western championsIdaho Steelheads
  Western runners-upToledo Walleye
Playoffs MVPCam Johnson (Florida)
Kelly Cup
ChampionsFlorida Everblades
  Runners-upIdaho Steelheads
ECHL seasons

The 2022–23 ECHL season was the 35th season of the ECHL. The regular season began on October 21, 2022, and ended on April 16, 2023, with the 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs to follow. 28 teams in 20 states and two Canadian provinces played 72 games.[1]

Canadian-based teams in the ECHL as of the 2021–22 season. Dot colors correspond to the divisional alignment.

League changes

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Coaching changes

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Old Coach New Coach Team
Kirk Macdonald James Henry Reading Royals
Alex Loh Pete MacArthur Adirondack Thunder
Steve Martinson Chad Costello Allen Americans
Drake Berehowsky Matt Carkner Orlando Solar Bears
Gerry Fleming Derek Damon Iowa Heartlanders
Ben Guite Terrence Wallin Maine Mariners

Team changes

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  • The league added a new expansion team, the Savannah Ghost Pirates in Savannah, Georgia.[2] With the addition of Savannah to the South Division and the move of the Norfolk Admirals from the South Division to the North Division, it made all the divisions equal at 7 teams each for the first time since the 2014-15 ECHL season, not counting the 2020-21 ECHL season, where only 14 teams played in two seven-team divisions.

Affiliation changes

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ECHL team New affiliates Former affiliates
Allen Americans[3][4][5] Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Belleville Senators (AHL)
Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Atlanta Gladiators[6][7][8] Arizona Coyotes (NHL)
Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Belleville Senators (AHL)
Florida Everblades[9][10] Florida Panthers (NHL)
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Nashville Predators (NHL)
Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)
Fort Wayne Komets[11][12][13] Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
Bakersfield Condors (AHL)
Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)
Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits[14][15][16] Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Ontario Reign (AHL)
Florida Panthers (NHL)
Charlotte Checkers (AHL)
Kansas City Mavericks[17][18] Seattle Kraken (NHL)
Coachella Valley Firebirds (AHL)
Calgary Flames (NHL)
Stockton Heat (AHL)
Rapid City Rush[19] Calgary Flames (NHL)
Calgary Wranglers (AHL)
Arizona Coyotes (NHL)
Tucson Roadrunners (AHL)
Savannah Ghost Pirates[20] Vegas Golden Knights (NHL)
Henderson Silver Knights (AHL)
Expansion team
Wichita Thunder[21][22] San Jose Sharks (NHL)
San Jose Barracuda (AHL)
Edmonton Oilers (NHL)
Bakersfield Condors (AHL)

Annual Board of Governors meeting

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Beginning the 2022–23 ECHL season, The Board of Governors approved utilizing a two-referee system for 25 percent of all League regular-season games during the 2022–23 Season. Each team will play nine home games where the two-referee system is used.[23]

All-star game

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The 2023 All Star Game was held on January 16, 2023, in Norfolk Scope Arena, home arena of the Norfolk Admirals.[24]

Standings

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Updated through games of April 16, 2023

Eastern Conference

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North Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
yNewfoundland Growlers (TOR) 72 48 22 2 0 271 217 98 0.681
xReading Royals (PHI) 72 41 25 5 1 262 215 88 0.611
xMaine Mariners (BOS) 72 42 27 2 1 267 210 87 0.604
xAdirondack Thunder (NJD) 72 32 29 9 2 237 243 75 0.521
Worcester Railers (NYI) 72 34 34 4 0 227 242 72 0.500
Trois-Rivières Lions (MTL) 72 29 40 3 0 216 273 61 0.424
Norfolk Admirals (CAR) 72 21 46 2 3 203 318 47 0.326
South Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
ySouth Carolina Stingrays (WAS) 72 45 22 4 1 263 194 95 0.660
xJacksonville Icemen (NYR) 72 44 24 3 1 235 209 93 0.646
xGreenville Swamp Rabbits (LAK) 72 40 23 8 1 244 211 89 0.618
xFlorida Everblades (FLA) 72 38 25 4 5 225 213 85 0.590
Atlanta Gladiators (ARI) 72 35 30 6 1 226 240 77 0.535
Orlando Solar Bears (TBL) 72 30 33 8 1 221 264 69 0.479
Savannah Ghost Pirates (VGK) 72 28 34 9 1 207 258 66 0.458

Western Conference

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Central Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
yCincinnati Cyclones (BUF) 72 47 16 6 3 266 216 103 0.715
xToledo Walleye (DET) 72 45 19 5 3 254 182 98 0.681
xIndy Fuel (CHI) 72 43 24 5 0 244 208 91 0.632
xFort Wayne Komets (EDM) 72 34 31 4 3 270 275 75 0.521
Kalamazoo Wings (CBJ) 72 29 37 5 1 178 226 64 0.444
Wheeling Nailers (PIT) 72 29 38 5 0 223 244 63 0.438
Iowa Heartlanders (MIN) 72 22 36 13 1 189 256 58 0.403
Mountain Division GP W L OTL SOL GF GA Pts Pts%
zIdaho Steelheads (DAL) 72 58 11 1 2 290 153 119 0.826
xAllen Americans (OTT) 72 37 32 2 1 260 263 77 0.535
xKansas City Mavericks (SEA) 72 34 30 6 2 222 224 76 0.528
xUtah Grizzlies (COL) 72 35 33 4 0 225 259 74 0.514
Wichita Thunder (SJS) 72 33 32 6 1 227 238 73 0.507
Rapid City Rush (CGY) 72 33 34 5 0 242 272 71 0.493
Tulsa Oilers (ANA) 72 22 41 8 1 203 279 53 0.368

 x  – clinched playoff spot,  y  – clinched regular season division title,  z Brabham Cup (regular season) champion

Postseason

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Playoffs format

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At the end of the regular season, the top four teams in each division qualify for the 2023 Kelly Cup playoffs and are seeded one through four based on the highest points total earned in the season. Then the first two rounds of the playoffs are held within the division with the first seed facing the fourth seed and the second seed facing the third seed. The division champions then play each other in a conference championship. The Kelly Cup finals pit the Eastern Conference champion against the Western Conference champion. All four rounds are a best-of-seven format.

Bracket

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Division Semifinals[25][26] Division Finals[27][28] Conference Finals[29] Kelly Cup Finals[30]
            
N1 Newfoundland[31] 4
N4 Adirondack[32][33][34] 1
N1 Newfoundland[52] 4
North Division
N2 Reading[53] 1
N2 Reading[35][36] 4
N3 Maine[37][38] 2
N1 Newfoundland[60] 2
Eastern Conference
S4 Florida[61] 4
S1 South Carolina[39] 2
S4 Florida[40] 4
S4 Florida[54] 4
South Division
S2 Jacksonville[55] 2
S2 Jacksonville[41] 4
S3 Greenville[42] 2
S4 Florida[64][65] 4
M1 Idaho[66] 0
C1 Cincinnati[43] 4
C4 Fort Wayne[44] 3
C1 Cincinnati[56] 0
Central Division
C2 Toledo[57] 4
C2 Toledo[45] 4
C3 Indy[46] 0
C2 Toledo[62] 1
Western Conference
M1 Idaho[63] 4
M1 Idaho[47] 4
M4 Utah[48] 2
M1 Idaho[58] 4
Mountain Division
M2 Allen[59] 1
M2 Allen[49][50] 4
M3 Kansas City[51] 2


See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ECHL RELEASES 2022–23 SCHEDULE". echl.com. ECHL. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "INTRODUCING THE SAVANNAH GHOST PIRATES". ECHL. October 27, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  3. ^ "AMERICANS SIGN NEW AFFILIATION". echl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  4. ^ "Senators reach affiliation agreement with ECHL's Allen Americans". bellevillesens.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  5. ^ "Ottawa Senators reach affiliation agreement with ECHL's Allen Americans". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  6. ^ "Coyotes Announce New ECHL Affiliation Agreement with Atlanta Gladiators". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "COYOTES ANNOUNCE ECHL AFFILIATION WITH ATLANTA". tucsonroadrunners.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "GLADIATORS ANNOUNCE NEW NHL AFFILIATION WITH ARIZONA COYOTES". atlantagladiators.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  9. ^ "Florida Panthers, Florida Everblades Enter Affiliation Agreement". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  10. ^ "FLORIDA EVERBLADES, FLORIDA PANTHERS ENTER AFFILIATION AGREEMENT". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  11. ^ "The Edmonton Oilers' ECHL affiliate will be the Fort Wayne Komets". oilersnation.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  12. ^ "RELEASE: Oilers announce ECHL affiliation with Fort Wayne Komets". nhl.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  13. ^ "Komets Announce Affiliation with the Edmonton Oilers". www.komets.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  14. ^ "LA Kings Announce ECHL Affiliation with Greenville Swamp Rabbits". ontarioreign.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  15. ^ "LA Kings Announce ECHL Affiliation With Greenville Swamp Rabbits". nhl.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "LA KINGS ANNOUNCE ECHL AFFILIATION WITH GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS". swamprabbits.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  17. ^ "MAVERICKS JOIN FORCES WITH KRAKEN". echl.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  18. ^ "MAVERICKS ANNOUNCE NEW AFFILIATION WITH THE SEATTLE KRAKEN". kcmavericks.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "RUSH REACH AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH NHL'S CALGARY FLAMES". rapidcityrush.com. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  20. ^ "Viva Las Vegas! Savannah Ghost Pirates hockey officials announce NHL affiliation". Savannah Morning News. May 19, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  21. ^ "THUNDER ENTERS AFFILIATION AGREEMENT WITH SAN JOSE". wichitathunder.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  22. ^ "Sharks Enter Affiliation Agreement With Wichita Thunder". nhl.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  23. ^ "Annual ECHL Board of Governors Meeting concludes".
  24. ^ "Logo, details announced for 2023 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic".
  25. ^ "Preview of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  26. ^ "Schedule for Division Semifinals of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  27. ^ "2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  28. ^ "Preview of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs Division Finals". echl.com. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  29. ^ "Schedule for Division Semifinals of 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "Schedule announced for 2023 Kelly Cup Finals". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  31. ^ "Growlers Clinch ECHL North Division". vocm.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  32. ^ "Worcester Railers vs. Adirondack Thunder - Apr. 16, 2023". echl.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  33. ^ "ECHL: Adirondack Thunder Pull Off The Impossible and Clinch Spot in Kelly Cup Playoff". insidetherink.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  34. ^ "Thunder Face Growlers in North Division Semifinal". echlthunder.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  35. ^ "Royals Tame Lions to Clinch Berth in 2023 Kelly Cup Playoffs, 6-2". royalshockey.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  36. ^ "Royals Announce First Round Playoff Schedule vs. Maine". royalshockey.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  37. ^ "Mariners Announce First Round Playoff Schedule". marinersofmaine.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  38. ^ "Mariners Clinch Playoff Berth With Huge Third Period". marinersofmaine.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  39. ^ "Stingrays Clinch the South Division Behind Shootout Win". stingrayshockey.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  40. ^ "Everblades clinch playoff spot for eighth straight season". nbc-2.com. April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  41. ^ "Icemen Clinch Playoff Spot With 4-3 Win Over Atlanta". jacksonvilleicemen.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  42. ^ "Swamp Rabbits End Skid Over Orlando; Clinch Kelly Cup Playoff Berth". swamprabbits.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  43. ^ "Cyclones Claim Central Division Title With Win Over Fuel". cycloneshockey.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  44. ^ "Komets Clinch Playoff Spot". komets.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  45. ^ "Toledo Walleye Weekly Release No. 20: March 13, 2023". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  46. ^ "Fuel clinch playoff spot with win over Komets". prohockeynews.com. March 19, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  47. ^ "Steelheads Set ECHL Single-Season Record for Wins and Points in Victory in Rapid City". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  48. ^ "Grizz Clinch Playoff Spot in 5-0 Win". utahgrizzlies.com. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  49. ^ "Playoff Spot Clinched". allenamericans.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  50. ^ "Comeback Win, Playoff Clinched, Costello Comments, Award Season Rant and More". allenamericans.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  51. ^ "Postseason Hockey Returns as KC Mavericks Announce 2023 Kelly Cup Playoff Schedule". oursportscentral.com. April 16, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  52. ^ "Recap | Growlers Advance in 3-0 Game 5 Win Over Thunder". nlgrowlers.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  53. ^ "Royals Eliminate Mariners in Game Six to Advance to North Division Final 30 Apr 2023". royalshockey.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  54. ^ "Pendenza's OT Goal Sends Everblades to Second Round". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved May 4, 2023.
  55. ^ "Icemen Advance to Second Round of Kelly Cup Playoffs". jacksonvilleicemen.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  56. ^ "Warm Blanks Komets, Cyclones Move on With Game 7 Win". cycloneshockey.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  57. ^ "Third Period Rally Leads to Series Sweep Over Indy". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  58. ^ "Jack Becker Ends the Series in Fourth Straight Overtime Victory". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  59. ^ "Moving On". allenamericans.com. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  60. ^ "RECAP - GROWLERS ADVANCE TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS". nlgrowlers.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  61. ^ "IRVINE'S HAT TRICK LEADS DOMINANT EVERBLADES TO EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS". floridaeverblades.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  62. ^ "TOLEDO DOMINATES TO END CINCINNATI'S SEASON IN GAME FOUR". toledowalleye.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  63. ^ "ADAM SCHEEL SHUTS OUT AMERICANS IN SERIES CLINCHING VICTORY OVER ALLEN". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
  64. ^ "Florida wins E.A. "Bud" Gingher Trophy as Eastern Conference champions". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  65. ^ "Recap of 2023 Kelly Cup Finals". echl.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  66. ^ "Steelheads Advance to Kelly Cup Finals Defeating Toledo in Five Games". idahosteelheads.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
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