Board of Governors Mid-Winter Meeting Update
Published on January 23, 2003 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release
PRINCETON, N.J. â PRINCETON, N.J. â The East Coast Hockey League Board of Governors held its annual Mid-Winter Meeting on Tuesday in conjunction with the 2003 Compuware/ECHL All-Star Game in Estero, Fla.
The Board awarded the 2004 ECHL All-Star Game to the Peoria Rivermen. The 12th Annual ECHL All-Star Game will be played at the 9,919-seat Peoria Civic Center Carver Arena in Peoria, Ill. The skills competition will be held Tuesday, January 20 and the game will be played on Wednesday, January 21.
The ECHL received playing dates for 2003-04 from the 27 teams currently playing and from the following new members: Anchorage Aces, Bakersfield Condors, Fresno Falcons, Gwinnett (Georgia) Gladiators, Idaho (Boise) Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San Diego Gulls and Texas (Beaumont) Wildcatters. The Board unanimously approved a 72-game schedule for 2003-04 with the season beginning October 17, one week after the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League open their seasons, and concluding April 4. The Board also tentatively approved an earlier release of the 2003-04 playing schedule. Seventeen of the 31 teams in the ECHL opted to play road games against new West Coast members beginning in 2003-04.
In an effort to improve player safety, the Board unanimously approved that beginning in 2003-04 all players will be required to wear protective visors. The Board unanimously approved that the trophy awarded annually to the Northern Conference champion will be named in honor of Bud Gingher, who served as Chairman of the Board for many years. President/CEO Brian McKenna reported to the Board that the new name for the expanded League will be announced in May in conjunction with the Kelly Cup and Taylor Cup Playoffs.
Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in three states, the East Coast Hockey League celebrates its 15th Anniversary Season in 2002-03 with 27 teams in 14 states including the newest market in Lexington, Kentucky. The ECHL will welcome the following new members in 2003-04: Anchorage Aces, Bakersfield Condors, Fresno Falcons, Gwinnett (Georgia) Gladiators, Idaho (Boise) Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San Diego Gulls and Texas (Beaumont) Wildcatters. The ECHL also has members in Jacksonville, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana; Ontario, California and Reno, Nevada that are awaiting completion of arena projects.
ECHL Stories from January 23, 2003
- Kingfish Blanked, 3-0 - Baton Rouge Kingfish
- Jackals Goalie Sees Time With SoundTigers - Elmira Jackals
- Jackals Deal Makikyro For Draft Pick - Elmira Jackals
- Team Card Sets and St. Pierre Bobbleheads This Weekend - Bakersfield Condors
- Condors Online with the Marcom Group - Bakersfield Condors
- Gulls Continue to Round Up Weekly Honors - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Boardwalk Bullies Rookie Galbraith Named InGlasCo ECHL Player of the Week - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Ice Pilots Acquire Matt Poapst From Dayton for Cash - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Compuware/ECHL All-Star Festivities A Success - ECHL
- Atlantic City's Jade Galbraith Named InGlasCo East Coast Hockey League Player of the Week - ECHL
- Board of Governors Mid-Winter Meeting Update - ECHL
- Couture Named ECHL Goalie of the Week - ECHL
- Ettinger Bobbleheads Up for Sale - Dayton Bombers
- Bombers Move Home Game to Family Fun Day - Dayton Bombers
- Richmond Game Night - Richmond Renegades
- Grizzlies Pay Tribute to Olympic Volunteers - Utah Grizzlies
- Express Forward Jaffray Called Up - Roanoke Express
- Van Hoof Called Up to Springfield - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- Williams Notches 500th in Defeat - Alaska Aces
- Barrie Scores Four in Falcons Victory - Fresno Falcons
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