ECHL announces alignments, playoff format
Published on June 23, 2005 under ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release
FRESNO, Calif. - The ECHL on Thursday announced the division and conference alignments and the format for the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs which were both unanimously approved by the ECHL Board of Governors at its Annual Meeting on June 21-22.
The ECHL welcomes the Phoenix Roadrunners, the Stockton Thunder and the Utah Grizzlies in 2005-06 and will have 27 teams playing in 16 states and British Columbia beginning October 21 and ending April 8. Every team begins the season with the goal of winning the Patrick J. Kelly Cup, presented annually to the league postseason champion and won in 2005 by the Trenton Titans, who defeated the Florida Everblades in the finals.
Fresno remains in the National Conference and will play in what is now called the Pacific Division. The division consists of the five ECHL teams located in California, including the Falcons, Bakersfield Condors, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San Diego Gulls and Thunder. Joining the Pacific Division in the National Conference is the West Division, made up of the Alaska Aces, Idaho Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers and Victoria Salmon Kings, as well as the Roadrunners and Grizzlies.
The complete conference and division alignments are:
National Conference (11 teams)
Pacific Division (5 teams) - Bakersfield, Fresno, Long Beach, San Diego and Stockton
West Division (6 teams) - Alaska, Idaho, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Victoria and Utah
American Conference (16 teams)
North Division (6 teams) - Dayton, Johnstown, Reading, Toledo, Trenton and Wheeling
South Division (10 teams) - Augusta, Charlotte, Columbia, Florida, Greenville, Gwinnett, Mississippi, Pensacola, South Carolina and Texas
2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs Format
National Conference
Pacific Division
Semifinals (Best-of-Seven Series)
No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed
Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)
Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed
West Division
Semifinals (Best-of-Seven Series)
No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed
Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)
Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed
National Conference Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)
Pacific Division Champion vs. West Division Champion
American Conference
South Division
Quarterfinals (Best-of-Five Series)
No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. No. 8 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 7 Seed
No. 3 Seed vs. No. 6 Seed
No. 4 Seed vs. No. 5 Seed
Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series)
No. 1 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed
Finals (Best-of-Five Series)
Winner of No. 1 Seed/No. 4 Seed vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed
North Division
Quarterfinals (Best-of-Three Series)
No. 5 Seed vs. No. 4 Seed
Semifinals (Best-of-Five Series)
No. 1 Seed (Division Winner) vs. Quarterfinals Winner
No. 2 Seed vs. No. 3 Seed
Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)
Winner of No. 1 Seed/Quarterfinals Winner vs. Winner of No. 2 Seed/No. 3 Seed
American Conference Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)
North Division Winner vs. South Division Winner
2006 Kelly Cup Finals (Best-of-Seven Series)
National Conference Champion vs. American Conference Champion
Falcons season tickets are currently available for the 2005-06 ECHL campaign. Both full season packages and 24-game packages include seats to the 2006 Bud Light ECHL All-Star Game and Skills Competition to be held at Save Mart Center on Jan. 24 and 25. For complete ticket information and an arena map of Save Mart Center, please visit the Falcons website at www.fresnofalcons.com/tickets.html. For more information or to order 2005-06 season tickets, fans should contact the Falcons front office at (559) 485-PUCK (7825) or office@fresnofalcons.com.
ECHL Stories from June 23, 2005
- ECHL announces alignments, playoff format - Fresno Falcons
- Falcons open 2005-2006 season at home on October 21 - Fresno Falcons
- ECHL Announces Alignments, Playoff Format - Atlanta Gladiators
- Ice Pilots to Play in South Division of American Conference - Pensacola Ice Pilots
- ECHL realignment sends Gulls to all-California "Pacific Division" - San Diego Gulls
- ECHL shuffles Wranglers division - Las Vegas Wranglers
- Salmon Kings stay in the West Division after ECHL realignmen - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Condors to play in all-California "Pacific Division" - Bakersfield Condors
- Sea Wolves to remain in ECHL South Division - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- ECHL announces alignments, playoff format - ECHL
- Chiefs to Have A New Mascot This Season - Johnstown Chiefs
- Grrrowl hire director of community relations - Greenville Grrrowl
- Parillo First To Sign On - Toledo Walleye
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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