ECHL Re-Aligns; Falcons Now Members of the National Conference

June 15, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Fresno Falcons News Release


Fresno, Calif. – At the ECHL Annual Board of Governors Meeting held in Atlanta June 10-11, the league's Board of Governors re-named the ECHL's conferences the American Conference and National Conference to reflect the league's national presence and re-aligned its teams into North, South, East and West divisions. The Falcons are members of the West Division of the National Conference.

Joining the Falcons in the West Division are the Alaska Aces, Bakersfield Condors, defending Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San Diego Gulls and expansion Victoria (BC) Salmon Kings.

The winner of the West Division through the first two rounds of next season' s Kelly Cup Playoffs will meet the winner of the North Division in the best-of-seven National Conference Finals. The North Division consists of the Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, Dayton Bombers, Johnstown Chiefs, Peoria Rivermen, Reading Royals, Toledo Storm, Trenton Titans and Wheeling Nailers.

The best-of-seven Kelly Cup Finals will then pit the National Conference Champion against the playoff champion from the American Conference, which is comprised of the East and South divisions. The East Division includes the Charlotte Checkers, Columbia Inferno, Greensboro Generals, Greenville Grrrowl, Pee Dee Pride, Roanoke Express and South Carolina Stingrays.

The Augusta Lynx, 2003-04 Kelly Cup Runner-up Florida Everblades, Gwinnett Gladiators, Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Sea Wolves, Pensacola Ice Pilots and Texas Wildcatters make-up the South Division.

In addition to re-aligning the league's teams and establishing the 2004-05 Kelly Cup Playoffs format, the Board of Governors also approved several rules changes. Chief among the changes is the elimination of the 10-minute misconduct penalty for instigating a fight. A player deemed the "instigator" in a fight will simply be assessed a two-minute minor penalty for instigating and a five-minute major penalty for fighting.

The Board of Governors also tweaked the league's overtime shootout rules. After the initial five skaters shoot for each team, the ECHL will require that at least 10 different shooters be used if the shootout proceeds to sudden death. After 10 different shooters have been used, however, each team now has the option of using a player that has already shot or continuing through its remaining players. For a more complete recap of the ECHL Annual Board of Governors Meeting, please visit www.echl.com.

Full season ticket packages and Flex Packs for the 2004-05 Falcons campaign at Save Mart Center are already on sale beginning as low as $42. For complete ticket information, please visit the Falcons website at www.fresnofalcons.com/tickets.html or call the Falcons front office at (559) 485-PUCK (7825).



ECHL Stories from June 15, 2004


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