ECHL Realignment Passed for 2004-05
June 16, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Bakersfield Condors News Release
Bakersfield, Calif. â The ECHL Board of Governors annual meetings concluded late last week and several new items will be implemented to the league for the 2004-05 season.
The most noticeable change for the league is the realignment of the divisions. Last year the league was divided into Eastern and Western Conferences, but this season the two conferences will be named the American and National. The Condors are in the National Conference, West Division, along with their six other divisional opponents from last season and the addition of the expansion Victoria (B.C.) Salmon Kings.
The American Conference has an East and South Division while the National consists of the West and North Divisions. The complete alignment is listed below. In National Conference playoff competition, teams will play divisionally to advance to the Kelly Cup Finals. Due to geographical proximity, American Conference teams will be seeded first through eighth, with the two regular season division winners taking the top two spots. Both of the first two rounds of the playoffs will be best-of-five games, while the Conference Finals and Kelly Cup Finals will both be best-of-seven.
There were also a couple of rule changes adopted by the Board of Governors. Starting this season, the "instigator" rule has been amended to include only a two-minute minor penalty in addition to the fighting major. This rule previously assessed a 10-minute misconduct to the instigator along with the minor and major penalties. For shootouts, the league will now allow a minimum of 10 shooters to participate before players may be re-used.
American Conference (14 teams)
East Division (7 teams) - Charlotte Checkers, Columbia Inferno, Greensboro Generals, Greenville Grrrowl, Pee Dee Pride, Roanoke Express and South Carolina Stingrays.
South Division (7 teams) - Augusta Lynx, Florida Everblades, Gwinnett Gladiators, Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Sea Wolves, Pensacola Ice Pilots and Texas Wildcatters.
National Conference (16 teams)
North Division (8 teams) - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies, Dayton Bombers, Johnstown Chiefs, Peoria Rivermen, Reading Royals, Toledo Storm, Trenton Titans and Wheeling Nailers.
West Division (8 teams) - Alaska Aces, Bakersfield Condors, Fresno Falcons, Idaho Steelheads, Las Vegas Wranglers, Long Beach Ice Dogs, San Diego Gulls and Victoria Salmon Kings.
The 2004-05 Bakersfield Condors season opens at home on October 22nd against the expansion Victoria Salmon Kings. Ticket packages are on sale now for as low as $48. Contact the BSE offices at 324-PUCK (7825) for more information. For updated information about the Condors and a complete schedule, log on to www.bakersfieldcondors.com.
ECHL Stories from June 16, 2004
- Join the Titans nation - Trenton Devils
- Titans re-sign Zultek - Trenton Devils
- Stingrays Begin By Signing Spencer - South Carolina Stingrays
- Chiefs Re-Sign Tarabrin; Rookie Playmaker Added to Roster - Johnstown Chiefs
- Kidney re-signs with Pride - Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz
- ECHL Alum Ryder Finishes Second In NHL Rookie Award - ECHL
- ECHL Realignment Passed for 2004-05 - Bakersfield Condors
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