ECHL Season Opens on Friday
October 8, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release
The 31st season of the ECHL begins with Opening Weekend on Friday with six games, continues on Saturday with 13 games and concludes with three games on Sunday.
Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league that has 27 teams in 20 states and two Canadian province playing 972 games from Oct. 12, 2018 to April 7, 2019. The ECHL is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
The first game of the 2018-19 season features one of the ECHL's two new teams this season - the Newfoundland Growlers - hosting the defending Eastern Conference champion Florida Everblades at the Mile One Centre in St. John's, Newfoundland. Four of the other five games on Friday feature divisional match-ups as Indy hosts Fort Wayne, Idaho visits Wichita, Kansas City entertains Allen and Rapid City travels to Allen. The other action on Friday has Toledo heading to Greenville to take on the Swamp Rabbits.
The ECHL's other new addition - the Maine Mariners, bring hockey back to Portland, Maine on Saturday when they host Adirondack. Seven other teams open their home schedule on Saturday including Brampton hosting Manchester, Reading taking on Worcester, Norfolk welcoming Wheeling, Jacksonville meeting South Carolina, Orlando hosting Atlanta, Cincinnati entertaining Fort Wayne and Tulsa taking on Idaho.
New faces behind the benches
Nine of the 27 ECHL teams will have a new coach in charge as the 2018-19 season gets underway.
After serving as Adirondack's assistant coach for the previous three seasons, Alex Lox assumes the head coaching role for the Thunder after previous head coach Brad Tapper accepted a position as an assistant coach with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.
In Atlanta, Jeff Pyle returns to the Gladiators, where he previously served as head coach from 2003-10. Overall in 13 seasons as an ECHL head coach with Mobile, Gwinnett and Evansville, Pyle is 477-353-102, and ranks third all-time in league history with 932 games coached while his 477 wins are fourth all time.
Another familiar face returning to the ECHL is Matt Thomas, who takes over as head coach in Cincinnati. Thomas, who is the ECHL's all-time leader with 49 career postseason wins, has amassed an overall record of 342-225-80 in nine seasons with Atlantic City, Fresno and Stockton. His 342 regular-season wins are tied for ninth in league history.
Taking over as head coach in Greenville is Kevin Kerr, who has spent the previous three seasons with Macon of the Southern Professional Hockey League. Kerr went 94-56-18 with the Mayhem, and led the club to the 2017 Presidents' Cup championship.
Riley Armstong is the first head coach of the Maine Mariners. After wrapping up a 12-year playing career following the 2015-16 season, Armstrong spent the previous two seasons as an assistant coach with Wheeling.
Taking over as the new head coach in Manchester is Doug Christiansen, who spent the last four seasons as the Director of Player Development & Recruitment for the United States Hockey League. Prior to that, he spent seven seasons as a head coach for three separate teams in the Elite Ice Hockey League in the United Kingdom.
Ryane Clowe, who racked up over 300 points in nearly 500 career NHL games, is the first head coach of the Newfoundland Growlers. Clowe served as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils the past two seasons.
In South Carolina, Spiros Anastas takes over for Ryan Warsofsky, who has moved on to become an assistant coach with the AHL's Charlotte Checkers. Anastas gets his first taste as a head coach in professional hockey after serving as the head coach for the University of Lethbridge since the 2014-15 season.
The new head coach in Wheeling is Mike Bavis, who joins the Nailers with 17 years of assistant coaching experience, 15 of which came at his alma mater, Boston University. Bavis also spent one season with the AHL's Springfield Falcons and one season at Babson College.
Approaching milestones
Jacksonville's Garet Hunt is on the verge of becoming the most penalized player in ECHL history. Hunt enters the 2018-19 season second in league history with 2,398 career penalty minutes, just 27 minutes behind the all-time leader, Cam Brown.
Toledo's Pat Nagle enters the season sixth in league history with 160 career wins. He is 13 wins shy of Jason Saal, who ranks fifth all-time. Last season, Nagle won 37 games, tied for the second most wins in a single season by a goaltender in ECHL history.
In the coaching ranks, Atlanta's Jeff Pyle ranks fourth in ECHL history with 477 wins, and needs 23 wins to join Jacksonville's Jason Christie as the only coaches to reach the 500-win plateau in league history. Pyle is 68 games shy of reaching 1,000-games coached in the league, a mark only reached by Christie (1,079) and 2012 ECHL Hall of Fame inductee John Marks (1,008).
Allen's Steve Martinson enters the season fifth all-time in league history with 373 wins, while Wichita's Malcolm Cameron is sixth with 372 victories. Kalamazoo's Nick Bootland and Cincinnati's Matt Thomas are tied for eighth with 342 wins, each coach sitting just one win behind Larry Courville for seventh place on the league's all-time wins list.
Division Capsules
North Division
ADIRONDACK THUNDER
Location: Glens Falls, New York
Arena (Capacity): Cool Insuring Arena (4,794)
Coach: Alex Loh, First Season
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Finals to Florida (4 games to 1)
NHL Affiliate: New Jersey Devils
AHL Affiliate: Binghamton Devils
2017-18 in review
Record: 41-24-7, 89 points
Division Finish: 1st, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 7th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.24 (11th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.07 (11th)
Power Play (Rank): 19.1% (4th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 83.3% (T14th)
BRAMPTON BEAST
Location: Brampton, Ontario
Arena (Capacity): CAA Centre (5,000)
Coach: Colin Chaulk, Fourth Season (91-96-29)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators
AHL Affiliate: Belleville Senators
2017-18 in review
Record: 28-34-10, 66 points
Division Finish: 6th, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 22nd
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.92 (20th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.40 (T18th)
Power Play (Rank): 13.8% (T24th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 86.1% (4th)
MAINE MARINERS
Location: Portland, Maine
Arena (Capacity): Cross Insurance Arena (6,733)
Coach: Riley Armstrong, First Season
NHL Affiliate: New York Rangers
AHL Affiliate: Hartford Wolf Pack
MANCHESTER MONARCHS
Location: Manchester, New Hampshire
Arena (Capacity): SNHU Arena (9,852)
Coach: Doug Christiansen, First Season
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Finals to Adirondack (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: Los Angeles Kings
AHL Affiliate: Ontario Reign
2017-18 in review
Record: 41-25-6, 88 points
Division Finish: 2nd, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 8th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.57 (4th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.97 (T7th)
Power Play (Rank): 18.5% (7th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.7% (7th)
NEWFOUNDLAND GROWLERS
Location: St. John's, Newfoundland
Arena (Capacity): Mile One Centre (6,287)
Coach: Ryane Clowe, First Season
NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs
AHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies
READING ROYALS
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Arena (Capacity): Santander Arena (7,160)
Coach: Kirk MacDonald, Third Season (42-24-9)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Semifinals to Manchester (4 games to 0)
NHL Affiliate: Philadelphia Flyers
AHL Affiliate: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
2017-18 in review
Record: 39-24-9, 87 points
Division Finish: 3rd, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 9th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.22 (12th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.76 (6th)
Power Play (Rank): 16.0% (T17th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.4% (8th)
WORCESTER RAILERS
Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
Arena (Capacity): DCU Center (5,600)
Coach: Jamie Russell, Second Season with Worcester, Fourth Season in ECHL (106-90-20)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Semifinals to Adirondack (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: New York Islanders
AHL Affiliate: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2017-18 in review
Record: 37-27-8, 82 points
Division Finish: 4th, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 10th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.69 (27th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.68 (5th)
Power Play (Rank): 13.9% (23rd)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.2% (T10th)
South Division
ATLANTA GLADIATORS
Location: Duluth, Georgia
Arena (Capacity): Infinite Energy Arena (11,355)
Coach: Jeff Pyle, Ninth Season with Atlanta, 14th Season in ECHL (477-353-102)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost South Division Semifinals to Florida (4 games to 0)
NHL Affiliate: Boston Bruins
AHL Affiliate: Providence Bruins
2017-18 in review
Record: 32-35-5, 69 points
Division Finish: 4th, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 21st
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.85 (21st)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.18 (44th)
Power Play (Rank): 13.8% (T24th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 83.2% (T16th)
FLORIDA EVERBLADES
Location: Estero, Florida
Arena (Capacity): Hertz Arena (7,186)
Coach: Brad Ralph, Third Season with Florida, Sixth Season in ECHL (231-98-31)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Kelly Cup Finals to Colorado (4 games to 3)
NHL Affiliate: Carolina Hurricanes
AHL Affiliate: Charlotte Checkers
2017-18 in review
Record: 53-13-6, 112 points
Division Finish: 1st, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 1st
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.63 (3rd)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.38 (3rd)
Power Play (Rank): 17.1% (T14th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 86.2% (3rd)
GREENVILLE SWAMP RABBITS
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Arena (Capacity): Bon Secours Wellness Arena (7,044)
Coach: Kevin Kerr, First Season
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
2017-18 in review
Record: 24-40-8, 56 points
Division Finish: 7th, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 26th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.81 (25th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.94 (26th)
Power Play (Rank): 17.6% (12th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 76.5% (27th)
JACKSONVILLE ICEMEN
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
Arena (Capacity): Veterans Memorial Arena (8,500)
Coach: Jason Christie, Second Season with Jacksonville, 16th Season in ECHL (573-388-118)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Winnipeg Jets
AHL Affiliate: Manitoba Moose
2017-18 in review
Record: 26-39-7, 59 points
Division Finish: 5th, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 23rd
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.82 (T23rd)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.42 (20th)
Power Play (Rank): 9.1% (27th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 83.5% (13th)
NORFOLK ADMIRALS
Location: Norfolk, Virginia
Arena (Capacity): Norfolk Scope (8,701)
Coach: Robbie Ftorek, Third Season (50-68-9)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Arizona Coyotes
AHL Affiliate: Tucson Roadrunners
2017-18 in review
Record: 26-39-7, 59 points
Division Finish: 6th, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 24th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.93 (19th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.74 (25th)
Power Play (Rank): 16.9% (16th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 85.7% (6th)
ORLANDO SOLAR BEARS
Location: Orlando, Florida
Arena (Capacity): Amway Center (9,049)
Coach: Drake Berehowsky, Fourth Season (92-88-25)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost South Division Finals to Florida (4 games to 1)
NHL Affiliate: Tampa Bay Lightning
AHL Affiliate: Syracuse Crunch
2017-18 in review
Record: 33-30-9, 75 points
Division Finish: 3rd, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 17th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.94 (18th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.17 (13th)
Power Play (Rank): 16.0% (T17th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 82.8% (18th)
SOUTH CAROLINA STINGRAYS
Location: North Charleston, South Carolina
Arena (Capacity): North Charleston Coliseum (7,250)
Coach: Sprios Anastas, First Season
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost South Division Semifinals to Orlando (4 games to 0)
NHL Affiliate: Washington Capitals
AHL Affiliate: Hershey Bears
2017-18 in review
Record: 48-16-8, 104 points
Division Finish: 2nd, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 3rd
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.97 (T16th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.13 (1st)
Power Play (Rank): 17.8% (11th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 90.5% (1st)
Central Division
CINCINNATI CYCLONES
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Arena (Capacity): U.S. Bank Arena (6,955)
Coach: Matt Thomas, First Season with Cincinnati, 10th Season in ECHL (342-225-80)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Fort Wayne (4 games to 1)
NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres
AHL Affiliate: Rochester Americans
2017-18 in review
Record: 39-30-3, 81 points
Division Finish: 3rd, Central
Overall ECHL Finish: 11th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.14 (14th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.06 (10th)
Power Play (Rank): 20.1% (2nd)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 76.7% (26th)
FORT WAYNE KOMETS
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Arena (Capacity): Memorial Coliseum (10,500)
Coach: Gary Graham, Sixth Season (215-104-41)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Finals to Colorado (4 games to 3)
NHL Affiliate: Vegas Golden Knights
AHL Affiliate: Chicago Wolves
2017-18 in review
Record: 46-20-6, 98 points
Division Finish: 2nd, Central
Overall ECHL Finish: 5th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 4.03 (1st)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.00 (9th)
Power Play (Rank): 18.1% (9th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.0% (12th)
INDY FUEL
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Arena (Capacity): Indiana Farmers Coliseum (6,145)
Coach: Bernie John, Fourth Season (64-78-15)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Toledo (4 games to 0)
NHL Affiliate: Chicago Blackhawks
AHL Affiliate: Rockford IceHogs
2017-18 in review
Record: 36-30-6, 78 points
Division Finish: 4th, Central
Overall ECHL Finish: 13th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.36 (T8th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.44 (21st)
Power Play (Rank): 22.8% (1st)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 82.7% (19th)
KALAMAZOO WINGS
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Arena (Capacity): Wings Event Center (5,113)
Coach: Nick Bootland, 11th Season with Kalamazoo; 10th Season in ECHL (342-241-65)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Vancouver Canucks
AHL Affiliate: Utica Comets
2017-18 in review
Record: 34-31-7, 75 points
Division Finish: 5th, Central
Overall ECHL Finish: 16th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.49 (5th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.49 (22nd)
Power Play (Rank): 18.6% (T5th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 80.4% (22nd)
TOLEDO WALLEYE
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Arena (Capacity): Huntington Center (7,431)
Coach: Dan Watson, Fourth Season (106-47-12)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Fort Wayne (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red Wings
AHL Affiliate: Grand Rapids Griffins
2017-18 in review
Record: 50-17-5, 105 points
Division Finish: 1st, Central
Overall ECHL Finish: 2nd
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.36 (T8th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.36 (2nd)
Power Play (Rank): 18.6% (T5th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 87.0% (2nd)
WHEELING NAILERS
Location: Wheeling, West Virginia
Arena (Capacity): WesBanco Arena (5,200)
Coach: Mike Bavis, First Season
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins
AHL Affiliate: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2017-18 in review
Record: 35-28-9, 79 points
Division Finish: 5th, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 12th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.44 (6th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.40 (T18th)
Power Play (Rank): 19.2% (3rd)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 80.7% (21st)
Mountain Division
ALLEN AMERICANS
Location: Allen, Texas
Arena (Capacity): Allen Event Center (6,200)
Coach: Steve Martinson, Fifth Season with Allen, 10th Season in ECHL (373-199-76)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Mountain Division Semifinals to Idaho (4 games to 3)
NHL Affiliate: Minnesota Wild
AHL Affiliate: Iowa Wild
2017-18 in review
Record: 35-29-8, 78 points
Division Finish: 3rd, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 14th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.26 (10th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.22 (15th)
Power Play (Rank): 18.5% (13th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 81.6% (20th)
IDAHO STEELHEADS
Location: Boise, Idaho
Arena (Capacity): CenturyLink Arena (5,006)
Coach: Neil Graham, Fourth Season (125-66-25)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Mountain Division Semifinals to Colorado (4 games to 0)
NHL Affiliate: Dallas Stars
AHL Affiliate: Texas Stars
2017-18 in review
Record: 44-20-8, 96 points
Division Finish: 2nd, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 6th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.39 (7th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.61 (4th)
Power Play (Rank): 17.5% (13th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.2% (T9th)
KANSAS CITY MAVERICKS
Location: Independence, Missouri
Arena (Capacity): Silverstein Eye Centers Arena (5,800)
Coach: John-Scott Dickson, Third Season (67-62-15)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Calgary Flames
AHL Affiliate: Stockton Heat
2017-18 in review
Record: 33-30-9, 75 points
Division Finish: 5th, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 19th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.24 (15th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.25 (T16th)
Power Play (Rank): 16.4% (T17th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.0% (6th)
RAPID CITY RUSH
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Arena (Capacity): Rushmore Plaza Civic Center (5,119)
Coach: Daniel Tetrault, Second Season (25-41-6)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
2017-18 in review
Record: 25-41-6, 56 points
Division Finish: 7th, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 25th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.82 (T23rd)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.72 (24th)
Power Play (Rank): 16.0% (T17th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 83.2% (T16th)
TULSA OILERS
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Arena (Capacity): BOK Center (17,096)
Coach: Rob Murray, Second Season with Tulsa, Eighth Season in ECHL (262-179-62)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: St. Louis Blues
AHL Affiliate: San Antonio Rampage
2017-18 in review
Record: 31-29-12, 74 points
Division Finish: 5th, Central
Overall ECHL Finish: 19th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 2.97 (T17th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.24 (16th)
Power Play (Rank): 12.9% (26th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 84.2% (T9th)
UTAH GRIZZLIES
Location: West Valley City, Utah
Arena (Capacity): Maverik Center (10,207)
Coach: Tim Branham, Sixth Season (178-136-45)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Colorado Avalanche
AHL Affiliate: Colorado Eagles
2017-18 in review
Record: 28-29-15, 71 points
Division Finish: 6th, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 20th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.19 (13th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.56 (23rd)
Power Play (Rank): 15.7% (21st)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 83.3% (14th)
WICHITA THUNDER
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Arena (Capacity): INTRUST Bank Arena (13,400)
Coach: Malcolm Cameron, Third Season with Wichita, 11th Season in ECHL (372-246-81)
2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Mountain Division Semifinals to Colorado (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: Edmonton Oilers
AHL Affiliate: Bakersfield Condors
2017-18 in review
Record: 34-30-8, 76 points
Division Finish: 4th, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 15th
Goals Per Game (Rank): 3.08 (15th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank): 3.26 (17th)
Power Play (Rank): 14.3% (22nd)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 80.1% (23rd)
ECHL Stories from October 8, 2018
- ECHL Transactions - October 8 - ECHL
- Solar Bears Acquire Defenseman Zach Todd from Oilers - Orlando Solar Bears
- Oilers Acquire Baillargeon from Solar Bears - Tulsa Oilers
- ECHL Season Opens on Friday - ECHL
- Grizzlies Opening Weekend at Maverik Center begins Friday - Utah Grizzlies
- Walleye Sign Fourth Vet - Toledo Walleye
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