ECHL ECHL

ECHL's 24th season underway

Published on October 17, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


The ECHL's 24th season faced off with 18 games last weekend. Four teams enjoyed perfect 2-0-0 weekends as the Alaska Aces, Bakersfield Condors, Elmira Jackals and Wheeling Nailers all won both of their outings over the weekend.

Elmira and Wheeling each scored 10 goals in their two games, with the Jackals' Evan Barlow enjoying the best offensive output of the weekend. Barlow tied a club record with six points (3g-3a) in a 7-2 win over Trenton on Friday and followed that up with an assist in a 3-1 victory against the Titans on Saturday.

Wheeling enjoyed balanced scoring in its two-game road trip to Greenville and South Carolina as eight players share the team lead with two points each and six other players notched one point. Sixteen of the Nailers' 17 skaters are at least a +2 through two games and goaltender Patrick Killeen, a 2011 ECHL All-Star, recorded both wins with a 1.00 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.

After recording a 5-4 win at Ontario on Friday, Bakersfield opened its home schedule with a 3-1 win over Colorado on Saturday. Jesse Gimblett scored a goal in each game, and leads the team with four points (2g-2a) and a +3 while goaltender Bryan Pitton and Matt Keetley each recorded a win during opening weekend.

In Alaska, 2011 ECHL Goaltender of the Year Gerald Coleman picked up where he left off last year, picking up a pair of wins over Las Vegas while posting a 0.96 goals-against average and a.962 save percentage.

The ECHL's two newest members each won their debuts over the weekend. The Colorado Eagles began ECHL play with a 5-2 win at Stockton on Friday. Chad Costello scored two goals to lead the Eagles to the win while Kyle Jones stopped 37 shots to earn the win in net. On Saturday, the Chicago Express made their ECHL debut with a 5-1 win at Toledo. Blair Riley scored the first goal in team history as part of a four-point effort (2g-2a) while goaltender Rob Nolan earned the win with 34 saves.

Both the Eagles and Express host their home openers this weekend. Colorado entertains Stockton at the Budweiser Events Center on Friday and Saturday and Chicago opens play at Sears Centre Arena on Saturday against Kalamazoo.

Opening Weekend attendance surpasses 5,000 per game

For the first time since the 2007-08 season, the ECHL averaged more than 5,000 fans per game over opening weekend. A total of 90,760 fans attended the 18 games over the weekend for an average of 5,042 per game, an increase of 5.5% over last season when the league averaged 4,764 fans per game during opening weekend.

Visit the Tickets Page at ECHL.com to purchase tickets for ECHL games.

Toledo led the way with a standing-room only crowd of 8,250 for its home opener on Saturday, marking the largest crowd to ever attend a professional hockey game in the city's hockey history, which dates to 1947.

The defending Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces welcomed 5,577 fans to Sullivan Arena for their banner-raising celebration on Friday, marking a 19.7% increase over last season's opener and the team's largest opening night crowd since 2006-07.

Bakersfield had 6,788 fans for its opener on Saturday marking the fifth time in the last six seasons that the Condors have had over 6,000 fans for their opener. Stockton saw a 10% increase in its home opener as the team had 6,827 on Friday and Idaho improved its home opener by 4% with 4,232 at CenturyLink Arena.

Florida welcomed just under 11,000 fans for its two-game weekend series against Gwinnett while Elmira had just under 7,000 fans for its opening weekend against Trenton, playing to 88% of capacity at First Arena.

Greenville had 5,935 fans for its opener on Friday, an increase of 23% over its inaugural home opener last season. Ontario, which has led the league in attendance each of the last two seasons, opened its home schedule with nearly 12,000 fans for two games.

South Carolina welcomed 3,879 for its opener on Friday while Kalamazoo had 2,921 for its opening game on Saturday.

Seven teams host their 2011-12 home openers this weekend. Colorado plays host to its first ECHL game on Friday when it hosts Stockton while Chicago hosts Kalamazoo on Saturday in the first ECHL game at Sears Centre Arena. Gwinnett opens its ninth season at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Friday against Greenville while Las Vegas entertains Ontario. On Saturday, the Trenton Titans take to the ice at Sun National Bank Center for the first time since 2006-07 when they host Florida, Reading entertains Cincinnati and Wheeling opens its 20th season at WesBanco Arena against Elmira.

DIVISIONS

ATLANTIC DIVISION

- Elmira is tied for the ECHL lead with 10 goals. - Evan Barlow leads the ECHL in goals, assists and points, recording three goals and four assists on opening weekend. - The Jackals host Florida on Friday and are at Wheeling on Saturday.

- Dennis McCauley became the 57th player in team history to score a goal in his first game with the Royals against the Stingrays on Saturday. - Olivier Labelle scored the first goal of the season for the Royals for the second consecutive season. - Reading hosts Cincinnati on Friday and Florida on Saturday.

- Trenton is tied for third in the ECHL with 69 shots on goal. - Defenseman Tyler Hostetter recorded a power play tally for his first professional goal. - Trenton hosts Florida on Saturday and Cincinnati on Sunday.

- The Nailers have the best goal differential in the league, having scored ten times and only allowed two goals for a +8 differential. - Patrick Killeen is tied for the league lead with two wins. - Wheeling hosts Elmira on Saturday in its home opener. NORTH DIVISION

- The Express won their first game in club history, defeating Toledo 5-1. - Blair Riley leads the team with four points, having tallied two goals and two assists. - Chicago hosts Kalamazoo on Saturday and South Carolina on Sunday.

- The Cyclones are the only ECHL team to have scored a shorthanded goal without scoring a power-play goal. - Garrett Wilson scored his first professional goal with a tally against Kalamazoo. - The Cyclones are on the road at Reading on Friday and at Trenton on Saturday.

- Kalamazoo has won all three of its ECHL season openers. - Brandon Svendsen leads the K-Wings with two goals, including the game-winner in their season opener. - The K-Wings host Toledo on Friday and than travel to Chicago on Saturday.

- Toledo welcomed a single game record 8,250 fans Saturday night. - Walleye captain Kyle Rogers scored Toledo's lone goal. - Toledo is at Kalamazoo Friday before returning home Saturday against South Carolina.

SOUTH DIVISION

- The Everblades lead the South Division with three points after recording a win and losing in an 11-round shootout on opening weekend. - John Muse is tied for the ECHL lead with a 0.92 goals-against average. - Florida is at Elmira on Friday, Trenton on Saturday and Reading on Sunday.

- Greenville's attendance of 5,935 on opening night was the second highest in team history. - Wes Cunningham registered his 100th ECHL assist against Wheeling on Friday. - The Road Warriors are at Gwinnett on Friday and Saturday.

- The Gladiators are averaging the least penalty minutes in the ECHL at 11.00 per game. - Jeff Jakaitis leads the ECHL with a .974 save percentage. - Gwinnett hosts Greenville on Friday and Saturday.

- Head Coach Spencer Carbery won his first game as the team's coach with a 4-3 overtime win over Reading. - Zach Tarkir recorded the only overtime goal in the ECHL so far this season. - The Stingrays visit Toledo on Saturday and are at Chicago on Sunday.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION

- The Aces lead the ECHL in penalty killing, successfully killing all seven shorthanded opportunities. - Last season's ECHL Most Valuable Player, Wes Goldie leads the Aces with three points (1g-2a). - Alaska hosts Idaho for games Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

- The Eagles won their first ever ECHL game, defeating Stockton 5-2 on Friday. - Kyle Jones stopped 77 shots opening weekend, and is leading the ECHL in saves. - Colorado hosts Stockton on Friday and Saturday.

- Idaho scored two shorthanded goals on opening weekend after recording only two shorthanded goals all last season. - Kael Mouillierat leads the ECHL with two shorthanded points. - The Steelheads visit Alaska on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

- Utah has a league-high 17 power play changes. - John Armstrong leads the Grizzlies with one goal and one assist. - Utah hosts Bakersfield on Wednesday and Friday.

PACIFIC DIVISION

- The Condors killed off 15 of 16 opponent power plays over the weekend. - Peter Boyd and Mike Kramer both recorded their first professional goals. - The Condors travel to face Utah on Wednesday and Friday, and Las Vegas on Saturday.

- The Wranglers are one of just two teams who have a rookie as their leader in scoring and plus-minus. - Scott Campbell scored his first ECHL goal in Friday's season opener. - Las Vegas hosts Ontario on Friday and Bakersfield on Saturday.

- Ontario recorded the most shots on goal in the ECHL on opening weekend. - Francois Brisebois scored a goal in each of his first two ECHL games. - The Reign travel to Las Vegas on Friday to face the Wranglers.

- Stockton is second in the ECHL in attendance with 6,827 fans. - Gabriel Levesque leads the Thunder and is tied for third in ECHL scoring with four points (2g-2a). - Stockton travels to Colorado on Friday and Saturday.

Check out the ECHL Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from October 17, 2011


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.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central