ECHL's 27th Season Opens on Friday
October 14, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release
The ECHL's 27th season begins on Friday with seven games in seven states, continues on Saturday with 11 games in nine states and concludes with three games in three states on Sunday.
Began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league that has 28 teams in 20 states and one Canadian province playing 1,008 games from Oct. 17, 2014 to April 11, 2015. The ECHL is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
The 2014-15 season features eight new teams to the ECHL - Allen Americans, Brampton Beast, Indy Fuel, Missouri Mavericks, Quad City Mallards, Rapid City Rush, Tulsa Oilers and Wichita Thunder.
Two of the new teams will host their first ECHL games on Opening Night with the Fuel hosting their in-state rival Fort Wayne at the newly renovated Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum while Rapid City hosts Colorado at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The other four games on Friday's slate include Elmira hosting Kalamazoo, South Carolina visiting Florida, Idaho at Utah and the Alaska Aces raising their third Kelly Cup championship banner in team history when they host Ontario at Sullivan Arena.
Saturday's action is highlighted by seven teams opening their home schedule. Fort Wayne hosts Indy and Idaho entertains Utah in the back end of opening weekend home-and-home series. Other teams opening their home schedules are Wheeling against Reading, Toledo hosting Cincinnati, Evansville entertaining Gwinnett, Orlando against Greenville, and Bakersfield hosting Stockton. The Thunder will host the Condors on Sunday in their home opener.
New faces behind the benches
Eight of the 28 ECHL teams will have a new coach in charge as the 2014-15 season gets underway.
J.F. Houle takes over in Bakersfield as the Condors are coming off their first-ever appearance in the Western Conference Finals. Houle spent the previous three-plus seasons as head coach with Lewiston and Blainville-Boisbriand of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
After spending last season as the team's assistant coach, Brent Hughes takes over the head-coaching reins in Brampton.
In Cincinnati, Matt Macdonald moves over after spending the past two seasons as the Cyclones' assistant coach. Macdonald also spent parts of three seasons as a player in Cincinnati.
Jamie Russell gets his first professional head coaching assignment in Elmira. Russell spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Providence College, and has prior head-coaching experience with Michigan Tech University from 2003-11.
Former Elmira head coach Dwight Mullins takes over as the new bench boss in Evansville. Mullins has won 39 games or more in four of his five seasons as a head coach.
The Indy Fuel will be led by Scott Hillman in their first season. Hillman joins the Fuel with seven seasons of coaching experience, including the last five years with the Missouri Mavericks.
Taking over for Hillman in Missouri is Richard Matvichuk. The eighth-overall selection in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, Matvichuk played 796 career games in the National Hockey League and was part of the Dallas Stars' 1999 Stanley Cup championship squad.
Derek Lalonde joins Toledo as the Walleye's new head coach. Lalonde spent the previous three seasons as head coach of the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers, where in 2011-12, he led the club to a 47-94 record and the league title.
Approaching milestones
Kalamazoo's Sam Ftorek enters the 2014-15 season third all-time in ECHL history with 767 games played. He is just five games shy of passing Louis Dumont into second place in League history, and only 22 games shy of the ECHL record of 789 career games which is held by Cam Brown, a 2010 inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame .
On the coaching front, Ontario head coach Jason Christie is just nine games shy of becoming only the fourth coach in ECHL history to reach the 800-games coached plateau. Christie, who has an all-time record of 440-263-88 in 11 seasons with Peoria, Utah and Ontario, is 38 wins shy of moving into third place in ECHL history, 41 wins shy of second place and 52 wins shy of surpassing John Marks, a 2012 inductee into the ECHL Hall of Fame, for most wins in League history.
Division capsules
North Division
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Arena (Capacity) : U.S. Bank Arena (6,955)
Coach: Matt Macdonald, First Season
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Kelly Cup Finals to Alaska (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliates: Florida Panthers and Nashville Predators
AHL Affiliates: San Antonio Rampage and Milwaukee Admirals
2013-14 in review
Record: 41-23-8, 90 points
Division Finish: 2nd, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 7th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.43 (1st)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.83 (9th)
Power Play (Rank) : 14.7% (17th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.8% (17th)
Location: Evansville, Indiana
Arena (Capacity) : Ford Center (9,100)
Coach: Dwight Mullins, First Season with Evansville, Third Season in ECHL (64-65-15)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did not qualify
NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators
AHL Affiliate: Binghamton Senators
2013-14 in review
Record: 31-30-11, 73 points
Division Finish: 4th, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 17th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.14 (5th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.29 (18th)
Power Play (Rank) : 20.6% (1st)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 79.3% (21st)
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Arena (Capacity) : Memorial Coliseum (10,500)
Coach: Gary Graham, Second Season (36-24-12)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals to Cincinnati (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: Colorado Avalanche
AHL Affiliate: Lake Erie Monsters
2013-14 in review
Record: 36-24-12, 84 points
Division Finish: 3rd, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 14th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.99 (13th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.99 (12th)
Power Play (Rank) : 13.9% (20th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 86.3% (3rd)
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Arena (Capacity) : Indiana State Fairgrounds Coliseum (6,145)
Coach: Scott Hillman, First Season
NHL Affiliate: Chicago Blackhawks
AHL Affiliate: Rockford IceHogs
Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Arena (Capacity) : Wings Stadium (5,113)
Coach: Nick Bootland, Seventh Season with Kalamazoo; Sixth Season in ECHL (196-122-42)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to Greenville (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliates: Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks
AHL Affiliates: Springfield Falcons, Utica Comets and Chicago Wolves
2013-14 in review
Record: 42-22-8, 92 points
Division Finish: 1st, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 4th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.11 (T-7th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.74 (7th)
Power Play (Rank) : 18.1% (4th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.6% (T-10th)
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Arena (Capacity) : Huntington Center (7,431)
Coach: Derek Lalonde, First Season
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red Wings
AHL Affiliate: Grand Rapids Griffins
2013-14 in review
Record: 21-44-7, 49 points
Division Finish: 5th, North
Overall ECHL Finish: 20th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.68 (18th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.72 (22nd)
Power Play (Rank) : 17.1% (6th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.7% (T-8th)
Location: Wheeling, West Virginia
Arena (Capacity) : WesBanco Arena (5,406)
Coach: Clark Donatelli, Fourth Season (96-76-27)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Semifinals to Greenville (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliates: Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins
AHL Affiliates: Hamilton Bulldogs and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
2013-14 in review
Record: 39-27-6, 84 points
Division Finish: 2nd, Atlantic
Overall ECHL Finish: 12th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.00 (12th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.72 (6th)
Power Play (Rank) : 16.3% (T-10th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.5% (13th)
East Division
Location: Elmira, New York
Arena (Capacity) : First Arena (3,784)
Coach: Jamie Russell, First Season
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres
AHL Affiliate: Rochester Americans
2013-14 in review
Record: 24-40-8, 56 points
Division Finish: 3rd, Atlantic
Overall ECHL Finish: 19th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.44 (21st)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.50 (20th)
Power Play (Rank) : 11.7% (22nd)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.2% (19th)
Location: Estero, Florida
Arena (Capacity) : Germain Arena (7,186)
Coach: Greg Poss, Fifth Season (152-105-31)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliates: Carolina Hurricanes and Tampa Bay Lightning
AHL Affiliates: Charlotte Checkers and Syracuse Crunch
2013-14 in review
Record: 37-27-8, 82 points
South Division Finish: 4th
Overall ECHL Finish: 15th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.33 (3rd)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.08 (15th)
Power Play (Rank) : 16.2% (T-12th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 83.2% (15th)
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Arena (Capacity) : Bon Secours Wellness Arena (7,044)
Coach: Dean Stork, Fifth Season (162-102-24)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Finals to Cincinnati (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: New York Rangers
AHL Affiliate: Hartford Wolf Pack
2013-14 in review
Record: 39-27-6, 84 points
Division Finish: 3rd, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 13th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.06 (10th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.89 (10th)
Power Play (Rank) : 16.7% (T-7th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 87.6% (1st)
Location: Duluth, Georgia
Arena (Capacity) : Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,355)
Coach: Rick Emmett, Second Season (29-38-5)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
NHL Affiliate: Arizona Coyotes
AHL Affiliate: Portland Pirates
2013-14 in review
Record: 29-38-5, 63 points
Division Finish: 5th, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 18th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.82 (15th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.15 (16th)
Power Play (Rank) : 14.0% (19th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 85.0% (7th)
Location: Orlando, Florida
Arena (Capacity) : Amway Center (9,555)
Coach: Vince Williams, Second Season with Orlando, Fourth Season in ECHL (86-97-24)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to Cincinnati (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs
AHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies
2013-14 in review
Record: 43-24-5, 91 points
Division Finish: 2nd, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 8th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.13 (6th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.04 (13th)
Power Play (Rank) : 14.5% (18th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.6% (T-10th)
Location: Reading, Pennsylvania
Arena (Capacity): Santander Arena (7,160)
Coach: Larry Courville, Seventh Season (224-140-34)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to Fort Wayne (4 games to 1)
NHL Affiliate: Philadelphia Flyers
AHL Affiliate: Lehigh Valley Phantoms
2013-14 in review
Record: 46-22-4, 96 points
Division Finish: 1st, Atlantic
Overall ECHL Finish: 3rd
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.18 (4th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.53 (4th)
Power Play (Rank) : 16.5% (9th)
Penalty Killing (Rank): 86.5% (2nd)
Location: North Charleston, South Carolina
Arena (Capacity) : North Charleston Coliseum (6,712)
Coach: Spencer Carbery, Fourth Season (118-77-21)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Quarterfinals to Wheeling (4 games to 0)
NHL Affiliates: Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins
AHL Affiliates: Hershey Bears and Providence Bruins
2013-14 in review
Record: 43-23-6, 92 points
Division Finish: 1st, South
Overall ECHL Finish: 5th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.74 (T-16th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.40 (2nd)
Power Play (Rank) : 17.4% (5th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.6% (T-10th)
Central Division
Location: Allen, Texas
Arena (Capacity) : Allen Event Center (6,200)
Coach: Steve Martinson, Third Season with Allen; Sixth Season in ECHL (200-115-45)
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
Location: Brampton, Ontario
Arena (Capacity) : Powerade Centre (5,000)
Coach: Brent Hughes, First Season
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
Location: Independence, Missouri
Arena (Capacity) : Independence Events Center (5,800)
Coach: Richard Matvichuk, First Season
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Chicago Wolves
Location: Moline, Illinois
Arena (Capacity) : i Wireless Center (9,000)
Coach: Terry Ruskowski, Third Season with Quad City; Fourth Season in ECHL (96-80-20)
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
Location: Rapid City, South Dakota
Arena (Capacity) : Rushmore Plaza Civic Center (5,119)
Coach: Joe Ferras, Seventh Season with Rapid City; First Season in ECHL
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Arena (Capacity) : BOK Center (17,096)
Coach: Bruce Ramsay, Sixth Season with Tulsa, First Season in ECHL
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
Location: Wichita, Kansas
Arena (Capacity): Intrust Bank Arena (13,400)
Coach: Kevin McClelland, Fifth Season with Wichita; First Season in ECHL
NHL Affiliate: Independent
AHL Affiliate: Independent
Pacific Division
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Arena (Capacity) : Sullivan Arena (6,399)
Coach: Rob Murray, Fourth Season (127-52-26)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Won Kelly Cup title by defeating Cincinnati (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliates: Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues
AHL Affiliate: Iowa Wild
2013-14 in review
Record: 45-19-7, 97 points
Division Finish: 1st, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 1st
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.42 (2nd)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.31 (1st)
Power Play (Rank) : 16.7% (T-7th)
Location: Bakersfield, California
Arena (Capacity) : Rabobank Arena (9,000)
Coach: J.F. Houle, First Season
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Finals to Alaska (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: Edmonton Oilers
AHL Affiliate: Oklahoma City Barons
2013-14 in review
Record: 36-30-6, 79 points
Division Finish: 2nd, Pacific
Overall ECHL Finish: 15th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.74 (T-16th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.81 (8th)
Power Play (Rank) : 15.2% (16th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 85.9% (4th)
Location: Loveland, Colorado
Arena (Capacity) : Budweiser Events Center (5,289)
Coach: Chris Stewart, 10th Season with Colorado; Fourth Season in ECHL (105-85-25)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Quarterfinals to Idaho (4 games to 2)
NHL Affiliate: Calgary Flames
AHL Affiliate: Adirondack Flames
2013-14 in review
Record: 33-26-12, 78 points
Division Finish: 4th, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 16th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.97 (14th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.07 (14th)
Power Play (Rank) : 16.3% (T-10th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.3% (18th)
Location: Boise, Idaho
Arena (Capacity) : CenturyLink Arena (5,006)
Coach: Brad Ralph, Third Season (84-46-14)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Semifinals to Alaska (4 games to 1)
NHL Affiliate: Dallas Stars
AHL Affiliate: Texas Stars
2013-14 in review
Record: 39-26-7, 85 points
Division Finish: 2nd, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 9th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.10 (9th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.94 (11th)
Power Play (Rank) : 18.6% (2nd)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.7% (T-8th)
Location: Ontario, California
Arena (Capacity) : Citizens Business Bank Arena (9,592)
Coach: Jason Christie, Fourth Season with Ontario; 12th Season in ECHL (440-263-88)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Quarterfinals to Stockton (4 games to 0)
NHL Affiliates: Los Angeles Kings and Winnipeg Jets
AHL Affiliates: Manchester Monarchs and St. John's IceCaps
2013-14 in review
Record: 44-20-7, 95 points
Division Finish: 1st, Pacific
Overall ECHL Finish: 2nd
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.03 (11th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.69 (5th)
Power Play (Rank) : 15.8% (14th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 85.2% (6th)
Location: Stockton, California
Arena (Capacity) : Stockton Arena (9,737)
Coach: Rich Kromm, Second Season with Stockton; Third Season in ECHL (58-71-15)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Semifinals to Bakersfield (4 games to 1)
NHL Affiliate: New York Islanders
AHL Affiliate: Bridgeport Sound Tigers
2013-14 in review
Record: 33-31-8, 74 points
Division Finish: 3rd, Pacific
Overall ECHL Finish: 16th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.11 (T-7th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.26 (17th)
Power Play (Rank) : 18.4% (3rd)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 82.8% (16th)
Location: West Valley City, Utah
Arena (Capacity) : Maverik Center (10,207)
Coach: Tim Branham, Second Season (38-24-9)
2014 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Quarterfinals to Bakersfield (4 games to 1)
NHL Affiliate: Anaheim Ducks
AHL Affiliate: Norfolk Admirals
2013-14 in review
Record: 38-24-9, 85 points
Division Finish: 2nd, Mountain
Overall ECHL Finish: 8th
Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.63 (19th)
Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.44 (3rd)
Power Play (Rank) : 16.2% (12th)
Penalty Killing (Rank) : 85.6% (5th)
ECHL Stories from October 14, 2014
- Americans Fall to Tulsa in Preseason Opener - Allen Americans
- Gregoire and Jobke Assigned from Iowa, Aces Sign Molle and Gorham - Alaska Aces
- Grizzlies Season Preview: Friday Is Opening Night - Utah Grizzlies
- Miller Dealt to Wichita - Indy Fuel
- Reign Camp Update: Four Released from Tryouts - Ontario Reign
- Thunder Makes Roster Moves; Acquire Miller from Indy - Wichita Thunder
- Condors Opening Weekend Filled with Promotions Friday and Saturday - Bakersfield Condors
- ECHL Transactions - October 14 - ECHL
- Bridgeport Sends Sutter to Stockton - Stockton Thunder
- ECHL Announces Fines, Suspensions - ECHL
- O'Donoghue Assigned from Portland - Atlanta Gladiators
- ECHL's 27th Season Opens on Friday - ECHL
- Mavericks Release Three Players Ahead of Final Roster - Kansas City Mavericks
- Cyclones Receive AHL Reinforcements - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Americans Ownership Group Makes Statement on Move to ECHL - Allen Americans
- Idaho Adds Karlsson to Roster - Idaho Steelheads
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