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ECHL's 28th Season Opens on Friday

October 12, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


The ECHL's 28th season begins on Friday with 11 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 28 teams in 21 states and one Canadian province playing 1,008 games from Oct. 16, 2015 to April 9, 2016. The ECHL is the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

The 2015-16 season features three new teams to the ECHL as the Adirondack Thunder, Manchester Monarchs and Norfolk Admirals enter their first season as ECHL Members.

Two of the new teams will host their first ECHL games on Opening Night with the Monarchs hosting Brampton and the Admirals entertaining Wheeling. The Thunder play their first ECHL game on the road, visiting their in-state rivals, the Elmira Jackals. Also on Friday, the Allen Americans will raise their 2015 Kelly Cup championship banner when they host the Quad City Mallards. Elsewhere around the League, Kalamazoo hosts Fort Wayne, Atlanta visits Florida, Toledo is at Indy, Tulsa entertains Wichita, Utah travels to Colorado, Idaho hosts Rapid City and Missouri plays the first of three straight games at Alaska.

Saturday's action is highlighted by six teams opening their home schedule including a playoff rematch in South Carolina as the defending Eastern Conference champion Stingrays host Reading. South Carolina defeated the Royals 4 games to 3 in the East Division Semifinals in April. Other home openers on Saturday include Orlando hosting Greenville, Fort Wayne entertaining Kalamazoo, Cincinnati hosting Toledo and Evansville taking on Indy.

New faces behind the benches

Eight of the 28 ECHL teams will have a new coach in charge as the 2015-16 season gets underway.

Cail MacLean returns to the ECHL as head coach of Adirondack. MacLean posted a 78-48-18 record in two seasons as head coach of South Carolina from 2009-11.

After spending the previous two seasons as an assistant coach in Kalamazoo, Colin Chaulk gets his first head coaching job as the new man in charge in Brampton.

In Greenville, Brian Gratz is the new head coach of the Swamp Rabbits after serving as the club's assistant coach a season ago, while Neil Graham moves to the head coaching spot in Idaho after serving as the Steelheads' assistant coach for the previous two seasons.

Richard Seeley, a former defenseman in Manchester during the team's stay in the American Hockey League, returns to the city as head coach for the Monarchs and in Norfolk Eric Veilleux assumes his first professional head coaching position with the Admirals.

Anthony Noreen joins Orlando as the new head coach for the Solar Bears after leading Youngstown of the United States Hockey League for four seasons while in Tulsa, Jason Christie takes over as head coach after four seasons with the Ontario Reign.

Approaching milestones

Tulsa head coach Jason Christie enters the 2015-16 season on the verge of setting a new ECHL record for most career wins. Christie is 483-282-98 in 12 seasons with Peoria, Utah and Ontario, and trails 2012 ECHL Hall of Fame inductee John Marks by just eight wins. Marks won 491 games in 15 seasons with Charlotte, Greenville, Pensacola and Augusta. Christie ranks fourth in League history with 863 games coached, and will move into second place on that list by the end of the season.

Kalamazoo goaltender Joel Martin ranks 12th in ECHL history with 122 wins in six seasons with the K-Wings, Columbus (Ga.), Trenton and Elmira. He needs nine wins to move into the top 10 in league history.

Early Bird Pricing available for ECHL.TV

Early bird pricing for the 2015-16 season on ECHL.TV packages is now available.

The online streaming platform gives ECHL fans more access and options than ever before and games can be viewed on PC, iPhone, iPad and Android devices all through a single user account.

Fans who take advantage of early-bird pricing through Oct. 23 will see a savings off of the normal pricing, which goes into effect on Oct. 24 through the remainder of the 2015-16 regular season. Separate packages for the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs will be announced in April.

Visit ECHL.TV for available packages and to place your order.

ECHL Team Capsules

East Division

Location: Glens Falls, New York

Arena (Capacity) : Glens Falls Civic Center (4,794)

Coach: Cail MacLean, First Season with Adirondack, Third Season in ECHL (78-48-18)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Calgary Flames

AHL Affiliate: Stockton Heat

2014-15 in review (as Stockton Thunder)

Record: 21-49-2, 44 points

Division Finish: 7th, Pacific

Overall ECHL Finish: 27th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.76 (21st)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 4.11 (27th)

Power Play (Rank) : 21.1% (3rd)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 77.3% (27th)

Location: Elmira, New York

Arena (Capacity) : First Arena (3,784)

Coach: Jamie Russell, Second Season (32-33-7)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Buffalo Sabres

AHL Affiliate: Rochester Americans

2014-15 in review

Record: 32-33-7, 71 points

Division Finish: 6th, East

Overall ECHL Finish: 22nd

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.58 (25th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.01 (16th)

Power Play (Rank) : 17.0% (14th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.0% (T21st)

Location: Manchester, New Hampshire

Arena (Capacity) : Verizon Wireless Arena (9,852)

Coach: Richard Seeley, First Season

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Western Conference Finals to Allen (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Los Angeles Kings

AHL Affiliate: Ontario Reign

2014-15 in review (as Ontario Reign)

Record: 43-19-10, 102 points

Division Finish: 2nd, Pacific

Overall ECHL Finish: 8th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.32 (8th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.56 (3rd)

Power Play (Rank) : 18.0% (10th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 83.7% (11th)

Location: Norfolk, Virginia

Arena (Capacity) : Norfolk Scope (8,701)

Coach: Eric Veilleux, First Season

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Edmonton Oilers

AHL Affiliate: Bakersfield Condors

2014-15 in review (as Bakersfield Condors)

Record: 26-38-8, 60 points

Division Finish: 6th, Pacific

Overall ECHL Finish: 24th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.81 (20th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.68 (25th)

Power Play (Rank) : 15.4% (23rd)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 80.4% (24th)

Location: Reading, Pennsylvania

Arena (Capacity) : Santander Arena (7,160)

Coach: Larry Courville, Eighth Season (269-161-40)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost East Division Semifinals to South Carolina (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Philadelphia Flyers

AHL Affiliate: Lehigh Valley Phantoms

2014-15 in review

Record: 45-21-6, 96 points

Division Finish: 3rd, East

Overall ECHL Finish: 7th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.60 (4th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.92 (11th)

Power Play (Rank) : 19.6% (6th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.0% (8th)

North Division

Location: Brampton, Ontario

Arena (Capacity) : Powerade Centre (5,000)

Coach: Colin Chaulk, First Season

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Montreal Canadiens

AHL Affiliate: St. John's IceCaps

2014-15 in review

Record: 23-46-3, 49 points

Division Finish: 7th, Central

Overall ECHL Finish: 25th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.51 (26th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 4.14 (28th)

Power Play (Rank) : 15.5% (22nd)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 78.4% (26th)

Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan

Arena (Capacity) : Wings Event Center (5,113)

Coach: Nick Bootland, Eighth Season with Kalamazoo; Seventh Season in ECHL (232-152-48)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Semifinals to Fort Wayne (4 games to 1)

NHL Affiliate: Columbus Blue Jackets

AHL Affiliate: Lake Erie Monsters

2014-15 in review

Record: 36-30-6, 78 points

Division Finish: 3rd, North

Overall ECHL Finish: 16th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.14 (12th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.24 (T20th)

Power Play (Rank) : 16.6% (17th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.3% (6th)

Location: Toledo, Ohio

Arena (Capacity) : Huntington Center (7,431)

Coach: Derek Lalonde, Second Season (50-15-7)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Eastern Conference Finals to South Carolina (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red Wings

AHL Affiliate: Grand Rapids Griffins

2014-15 in review

Record: 50-15-7, 107 points

Division Finish: 1st, North

Overall ECHL Finish: 1st

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.90 (2nd)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.53 (2nd)

Power Play (Rank) : 24.7% (1st)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 87.1% (2nd)

Location: Wheeling, West Virginia

Arena (Capacity) : WesBanco Arena (5,406)

Coach: Clark Donatelli, Fifth Season (133-109-29)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Semifinals to Toledo (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Pittsburgh Penguins

AHL Affiliate: Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

2014-15 in review

Record: 37-33-2, 76 points

Division Finish: 4th, North

Overall ECHL Finish: 18th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.92 (18th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.96 (13th)

Power Play (Rank) : 16.2% (18th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 83.4% (12th)

South Division

Location: Duluth, Georgia

Arena (Capacity) : Arena at Gwinnett Center (11,355)

Coach: Andy Brandt, Second Season (14-35-6)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Boston Bruins

AHL Affiliate: Providence Bruins

2014-15 in review

Record: 20-45-7, 47 points

Division Finish: 7th, East

Overall ECHL Finish: 26th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.42 (27th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.65 (24th)

Power Play (Rank) : 16.7% (16th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 76.8% (28th)

Location: Estero, Florida

Arena (Capacity) : Germain Arena (7,186)

Coach: Greg Poss, Sixth Season (201-121-38)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost East Division Finals to South Carolina (4 games to 2)

NHL Affiliate: Carolina Hurricanes

AHL Affiliate: Charlotte Checkers

2014-15 in review

Record: 49-16-7, 105 points

Division Finish: 1st, East

Overall ECHL Finish: 3rd

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.71 (3rd)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.89 (9th)

Power Play (Rank) : 19.2% (8th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 82.5% (15th)

Location: Greenville, South Carolina

Arena (Capacity) : Bon Secours Wellness Arena (7,044)

Coach: Brian Gratz, First Season

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: New York Rangers

AHL Affiliate: Hartford Wolf Pack

2014-15 in review

Record: 39-29-4, 82 points

Division Finish: 5th, East

Overall ECHL Finish: 11th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.00 (15th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.99 (T14th)

Power Play (Rank) : 16.0% (19th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 82.1% (17th)

Location: Orlando, Florida

Arena (Capacity) : Amway Center (9,555)

Coach: Anthony Noreen, First Season

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost East Division Semifinals to Florida (4 games to 2)

NHL Affiliate: Toronto Maple Leafs

AHL Affiliate: Toronto Marlies

2014-15 in review

Record: 37-25-10

Division Finish: 4th, East

Overall ECHL Finish: 10th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.28 (T10th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.99 (T14th)

Power Play (Rank) : 17.4% (13th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 83.8% (T9th)

Location: North Charleston, South Carolina

Arena (Capacity) : North Charleston Coliseum (6,712)

Coach: Spencer Carbery, Fifth Season (163-97-28)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Kelly Cup Finals to Allen (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Washington Capitals

AHL Affiliate: Hershey Bears

2014-15 in review

Record: 45-20-7, 97 points

Division Finish: 2nd, East

Overall ECHL Finish: 6th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.11 (13th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.26 (1st)

Power Play (Rank) : 15.3% (24th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 87.7% (1st)

Midwest Division

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio

Arena (Capacity) : U.S. Bank Arena (6,955)

Coach: Matt Macdonald, Second Season (31-30-11)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Nashville Predators

AHL Affiliate: Milwaukee Admirals

2014-15 in review

Record: 31-30-11, 73 points

Division Finish: 5th, North

Overall ECHL Finish: 19th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.71 (23rd)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.94 (12th)

Power Play (Rank) : 15.1% (25th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 80.1% (25th)

Location: Evansville, Indiana

Arena (Capacity) : Ford Center (9,100)

Coach: Al Sims, Second Season with Evansville, Fourth Season in ECHL (66-101-18)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did not qualify

NHL Affiliate: Ottawa Senators

AHL Affiliate: Binghamton Senators

2014-15 in review

Record: 15-48-9, 39 points

Division Finish: 7th, North

Overall ECHL Finish: 28th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.35 (28th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.76 (26th)

Power Play (Rank) : 13.3% (28th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.1% (T19th)

Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana

Arena (Capacity) : Memorial Coliseum (10,500)

Coach: Gary Graham, Third Season (84-42-18)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost North Division Finals to Toledo (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Colorado Avalanche

AHL Affiliate: San Antonio Rampage

2014-15 in review

Record: 48-18-6, 102 points

Division Finish: 2nd, North

Overall ECHL Finish: 5th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.49 (6th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.78 (6th)

Power Play (Rank) : 19.4% (7th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 80.7% (23rd)

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

Arena (Capacity) : Indiana Farmers Coliseum (6,145)

Coach: Scott Hillman, Second Season (31-30-11)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Chicago Blackhawks

AHL Affiliate: Rockford IceHogs

2014-15 in review

Record: 31-30-11, 73 points

Division Finish: 6th, North

Overall ECHL Finish: 21st

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.74 (22nd)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.07 (18th)

Power Play (Rank) : 20.1% (4th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 82.7% (14th)

Location: Moline, Illinois

Arena (Capacity) : i Wireless Center (9,000)

Coach: Terry Ruskowski, Fourth Season with Quad City; Fifth Season in ECHL (133-108-27)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Rapid City (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Minnesota Wild

AHL Affiliate: Iowa Wild

2014-15 in review

Record: 37-28-7

Division Finish: 3rd, Central

Overall ECHL Finish: 14th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.85 (19th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.58 (4th)

Power Play (Rank) : 18.1% (9th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 85.7% (5th)

Central Division

Location: Allen, Texas

Arena (Capacity) : Allen Event Center (6,200)

Coach: Steve Martinson, Fourth Season with Allen; Seventh Season in ECHL (248-129-55)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Won Kelly Cup title by defeating South Carolina (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: San Jose Sharks

AHL Affiliate: San Jose Barracuda

2014-15 in review

Record: 48-14-10, 106 points

Division Finish: 1st, Central

Overall ECHL Finish: 2nd

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 4.06 (1st)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.82 (7th)

Power Play (Rank) : 21.9% (2nd)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 86.3% (3rd)

Location: Independence, Missouri

Arena (Capacity) : Independence Events Center (5,800)

Coach: Richard Matvichuk, Second Season (28-35-9)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: New York Islanders

AHL Affiliate: Bridgeport Sound Tigers

2014-15 in review

Record: 28-35-9, 65 points

Division Finish: 6th, Central

Overall ECHL Finish: 23rd

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.67 (24th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.21 (19th)

Power Play (Rank) : 13.4% (27th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 83.0% (13th)

Location: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Arena (Capacity) : BOK Center (17,096)

Coach: Jason Christie, First Season with Tulsa, 12th Season in ECHL (483-282-98)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Semifinals to Allen (4 games to 1)

NHL Affiliate: Winnipeg Jets

AHL Affiliate: Manitoba Moose

2014-15 in review

Record: 37-29-6, 80 points

Division Finish: 4th, Central

Overall ECHL Finish: 15th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.44 (7th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.39 (23rd)

Power Play (Rank) : 15.0% (26th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.0% (T21st)

Location: Wichita, Kansas

Arena (Capacity) : Intrust Bank Arena (13,400)

Coach: Kevin McClelland, Sixth Season with Wichita; Second Season in ECHL (32-31-9)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Independent

AHL Affiliate: Independent

2014-15 in review

Record: 32-31-9, 73 points

Division Finish: 5th, Central

Overall ECHL Finish: 20th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.96 (T16th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.33 (22nd)

Power Play (Rank) : 17.5% (12th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.7% (18th)

West Division

Location: Anchorage, Alaska

Arena (Capacity) : Sullivan Arena (6,399)

Coach: Rob Murray, Fifth Season (162-82-34)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Did Not Qualify

NHL Affiliate: Independent

AHL Affiliate: Independent

2014-15 in review

Record: 35-30-7, 77 points

Division Finish: 5th, Pacific

Overall ECHL Finish: 17th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.29 (9th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.24 (T20th)

Power Play (Rank) : 15.8% (20th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 81.1% (T19th)

Location: Loveland, Colorado

Arena (Capacity) : Budweiser Events Center (5,289)

Coach: Chris Stewart, 11th Season with Colorado; Fifth Season in ECHL (146-108-33)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Pacific Division Semifinals to Ontario (4 games to 3)

NHL Affiliate: Independent

AHL Affiliate: Independent

2014-15 in review

Record: 41-23-8, 90 points

Division Finish: 3rd, Pacific

Overall ECHL Finish: 9th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.28 (T10th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.90 (10th)

Power Play (Rank) : 19.7% (5th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 84.2% (7th)

Location: Boise, Idaho

Arena (Capacity) : CenturyLink Arena (5,006)

Coach: Neil Graham, First Season

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Pacific Division Semifinals to Utah (4 games to 2)

NHL Affiliate: Dallas Stars

AHL Affiliate: Texas Stars

2014-15 in review

Record: 48-18-6, 102 points

Division Finish: 1st, Pacific

Overall ECHL Finish: 4th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.58 (5th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank): 2.60 (5th)

Power Play (Rank) : 15.6% (21st)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 86.2% (4th)

Location: Rapid City, South Dakota

Arena (Capacity) : Rushmore Plaza Civic Center (5,119)

Coach: Joe Ferras, Eighth Season with Rapid City; Second Season in ECHL (37-28-7)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Central Division Finals to Allen (4 games to 2)

NHL Affiliate: Arizona Coyotes

AHL Affiliate: Springfield Falcons

2014-15 in review

Record: 37-28-7, 81 points

Division Finish: 2nd, Central

Overall ECHL Finish: 13th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 3.03 (14th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 2.86 (8th)

Power Play (Rank) : 16.8% (15th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 83.8% (T9th)

Location: West Valley City, Utah

Arena (Capacity) : Maverik Center (10,207)

Coach: Tim Branham, Third Season (75-51-17)

2015 Kelly Cup Playoffs: Lost Pacific Division Finals to Ontario (4 games to 1)

NHL Affiliate: Anaheim Ducks

AHL Affiliate: San Diego Gulls

2014-15 in review

Record: 37-27-8, 82 points

Division Finish: 4th, Pacific

Overall ECHL Finish: 12th

Goals Per Game (Rank) : 2.96 (T16th)

Goals-Against Average (Rank) : 3.04 (17th)

Power Play (Rank) : 17.7% (11th)

Penalty Killing (Rank) : 82.2% (16th)

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