Special Board Of Governors Meeting Adjourned

April 20, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release

PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced on Friday that the Special Meeting of the Board of Governors originally convened on Apr. 4 in Pittsburgh has been adjourned.

The following agenda items were determined:

Expansion Membership Approved For Elmira (New York) Jackals

The Board unanimously approved the Membership Application of the Elmira Jackals for admission to the ECHL. Scheduled to begin play as an expansion team in October, the Jackals are owned by Dr. Mostafa M. Afr, who is also the owner and operator of First Arena, a 4,000-seat multi-purpose facility that opened in November 2000 in Downtown Elmira, N.Y.

Toledo Storm Sale, Voluntary Suspension Request Approved

The Board unanimously approved a Transfer of Controlling Interest for the Toledo Storm Membership from Professional Hockey, LLC D/B/A Toledo Storm to Toledo Arena Sports, Inc. The Board also unanimously approved the Storm's request for Voluntary Suspension for the 2007-08 Season as the team plans to begin play in a new arena in Toledo in 2009-10.

Pensacola Ice Pilots Will Play In 2007-08

Pensacola owner Mario Forgione informed the Board that a lease is in place and that the Ice Pilots would play in the Pensacola Civic Center in 2007-08. Forgione also informed the Board that the Ice Pilots plan to negotiate a lease extension for future seasons.

"Mario Forgione conveyed to the Board his intention to play in Pensacola in 2007-08," said ECHL Commissioner Brian McKenna. "The ECHL looks forward to welcoming the Ice Pilots and their loyal fans back for another exciting season of ECHL hockey."

Long Beach Ice Dogs Will Not Play In 2007-08

Long Beach owner Ted Foxman informed the Board that the Ice Dogs would not play in Long Beach Arena in 2007-08.

ECHL Celebrates 20th Anniversary In 2007-08

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08, the ECHL will play with 25 teams in 16 states and British Columbia, Canada and it has begun preliminary work on the schedule for 2007-08. After being forced to miss the last two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Mississippi Sea Wolves are scheduled to return to the ice to celebrate their 10th Anniversary.

"We look forward to moving ahead to produce our schedule and allow our teams to plan for a successful 2007-08 season," said McKenna.

ECHL
The league officially changed its name to ECHL on May 19, 2003.

The Premier 'AA' Hockey League, the ECHL has affiliations with 25 of the 30 teams in the National Hockey League in 2006-07, marking 10th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

There have been 329 former ECHL players who have gone on to play in the NHL after playing in the ECHL, including a record 47 in 2005-06 and 26 in 2006-07. There have been 184 former ECHL players who have played their first game in the NHL in the past five seasons and 107 former ECHL players have skated in the NHL this season. More than 100 players under contract to NHL teams have played in the ECHL this season.

There are 34 players, six coaches and seven former ECHL officials in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The ECHL was represented for the sixth consecutive year on the National Hockey League championship team, including Carolina Hurricanes head coach Peter Laviolette, who is the first ECHL coach to win the Stanley Cup.

The ECHL has affiliations with 24 of the 27 teams in the American Hockey League in 2006-07 and for the past 17 years there has been an ECHL player on the Calder Cup champion. The ECHL has had more players called up to the AHL than all other professional leagues combined each of the past four seasons with 1,646 call ups involving almost 1,000 players.

Further information on the ECHL is available from its website at ECHL.com.

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ECHL Stories from April 20, 2007

• Gladiators Fall To Wildcatters 2-1 In OT - Atlanta Gladiators
• Falcons Host End-of-Season Send Off on Monday at Logan's - Fresno Falcons
• Series Against Cincinnati Kicks Off Sunday at Nutter Center - Dayton Bombers
• Kelly Cup Playoffs North Division Finals Open Sunday - ECHL
• Kelly Cup Playoffs National Conference Semifinals Open Sunday - ECHL
• Special Board Of Governors Meeting Adjourned - ECHL
• Toledo Players Declared Unrestricted Free Agents - ECHL
• Toledo's Angel Suspended Three Games, Fined - ECHL
• ECHL Transactions - ECHL
• Alaska and Bakersfield square off in conference semis - Alaska Aces
• Cyclones Announce North Division Final Series Schedule - Cincinnati Cyclones
• Checkers Raise Record Total Of More Than $400,000 For Local Charities During 2006-07 Season - Charlotte Checkers
• ECHL Today - ECHL
• Utah Grizzlies Radio Podcasting All Summer - Utah Grizzlies
• Bombers Set Round Two Playoff Dates - Dayton Bombers
• Las Vegas Meets Idaho In Round Two - Las Vegas Wranglers
• Steelheads Announce Semifinals Dates Against Las Vegas - Idaho Steelheads
• Stingrays Unveil 15 Year Anniversary Logo - South Carolina Stingrays
• Wildcatters Look to Win First Playoff Series - Texas Wildcatters
• Beauchemin Shuts Out Falcons 4-0; Condors Advance to Round Two Against Alaska - Bakersfield Condors

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